Halo co-creator Marcus Lehto has publicly expressed his disappointment that former staff of the now-shuttered Ridgeline Games were not properly recognized in the recent release of Battlefield 6. He asserts that this talented team was fundamental in building the game’s core.
Ridgeline Games, a studio co-founded by Lehto, was initially tasked with developing the narrative campaign for Battlefield 6. However, the studio closed in February 2024, less than two years after its inception, following Lehto’s departure. This closure was part of a larger restructuring within EA, which included approximately 670 layoffs and a strategic shift away from future licensed intellectual properties. At the time of the shutdown, EA had confirmed that development on the Battlefield single-player campaign would continue.
Following Battlefield 6’s highly successful launch, Lehto utilized a professional social media platform to shed light on and acknowledge the crucial work his former Ridgeline team had poured into the game.
A video covering the Battlefield 6 campaign review was featured here.
“I’m disappointed to see that many of my former teammates from Ridgeline Games were not properly credited in the recent release of Battlefield 6,” Lehto wrote in a post. He also shared a list of names under the Ridgeline Games banner, emphasizing their roles.
He further elaborated, “These talented developers worked tirelessly for 1 to 2.5 years, building the foundation of the game, before I left voluntarily and the studio was subsequently shuttered. Despite their significant contributions, most who were laid off were relegated to a ‘Special Thanks’ section at the very end of the credits — and several were omitted entirely, including myself.
“Out of respect for my colleagues and the awesome work they poured into this project, I want to take a moment to properly recognize them — listing their names and roles as I would have preferred them to appear in the credits.
“Game development is a team effort, and every contributor deserves fair acknowledgment.”
A request for comment has been made to EA regarding this situation.
In an internal memo circulated at the time of Ridgeline’s closure, EA Entertainment president Laura Miele announced that Criterion producer Danny Isaac and studio head of creative Darren White would assume leadership for the ongoing work on the narrative campaign. Some members of Ridgeline Games were also transitioned to Ripple Effect to continue their involvement with the Battlefield franchise.
Subsequently, EA introduced Battlefield Studios, a collective of four development teams focused on the publisher’s Battlefield franchise. This group currently comprises DICE, Ripple Effect, Motive, and Criterion.
Lehto is a seasoned veteran from Bungie, renowned for his work as creative director on titles such as Halo: Reach. His decision to join EA was influenced by previous criticisms concerning Battlefield 2042’s lack of a single-player narrative campaign.
While Battlefield 6 has achieved impressive sales and garnered praise for its multiplayer, the single-player campaign received a less enthusiastic reception. A prominent gaming review site’s assessment of the Battlefield 6 campaign resulted in a 5/10 score, stating it was: “A safe, dull reimagining of what Battlefield once was, rather than a bold reinvention of what it could be.”
For additional information on Battlefield 6, detailed guides are available, including a complete list of campaign collectible locations and tips to enhance your multiplayer performance.