2025 is shaping up to be an epic year for triple-A video games, with a lineup that's nothing short of spectacular. Not only are we eagerly awaiting the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 and its exclusive titles, but the calendar is packed with major releases slated for later in the year, including *Borderlands 4*, *Mafia: The Old Country*, and *Ghost of Yōtei*. And let's not forget the annual tradition: a new *Call of Duty* game from Activision, expected around October or November.
But the crown jewel of 2025 is undoubtedly Rockstar's *Grand Theft Auto 6*, slated for a fall release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S. While Take-Two remains committed to this timeline, the gaming world is rife with speculation about potential delays. Amidst this uncertainty and the looming presence of other major titles, EA faces a challenging task in finding the perfect release window for the next *Battlefield*.
EA has penciled in the next *Battlefield* for its fiscal year 2026, meaning a launch before April 2026. This period overlaps with the anticipated release of *GTA 6*, not to mention the possible launch windows for *Call of Duty* and *Borderlands 4*. How much should EA consider the release dates of these competing titles when planning *Battlefield*'s launch? According to EA CEO Andrew Wilson, quite a bit.
In a recent financial call, Wilson acknowledged the competitive nature of the gaming industry. "Certainly we exist in a competitive marketplace," he stated. With more resources and time invested in this *Battlefield* than any previous installment, developed across four studios, Wilson emphasized the goal of making it the biggest *Battlefield* ever. He also hinted at the possibility of delaying the game if the launch window isn't optimal.
"I do believe that this year might be a nuanced year relative to competition. There may be some things happening in the year that may cause us to think differently about our launch timing. We have an FY 26 launch window that the team is targeting. We believe the game will be great and ready at that time, but if we got close to that timeframe and believed that this wasn't going to be a great window for us, then we would take a look at what an alternate window might be that would give us the appropriate time, energy, and player acquisition opportunity for this *Battlefield* to be all that it needed to be," Wilson explained.
Currently, the new *Battlefield* is set to launch before April 2026. Assuming a November 2025 release, similar to *Battlefield 2042* and *Battlefield 5*, what happens if *GTA 6* also launches around that time? EA might opt to delay *Battlefield* to the first quarter of 2026, still within its fiscal year. Conversely, if EA plans a Q1 2026 release and *GTA 6* gets delayed to the same period, EA could either move *Battlefield* forward or push it beyond the fiscal year, a significant decision they seem prepared to make.
The gaming industry is on tenterhooks, waiting for Rockstar to announce the *GTA 6* release date. Once that's revealed, whether it sticks to the planned fall 2025 or shifts to 2026, the dominoes will start to fall, and other release schedules will adjust accordingly.
99 Details in the GTA 6 Trailer - Slideshow
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