Battlefield fans who wish to own all of DICE’s acclaimed shooters may need to make some purchases soon. According to an article on the official Battlefield site, EA will be removing Battlefield 1943, Battlefield: Bad Company, and Battlefield: Bad Company 2 from digital storefronts on April 28, 2023, a date after which they’ll no longer be available to purchase. EA explained that it is doing this to prepare for the retirement of their online services, and while that’s set to occur on December 8, 2023, Bad Company 1 and 2 players can continue to enjoy their offline features afterward, including their single-player campaigns. The multiplayer-only Battlefield 1943 was released in 2009, while Battlefield: Bad Company and its sequel were released in 2008 and 2010, respectively.
From a Battlefield article:
While these titles hold a special place in our heart, we’re now looking forward to creating new memories alongside you as we shift our focus towards our current and future Battlefield experiences.Â
With this announcement we also want to take a moment today to reflect on our time with Battlefield 1943 and, Bad Company 1 & 2. We share amazing memories of not only their development, but also playing them alongside you.
Battlefield 1943
At the time this was our third entry in the Battlefield franchise available on consoles, and took you to World War II as you fought in the Pacific as either the United States Marine Corps or the Imperial Japanese Navy.
1943 was only ever released as a digital game, and was exclusive to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, but crucially for the first time, it offered us the ability to play Wake Island on console.
Bad Company
Marlowe. Sweetwater. Redford and Haggard. Four names that resonate a lot with you as Battlefield: Bad Company introduced an iconic and relatable bunch of troublemakers who risked it all and went AWOL to pursue a personal quest.
Not only has the cast and their story piqued your interest, but their endless pursuit of gold bars as you battled it out through Gold Rush – a mode that is now called Rush – added a new core mode to the Battlefield franchise. It wouldn’t be Bad Company without referencing the loveable but deadly smiley grenade did too!
It also marked the birth of the Frostbite engine and the fun and chaotic multiplayer experience that has run through Battlefield ever since.
Bad Company 2
The band got back together for what they thought to be their final mission within Bad Company 2, which involved them going behind enemy lines. However upon completion, they were tasked with heading towards South America on what became an increasingly riskier but also mysterious mission.
Bad Company 2 was also the first time that PC players were introduced to this band of military outcasts, alongside new improvements coming to the Frostbite engine.
If just like us you have fond memories of playing Battlefield: Bad Company 1 and 2, Battlefield 1943, then please do share them with us. We’d love to hear from you.
//The DICE and Battlefield Teams