As Battlefield 5’s Tides of War post-launch content schedule continues, fans are no doubt beginning to wonder where the series will go next. With Battlefield 1 featuring the First World War, and Battlefield 5 featuring the Second; it’s fair to assume that a future Battlefield 6 could jump forward in time once again. Indeed, the Vietnam War is certainly a distinct possibility. However, it’s also possible that DICE might not go anywhere at all…
Intentional Omissions? Where the Battlefield Series Could Go Next
It’s interesting to note that, in Battlefield 5, all of the maps and War Stories take place in either Europe or North Africa. Indeed, this was a fact lamented by some fans who were hoping to see the Eastern Front or Pacific theatre appear in the game. Now, it’s possible that DICE chose to focus on a single part of the war to give the game a stronger visual cohesion and aesthetic. However, it could also be because they’re planning ahead. The question is, what might it be a plan for; an as-yet unannounced season of Tides of War? Or, Battlefield 6?
With the way that DICE is delivering new content in the Tides of War; it’s easy to see that they could release new chapters focusing on new parts of the conflict. This could introduce new maps, weapons, vehicles, and so on which are drawn from the other theatres of the Second World War. However, the slow delivery of content in this manner does mean that it might not feel as distinct. Indeed, DICE have already said that they have no plans to release more War Stories.
Will Battlefield 6 Bring Players to a New Theatre of the Second World War?
The alternative is that Battlefield 6 will pick up where Battlefield 5 leaves off, moving in space rather than time. A sixth instalment could move from Europe and North Africa to the Pacific islands for the conflict between Japan and America; perhaps even bringing air-focused naval battles to the game. Alternatively, the game could focus on the Eastern Front and the conflict between Nazi Germany and Russia. Certainly, either option is full of possibilities for new maps and War Stories.
The Second World War was a vast conflict; much more so than the First World War. Although they were both world wars, conflict in the first mostly took place in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. In WWII, however, battles took place across entire new regions untouched by the battles of the first. Continuing with the theme of Battlefield 5, telling the “untold stories” of the war, there is no shortage of options.
Turning towards the Eastern Front; DICE could focus on the conflict between Russia and Germany while also including moments from the Ili Rebellion, a Russian-backed rebellion against the Kuomintang Chinese government which began in 1944. The Eastern Front would also open the possible appearance of massive war machines like the Schwerer Gustav, the largest-calibre rifled gun ever used. This colossal railway gun was deployed at the Battle of Sevastopol and required a crew of five hundred people. A single shell measured eight metres in length!
On the other hand, and in similar fashion, the Pacific Theatre opens up plenty of options. In terms of untold stories, it could feature the little-known Battle of Madagascar, where Allied forces seized the island from the forces of Vichy France. In terms of dramatic military hardware, the Pacific Theatre also saw the deployment of Japan’s formidable Yamato battleships, the heaviest battleships ever built.