EA is removing Battlefield 1943, Bad Company 1 and 2 from online stores in April: details

EA is permanently removing three old Battlefield games from its digital storefronts. Starting April 28, Battlefield 1943, Battlefield: Bad Company, and Bad Company 2 will no longer be available for purchase. The news comes in preparation for EA’s removal of online services for titles on December 8. Bad Company 1 and 2 offline campaign segments/features will still be accessible after this date. An earlier version of the statement also mentioned Mirror’s Edge in the list, although EA later clarified that this was in error – only Battlefield games are removed.

The multiplayer-only Battlefield 1943 mode was released exclusively on PS3 and Xbox 360, digitally, with this upcoming drop highlighting the advantages of physical media over digital. With up to 24 players as Marines or Imperial Japanese Navy, it took you into the field of World War II in its signature Conquest mode. Both Bad Company games, however, came with single and multiplayer modes and marked the birth of the Frostbite engine. Unlike the others on the shortlist, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is also available on PC and can be accessed for free if you have an EA Play subscription. “While these titles hold a special place in our hearts, we now look forward to creating new memories alongside you as we focus on our current and future Battlefield experiences,” reads EA’s blog post.

While neither of these games were popular in 2023, it’s still a shame to see them go, given that Battlefield: Bad Company 2 was a key entry point for most existing fans of the franchise. The company previously announced that it was shutting down Apex Legends Mobile in May. The statement from developer Respawn Entertainment reads: “After a strong start, the content pipeline for Apex Legends Mobile has begun to fall below this bar of quality, quantity and cadence.” The company also halted development of the Battlefield mobile game. Even Sony is shutting down its PlayStation Plus collection of 19 games in the same month, requiring PS5 owners to claim those PS4 titles for free by May 9. Meanwhile, Nintendo will no longer allow digital purchases for the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS platforms, starting in March. 27.

Last year, EA created a new Seattle-based studio, Ridgeline Games, tasked with creating a proper campaign experience in the Battlefield universe. Halo co-creator Marcus Lehto leads the company’s charge, which is made up of industry veterans. The publisher first talked about creating a new campaign-focused team for Battlefield, just weeks after the launch of Battlefield 2042, with Respawn Entertainment CEO Vince Zampella tasked with the series to create a “connected Battlefield universe”.

Battlefield 1943, Battlefield: Bad Company, and Bad Company 2 will be removed from online storefronts on April 28.

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