Former Bungie Dev Criticizes EA Over Missing Battlefield 6 Credits

In a recent turn of events within the gaming industry, a prominent figure from the development world has voiced significant displeasure regarding the crediting practices of a major publisher. This incident highlights ongoing challenges in recognizing the efforts of creative teams, especially in a sector characterized by frequent project changes and studio reorganizations.

Halo Co-Creator Calls Out EA for Battlefield 6 Crediting Omissions

Marcus Lehto, known for his directorial work on the original Halo series and more recently as the founder of Ridgeline Games, has publicly criticized Electronic Arts (EA) for failing to adequately credit his former team members, and himself, in the newly launched Battlefield 6. Lehto established Ridgeline Games in 2021 with the specific goal of crafting a narrative campaign for the next installment in the Battlefield franchise. However, his tenure with EA was short-lived; he departed the company, and soon after, EA disbanded Ridgeline Games, leading to widespread layoffs.

Expressing his profound disappointment, Lehto took to LinkedIn to lament the oversight. He noted that numerous developers from Ridgeline Games, who dedicated between one and two and a half years to laying the groundwork for Battlefield 6, were either relegated to a brief 'Special Thanks' section at the end of the credits or, in some cases, completely omitted. Lehto, himself, was also absent from the main credits. He emphasized that every individual's contribution to game development, a collaborative endeavor, deserves appropriate acknowledgment. In response to what he perceived as EA's oversight, Lehto personally compiled and shared a comprehensive list of his former team's names and roles, presenting it as he believed it should have appeared in the game's official credits. As of now, EA has not publicly commented on the situation.

This situation underscores a critical issue within the video game industry: the proper recognition of development teams. Given the inherently transient nature of game development careers, where professionals often move between studios and projects, a robust and accurate crediting system is vital. It serves not only as a record of achievement for individual developers but also as a testament to their expertise and experience for future opportunities. The failure to properly credit individuals can diminish morale and undermine the value of hard work, reinforcing the need for publishers to adopt more diligent and respectful crediting practices.