'Battlefield 1' release date, gameplay news: forthcoming title turns back the clock with WWI setting

Electronic Arts/Battlefield

Electronic Arts has already revealed that the next installment in the "Battlefield" series will go back to its roots. Instead of a futuristic, space-age warfare shooter in a rumored "Battlefield 5," the next game will be "Battlefield 1" and set in an alternate world of the First World War.

In a recent interview with Metro's Game Central, design director Lars Gustavsson underscored why DICE and EA did not choose to go toe to toe with competitor Activision and their "Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare" game. Instead of an ultramodern, high-tech shooter genre, the next "Battlefield" will showcase past events and place the player in the middle of World War I.

According to Gustavsson, a noted part of the upcoming "Battlefield 1" game is that it will depict the First World War as accurately as possible, even if there are tweaks because of gameplay and mechanics.

The design director stated, "So, as with all 'Battlefield' games, we start with doing extensive research and then getting a better understanding of the world and everything that is in it. And I think a lot of people know a lot about the Second World War, or even Vietnam and the more recent wars. But World War I, or The Great War, is more unknown."

DICE and EA will really have to go back to the drawing board for this installment and build "Battlefield 1" from scratch since this will be the first time that the franchise will delve into World War I. The franchise started with World War II content as "Battlefield 1942" in 2002.

Meanwhile, although the upcoming game will try to depict the First World War based on historical events and figures, it will still be a role-play shooter, and DICE has assured fans that there will be plenty of surprises for them.

Gustavsson continued, "For us, we aim to deliver the classic Battlefield sandbox with all-out war. But with elements reflecting the era, so that it becomes a new experience and something that will hopefully bring people."

"Battlefield 1" will be released on Oct. 21 for the Xbox One, PS4, and PC via Origin.