Electronic Arts has announced the upcoming removal of some of their classic video games, including Battlefield 1943, Battlefield: Bad Company 1, and Battlefield: Bad Company 2, from digital storefronts such as EA Origin and Steam starting April 28, 2023. This decision comes as the company prepares to retire the online services for these titles on December 8, 2023. While the single-player campaigns of Bad Company 1 and 2 will still be playable offline, the games’ impending departure from digital stores has left many fans disappointed.
Battlefield 1943, released 15 years ago, was the third entry in the franchise available on consoles and marked the first time players could experience Wake Island on a console. The game, which was only ever released digitally, allowed players to fight in World War II as either the United States Marine Corps or the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Bad Company introduced players to a memorable cast of characters, including Marlowe, Sweetwater, Redford, and Haggard, who went AWOL to pursue their personal quest. The game also marked the birth of the Frostbite engine, which has since become a mainstay in the Battlefield franchise. In addition, the game introduced the Gold Rush mode, which later evolved into the Rush mode.
The sequel, Bad Company 2, saw the return of the fan-favorite characters and brought them to PC for the first time. The game featured a gripping story involving increasingly risky and mysterious missions in South America, along with new improvements to the Frostbite engine.
In their announcement, the DICE and Battlefield teams expressed their gratitude for the community’s support and shared memories of playing these classic titles. They also encouraged fans to share their own fond memories of the games.
As we bid farewell to these beloved classics, the teams at DICE and Battlefield are shifting their focus towards current and future Battlefield experiences. The delisting of these games, however, raises concerns among fans as it will make the titles unavailable for purchase and could potentially render them as abandonedware in the future. Gamers who still wish to enjoy these classic experiences may soon need to seek alternative sources or methods to play, emphasizing the importance of preserving these iconic titles in the gaming community.
However, there is some good news for those who already own the game on Steam before April 28, 2023 – you will still be able to download and play it in the future even after the delisting of the game.
You can read the full announce from EA’s official announcement page: https://www.ea.com/games/battlefield/legacy-sunset