Battlefield Narrative Director Confirms Departure from EA

Over the weekend, Marcus Lehto, general manager of Ridgeline Games (working on narrative-driven Battlefield campaigns), was discovered to have left the studio. Lehto has officially confirmed his departure on Twitter, noting it was “on my own accord” and a “very tough decision for me to make.”

“Yes, I left EA on my own accord. It was a very tough decision for me to make. I want to thank the Battlefield community for allowing me to listen to you while I was able. Your feedback will help make Battlefield stronger. I wish the teams at EA all the best moving forward.”

Lehto also revealed that he’s taking time away from the industry to see “what, if anything, I want to do next.” Known for co-creating the Halo series, Lehto would later found V1 Interactive, which launched Disintegration to disappointing sales. The studio later shut down, and he joined Electronic Arts to lead the newly-established Ridgeline Games.

As for ongoing projects, an EA spokesperson told IGN, “Marcus Lehto has made the personal decision to step down as the Director of Battlefield Narrative. The work on Battlefield 2042 and our upcoming, unannounced Battlefield Universe continues.”

Aside from Ridgeline’s narrative titles, a new free-to-play battle royale Battlefield game from Ripple Effect is rumored to be in development. The next mainline entry in the series is also reportedly in the works at DICE and targeting a launch in October 2025. It will allegedly feature 64-player matches, the return of traditional classes, and a modern-day setting with “a strong story-driven emphasis on modern technology used in war.” Stay tuned for more updates in the coming months.

Yes, I left EA on my own accord.
This was very a tough decision for me to make.

I want to thank the Battlefield community for allowing me to listen to you while I was able. Your feedback will help make Battlefield stronger.
I wish the teams at EA all the best moving forward.

— Marcus Lehto (@game_fabricator) February 27, 2024

In the meantime, I will be taking time away from games to see what, if anything, I want to do next.

— Marcus Lehto (@game_fabricator) February 27, 2024