Yes. EA confirmed on February 28, 2024, that Marcus Lehto had left the Battlefield project, describing it as his “personal decision.” EA did not state a more specific reason. The company also said Ridgeline Games would wind down as a standalone Seattle studio, some staff would join Ripple Effect, and Criterion leadership would oversee the single-player work.
What EA said about Lehto’s departure
EA President of Entertainment and Technology Laura Miele wrote in an employee note on February 28, 2024: “Marcus Lehto recently made a personal decision to leave the project.” Read EA’s statement.
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That is EA’s public characterization, not an explanation from Lehto himself. The statement confirms he left the Battlefield project, but does not identify a dispute, performance issue, or other specific cause. The reason remains unstated in EA’s announcement.
Why Lehto was working on Battlefield
EA announced Ridgeline Games in September 2022 as a Seattle-area studio led by Lehto, whom it identified as a Battlefield game director and Halo co-creator. The studio’s stated remit was a narrative campaign set in the Battlefield universe. EA’s Ridgeline announcement.
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- Enter mankind’s greatest conflict with Battlefield V as the series goes back to its roots with a never before seen portrayal of World War 2
- Assemble your Company of customized soldiers, weapons, and vehicles then take them on an epic journey through the Tides of War
- Experience the most intense, immersive Battlefield yet. You will never be the same
- Play Firestorm Battle Royal, re imagined for Battlefield V. Scavenge, fight, and survive to become the last squad standing
EA’s franchise update that same day laid out a multi-studio plan: Ridgeline would develop a narrative campaign, DICE would continue work on the multiplayer suite, and Ripple Effect would create another Battlefield experience. That was a development plan, not an announcement of a released or fully specified campaign. EA’s Battlefield franchise update.
What changed at Ridgeline after he left
In the February 2024 note, EA said it would wind down Ridgeline as a standalone studio in Seattle. Some Ridgeline team members would join Ripple Effect, while Criterion leadership would oversee the single-player work and keep it moving. EA did not say that every employee or all of Ridgeline’s work transferred to another studio.
Rank #2
- World War 2 as You've Never Seen It Before - Take the fight to unexpected but crucial moments of the war, as Battlefield goes back to where it all began.
- 64-Player Multiplayer in the Chaos of All-Out War - Lead your Company to victory in all-out multiplayer with new experiences like the massive Grand Operations mode. Take on classic modes like Conquest or squad up with friends in the cooperative Combined Arms.
- The Most Physical Battlefield Yet - Maneuver through the battlefield using a new soldier move set, fortifications, and mobile tools of destruction.
- Play Untold War Stories - Witness human drama set against global combat in the single player War Stories. Ski down Norwegian mountains as you battle for control of nuclear weapon supply lines, join the frontline with the French colonial troops, or go behind enemy lines in North Africa with a band of misfits sent to create mayhem.
- Tides of War - Embark on a journey where new content drops continuously transport you and your Company to a huge variety of key WW2 locations, where new battlefields and gear await.
The studio change and Lehto’s departure were announced together, but EA did not say the wind-down caused his decision. Treating one as the explanation for the other would go beyond what the company stated.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happened to the Battlefield campaign afterward
EA launched Battlefield 6 on October 10, 2025, with a single-player campaign. EA lists PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC as platforms, and says the game is available digitally and at retail. Its launch announcement specifies PC digital availability through Steam, the EA app, and the Epic Games Store; its retail statement does not establish a PC physical edition. EA’s Battlefield 6 launch announcement and Battlefield 6 FAQ.
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Rank #3
- Enter mankind’s greatest conflict with Battlefield V as the series goes back to its roots with a never-before-seen portrayal of World War 2
- Assemble your Company of customized soldiers, weapons, and vehicles – then take them on an epic journey through the Tides of War
- Experience the most intense, immersive Battlefield yet. You will never be the same
- Play Firestorm - Battle Royal, reimagined for Battlefield V. Scavenge, fight, and survive to become the last squad standing
Those later facts show that a campaign shipped, but EA’s cited announcements do not establish which specific Ridgeline contributions, if any, carried into the finished campaign. The exact lineage of that work is not specified in these sources.
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Best Value
- World War 2 as You've Never Seen It Before - Take the fight to unexpected but crucial moments of the war, as Battlefield goes back to where it all began
- 64-Player Multiplayer in the Chaos of All-Out War - Lead your Company to victory in all-out multiplayer with new experiences like the massive Grand Operations mode. Take on classic modes like Conquest or squad up with friends in the cooperative Combined Arms
- The Most Physical Battlefield Yet - Maneuver through the battlefield using a new soldier move set, fortifications, and mobile tools of destruction
- Play Untold War Stories - Witness human drama set against global combat in the single player War Stories. Ski down Norwegian mountains as you battle for control of nuclear weapon supply lines, join the frontline with the French colonial troops, or go behind enemy lines in North Africa with a band of misfits sent to create mayhem
- Tides of War - Embark on a journey where new content drops continuously transport you and your Company to a huge variety of key WW2 locations, where new battlefields and gear await
Rank #4
Timeline
| Date | What EA announced |
|---|---|
| September 8, 2022 | Ridgeline Games, led by Lehto, would develop a Battlefield narrative campaign. |
| February 28, 2024 | EA said Lehto made a personal decision to leave; Ridgeline would wind down as a standalone studio, some staff would join Ripple Effect, and Criterion leadership would oversee single-player work. |
| April 9, 2024 | EA said Battlefield 2042 Season 7 would be its last official season, with in-game challenges, events, modes, and maintenance continuing under the plan announced then. EA said resources were shifting toward what came next in the franchise. This was a historical plan announcement, not confirmation of the game’s service status in October 2026. EA’s April 2024 update. |
| October 10, 2025 | Battlefield 6 launched with a single-player campaign. |
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