Marcus Lehto, the game director at Ridgeline Games, has parted ways with EA and his studio after a tenure of over two years. Lehto’s departure has sparked speculation and raised questions about the future of the studio and the Battlefield franchise.
The news of Lehto’s exit first surfaced on X (Twitter), where users shared screenshots indicating the removal of all references to Battlefield and Ridgeline Games from his social media profiles. Confirmation of Lehto’s departure came through his own Facebook account earlier today, further fueling speculation about the circumstances surrounding his exit.
Seems like @game_fabricator has left EA, removing all references of battlefield from his bio, problems are starting already? pic.twitter.com/kqzsWCnTl6
— DANNYonPC (@DANNYonPC) February 24, 2024
At present, it remains unclear whether Lehto left the studio voluntarily or if Ridgeline Games has shut down entirely. Notably, there are no current job vacancies listed for Ridgeline Games on the official EA website, prompting further speculation about the studio’s status.
Lehto joined EA following the launch of Battlefield 2042 as part of a significant restructuring effort for the franchise. His role involved spearheading the development of a new team in Seattle focused on integrating more storytelling elements into the Battlefield universe. Several months after his appointment, Lehto was announced as the Creative Director of Ridgeline Games, signaling EA’s commitment to expanding the franchise’s narrative depth.
Despite earlier indications of stability, including social media posts featuring Ridgeline Games employees, Lehto’s sudden departure has left fans and industry observers wondering about the future direction of both the studio and the Battlefield series. EA, however, remains steadfast in its commitment to the franchise, confirming during a recent earnings call that work is underway on a new Battlefield title described as a “reimagination” of the series.
