EA trying to 'differentiate' Medal of Honor, Battlefield

EA is making a conscious effort to differentiate its Medal of Honor and Battlefield series, according to EA Labels head Frank Gibeau. Despite using the same game engine and cross-promotional efforts, Gibeau says the move is to cut down on franchise fatigue.

"With Medal of Honor we tried to embrace that the game is 'real.' The multiplayer is very different than Battlefield. We're trying to use a sequencing strategy to keep it as fresh and different as possible." He notes, "The trick is figuring out how to grow both of them together."

"We are very careful that Battlefield and Medal of Honor stay differentiated," Gibeau told Game Informer. "While there is an inefficiency to having two different brands coming out alternating like that, there is some upside. You don't have the annualized, sequel fatigue."

That remark seems like a pretty direct shot at the Call of Duty franchise, which has split into different sub-series but always under the Call of Duty name. That means similarities between the games, which invites comparisons. By making Medal of Honor and Battlefield distinct franchises, EA may be hoping that fans don't burn out on either one.

EA is still happy to cross-promote the games, however. Just today, it officially announced a Battlefield 4 beta code will be included with the Limited Edition of Medal of Honor: Warfighter.