TSMC Accuses Former Executive of Leaking Trade Secrets as Taiwan Prosecutors Launch Investigation 
Amazon and Google Launch New Multicloud Networking Service to Boost High-Speed Cloud Connectivity 
Quantum Systems Projects Revenue Surge as It Eyes IPO or Private Sale 
Intel Boosts Malaysia Operations with Additional RM860 Million Investment 
Samsung Launches Galaxy Z TriFold to Elevate Its Position in the Foldable Smartphone Market 
Senate Sets December 8 Vote on Trump’s NASA Nominee Jared Isaacman 
Sam Altman Reportedly Explored Funding for Rocket Venture in Potential Challenge to SpaceX 
Banks Consider $38 Billion Funding Boost for Oracle, Vantage, and OpenAI Expansion 
Firelight Launches as First XRP Staking Platform on Flare, Introduces DeFi Cover Feature 
Australia Releases New National AI Plan, Opts for Existing Laws to Manage Risks 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
Nexperia Urges China Division to Resume Chip Production as Supply Risks Mount 
Wikipedia Pushes for AI Licensing Deals as Jimmy Wales Calls for Fair Compensation 
Apple Appoints Amar Subramanya as New Vice President of AI Amid Push to Accelerate Innovation 
YouTube Agrees to Follow Australia’s New Under-16 Social Media Ban 
Baidu Cuts Jobs as AI Competition and Ad Revenue Slump Intensify 
Apple Alerts EU Regulators That Apple Ads and Maps Meet DMA Gatekeeper Thresholds 
EA leaders have reportedly addressed the lukewarm reception to “Battlefield 2042” in a recently held town hall meeting with employees. The publisher recognized what caused the problematic launch, and interestingly mentioned the surprise release of “Halo: Infinite” as one of the reasons for the negative feedback to its own first-person shooter.
Discussions from the said meeting were leaked in a report on Xfire. EA chief operating officer Laura Miele reportedly noted that one of the key factors that caused the launch issues was the Frostbite engine’s old tech. It is said to have required massive updates that the developers practically used a new engine for “Battlefield 2042.”
EA also mentioned the pandemic and the developers’ remote work setting as one of the factors that affected the quality of “Battlefield 2042” at launch. As for the gameplay issues, Miele noted that the bug count was within the level they expected in comparison with previous DICE game releases. Another factor the EA exec reportedly mentioned was the sudden release of the free-to-play “Halo Infinite” multiplayer.
Leaker Tom Henderson, who reported about the town hall meeting, later provided more context on why EA partly blamed “Halo Infinite” for the “Battlefield 2042” launch issues. Henderson shared a quote of what Miele supposedly said during the meeting. The EA exec said “the game was stable” upon releasing it on early access on late Nov. 11 and that they saw good numbers in the daily player retention through the following weekend.
“But then things started to turn,” Miele reportedly said. “The following Monday, ‘Halo’ did a surprise release of their multiplayer mode. … It was very polished and it was not a favorable comparison to our experience given some of the bugs and polish issues we had.”
#Battlefield2042 pic.twitter.com/y6tp7Yy0Gp
— Tom Henderson (@_Tom_Henderson_) February 17, 2022
Miele was likely referring to the surprise release of “Halo Infinite” open beta last Nov. 15. It was four days before the “Battlefield 2042” general availability and coincided with Xbox’s 20th-anniversary celebrations.
The same report said EA also tackled ongoing “Battlefield 2042” issues in terms of content. To the surprise of many, the game was released without a scoreboard and VOIP functions. And the publisher has recognized their absence as one of the game’s launch issues in terms of content. The good news is DICE has already announced these features are already in the works and will be released as part of future updates.
