Now Loading...Battlefield 1 and World War 1 Setting: Yay or Nay?

With DICE lifting the lid on this year’s Battlefield entry going back to World War 1 as its backdrop, the PlayStation LifeStyle crew decided to tackle whether this return to history is good or bad for the franchise in this week’s Now Loading entry.

Are we bummed out Battlefield 1 will likely feature WW1 weapons and equipment? Or are we relieved it’s not going the futuristic route? Check out the staff responses below.

Are you a fan of DICE’s new setting for Battlefield 1? Or would you rather it stuck to a more modern or futuristic setting? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Don’t forget to check out our early impressions of Battlefield 1 straight from the reveal event.

Now Loading is a recurring staff-driven feature where PlayStation LifeStyle discusses anything video game-related under the sun (yes, even non-Sony platforms).

Now Loading...Battlefield 1 and WW1: Yay or Nay?

Now Loading...Battlefield 1 and WW1: Yay or Nay?
Heath Hindman

@TheHeathHindman

World War I was one of the most tragic and bloody events in of all human history. "War is hell" can certainly be said in general, but as far as world impact goes, WWI is almost criminally overlooked.

...That said, on the bright side, it also has a ton of underused video game potential. I'm looking forward to seeing what comes of a Battlefield game that uses this setting.
Zarmena Khan

@Zarmena

I'm all for it. Futuristic settings don't do it for me and modern settings can get kinda depressing especially since we're living through a lot of wars at present. Just switch on the news and it kinda chips away at your fantasy. I've always been fascinated by history and World War 1 is certainly a setting I want to explore even if it's just a game. Give me a decent campaign and I'm all in just for the immersion.
Louis Edwards

@ftwrthtx

I think it was a smart move on their part. While other franchises move on into the future, into unknown realms and futuristic warfare, they took a step back and went into a time where the battlefield had just made a huge leap in weaponry that forced generals and the entire military to rethink their tactics. The transition from the weaponry used during the Civil War into the Great War showed exponential growth in brutality and deathly efficiency. DICE might be making their best Battlefield game yet.
Michael Briers

@briersytweets

Yay! Silly title aside, I'm all for Battlefield 1. The guys are right, WWI is an incredibly rich well for storytelling, and one that's really been shunned in favor of the more cinematic and advanced World War II over the years. That's a practical issue more than anything, but it looks as though DICE is going all-in on that historic setting, too; trench warfare, zeppelins and what looks to be the Red Baron are all featured in that blockbuster sizzle reel. Genuinely stoked.

It will inevitably be compared to Call of Duty and its peers between now and launch, but let me just say that I fully embrace DICE's decision to take a step back from the genre's "Space Race" (i.e. Infinite Warfare, Titanfall 2) in favor of something more close to home.

Not so sure about the editing in that trailer, though...
Stephen Bitto

@SteveOneder

Especially in contrast to Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, DICE's announcement was much needed breath of fresh air. Deviating from the onslaught of futuristic shooters was a smart decision and The Great War has largely been unexplored by games. The skeptics believed it would be difficult to create an action-packed WWI shooter because of the focus on trench warfare but the trailer proved that wrong entirely. Battlefield 1 is off to a great start with fans and critics alike. October can't come soon enough.
Alex Co

@excaliburps

Definitely a yay for me. With most multiplayer shooters going the sci-fi or future route, we were at the verge of getting overloaded with jetpacks, boosts, mechs, and other sort of futuristic nonsense.

DICE seems to be bringing the multiplayer shooter back to basics -- at least in terms of equipment and vehicles. While I'm not entirely convinced that the shootbro market will fully embrace a multiplayer shooter without all the familiar doodas they're familiar with (red dot scopes, different kinds of automatic weapons and gadgets, etc.), I think DICE can strike a good balance in being authentic to the era, as well as dishing out a few creative liberties to make the gameplay as fun as it can be.

I'm very much excited to see what DICE has in store for us for Battlefield 1, and October can't come soon enough!
Mack Ashworth

@GamingWithMack

Wow, what a reveal trailer! Battlefield 1, a silly name for a good-looking game, has me excited, with a World War I setting that looks gritty and violent.

I'm hoping for a super stable beta, restoring trust that was broken during Battlefield 4's launch. Bring it on!
Chandler Wood

@FinchStrife

Battlefield's never been my cup of tea, but this year's does intrigue me. World War 1 is a fascinating piece of history, and perhaps even more creative than coming up with your own fantastical or futuristic setting is finding a way to adapt something that's already happened effectively. If they can pull it off, it would be a huge win, and a much needed dive back into the beginning of modern warfare as we know it. The naming is quite silly though. I understand the desire to rebrand and not feel like you're releasing the seventh or tenth, or fifteenth numbered title in a series, but subtitles are fare more effective at distancing something than calling attention directly to it be calling it 1. Battlefield: The Great War does have a nice ring to it. Or maybe even Battlefield: The First? Yes, DICE, my marketing talents are available should you so desire them.