Marcus Lehto, co-creator of Halo and former Battlefield game director, has parted ways with EA. Lehto, who led the Seattle-based Ridgeline Games studio dedicated to the Battlefield franchise under EA, appears to have removed all references to Battlefield and EA from his social media bio. His LinkedIn profile now reflects his departure from EA.
Observations by “Battlefield connoisseur” DANNYonPC and Insider Gaming reveal that Ridgeline Games currently has no job openings listed on its careers site. Moreover, Chris Matthews, co-founder and art director at Ridgeline Games, departed the studio in January 2024 to join Halo developer 343 as studio art director.
While Lehto has not formally announced his departure or discussed his future plans, Battlefield enthusiasts are speculating about the trajectory of the shooter franchise in light of his exit. Lehto was expected to play a significant role in guiding the series, particularly following the mixed reception of Battlefield 2042. Notably, EA has yet to issue an official statement regarding Lehto’s departure.
We’ve reached out to EA for comment and will provide updates as they become available.
Reflecting on Battlefield 2042, the Eurogamer editor, formerly known as Martin, expressed concerns about the game’s direction back in 2021. Despite its broad scope, Battlefield 2042 was criticized for feeling disjointed and lacking focus.
However, there remains optimism that DICE, the studio behind the franchise, can refine the game’s experience, much like they did with previous titles such as Battlefield 4 and Battlefront 2.
While Battlefield 2042 showcased glimpses of the series’ trademark excellence, it was also marked by some innovative yet underdeveloped concepts. With proper refinement and attention, there’s hope that the franchise can regain its promising trajectory.
