Former Ridgeline Games Staff Overlooked in Battlefield 6 Credits Despite Foundation Work, Says Studio Co-Founder

Battlefield 6 Faces Credit Controversy

Halo co-creator Marcus Lehto has expressed significant disappointment regarding the credit treatment of former Ridgeline Games staff in the recently released Battlefield 6, according to reports. Despite what sources indicate were foundational contributions to the game, many developers from the shuttered studio were reportedly relegated to minor acknowledgment sections or omitted entirely from credits.

Battlefield 6 Faces Credit Controversy
Substantial Contributions, Inadequate Recognition
Studio Closure and Restructuring
Industry Veteran Voices Concern
Broader Context and Critical Reception

Substantial Contributions, Inadequate Recognition

In a LinkedIn post that included a comprehensive list of names, Lehto stated that these talented developers had worked tirelessly for approximately 1 to 2.5 years building what he described as the “foundation” of Battlefield 6. The report states that most team members who were laid off when EA closed Ridgeline Games in February 2024 only received mention in the “Special Thanks” section at the end of the credits, with several developers, including Lehto himself, being completely omitted.

“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, according to his social media post. “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.”

Studio Closure and Restructuring

Ridgeline Games, co-founded by Lehto, was originally tasked with developing the narrative campaign for Battlefield 6 before EA’s broader restructuring initiative. The studio closure in February 2024 came as part of EA’s decision to lay off approximately 670 employees and shift away from future licensed intellectual properties. At the time of the closure, EA reportedly stated that work on the Battlefield single-player campaign would continue under different leadership., according to according to reports

According to internal communications from EA Entertainment president Laura Miele, Criterion producer Danny Isaac and studio head of creative Darren White were assigned to replace Lehto in continuing the narrative campaign development. Some Ridgeline Games members reportedly joined Ripple Effect to continue working on the Battlefield franchise.

Industry Veteran Voices Concern

Lehto, a Bungie veteran who served as creative director on Halo: Reach, had joined EA following criticism of Battlefield 2042’s lack of a single-player narrative campaign. His departure from Ridgeline Games preceded the studio’s closure by just months. Analysts suggest that proper crediting remains a sensitive issue in the game development industry, where team compositions frequently change during lengthy development cycles.

“Game development is a team effort, and every contributor deserves fair acknowledgment,” Lehto emphasized in his statement, echoing concerns that have surfaced across the industry regarding attribution practices.

Broader Context and Critical Reception

Despite Battlefield 6’s record-breaking commercial success and praise for its multiplayer components, the campaign element—which Ridgeline had been developing—reportedly received mixed reviews. IGN’s Battlefield 6 campaign review scored the single-player experience 5/10, describing it as “a safe, dull reimagining of what Battlefield once was, rather than a bold reinvention of what it could be.”

EA has since announced Battlefield Studios, a collective of four development studios—DICE, Ripple Effect, Motive, and Criterion—working on the Battlefield franchise. The publisher has not yet publicly commented on the credit allocation concerns raised by Lehto, according to reports.

The situation highlights ongoing discussions within the gaming industry about proper recognition for developers, particularly those involved during foundational phases of projects who may not see the game through to completion due to studio reorganizations or other circumstances.