Electronic Arts Chief Creative Officer Patrick Soderlund has a simple message for people who hate the addition of women characters in Battlefield V: don't buy the game.
Battlefield V looks amazing, but the praise has been overshadowed by the complaints of some gamers who think that women should not be in the first-person shooter.
'Battlefield V' Unveiled, Receives Backlash
In late May, Electronic Arts unveiled Battlefield V, which is the newest title in the first-person shooter franchise following 2016's Battlefield 1.
The Battlefield V release date is set at Oct. 19, and the game bring the series back to World War II. DICE design director said that the new Battlefield game will be more "physical and kinetic," with gameplay based on scenarios in real-world combat.
The reveal trailer showcased what players can expect, but one thing about the video and the key art has polarized gamers: the Battlefield V woman soldier.
Women in Battlefield V received backlash from some gamers, who claim that their inclusion in the World War II game will "break immersion." The outspoken minority claimed that Electronic Arts was pushing into historical inaccuracy with Battlefield V in the name of political correctness.
Women In 'Battlefield V' Will Stay
In an interview with Gamasutra, Soderlund talked about the backlash against women in video games.
According to Soderlund, the development team actively pushed for the inclusion of women characters in Battlefield V.
"Battlefield V is a lot about the unseen, the untold, the unplayed," said Soderlund. "The common perception is that there were no women in World War II. There were a ton of women who both fought in World War II and partook in the war."
Soderlund also narrated an anecdote on how his 13-year-old daughter could not understand why people are upset about the inclusion of women soldiers in Battlefield V.
"You know what? You're right. This is not okay," Soderlund said to his daughter.
Soderlund called the gamers who were criticizing women in Battlefield V as "uneducated" people and that Electronic Arts will not be taking any flak for the decision.
Soderlund then gave gamers who still disagree with the addition of women soldiers in Battlefield V two choices: "either accept it or don't buy the game."
This is not the first time that Electronic Arts tried to justify its decision to include women in Battlefield V, and it will surely not be the last. It appears, though, that Soderlund is frustrated with the backlash surrounding it, instead of players focusing on how amazing Battlefield V will be once it is launched in four months.
