Halo Co-Creator Criticizes EA for Not Crediting Ridgeline Games Staff in Battlefield 6

Marcus Lehto, the co-creator of Halo, has publicly criticized Electronic Arts (EA) for failing to properly credit developers from Ridgeline Games who worked on Battlefield 6. The game, developed through the combined efforts of several EA studios, was meant to rejuvenate the franchise — but controversy has now emerged over missing names in its credits.

🎮 Massive Success — but with Overshadowed Contributors

Following a successful open beta and a highly anticipated launch, Battlefield 6 achieved an impressive milestone, selling 7 million copies in just five days and generating around $350 million in revenue. Despite this strong debut, the release has been tainted by criticism regarding credit omissions, particularly from Lehto, who claims many Ridgeline developers were left out.

⚠️ Marcus Lehto’s Statement on Missing Credits

On LinkedIn, Lehto expressed disappointment that the Ridgeline Games staff were “not properly credited” for working “tirelessly for 1 to 2.5 years” on Battlefield 6. While a few names appeared in the “Special Thanks” section, many contributors — including Lehto himself — were excluded entirely.

Lehto, who left Ridgeline in 2024, noted that his team had already begun work on the game’s campaign before his departure. Though the extent of his narrative input remains unclear, Lehto emphasized that the effort and passion of those involved deserve proper acknowledgment.

🏚️ Studio Closure and Industry Layoffs

The omission is particularly painful given that Ridgeline Games was shut down by EA shortly after Lehto’s exit, as part of widespread layoffs affecting multiple EA subsidiaries. At the time, Lehto described the news as a “gut punch”, calling the affected developers “incredibly valuable to the Battlefield franchise.”

The broader wave of layoffs across the gaming industry continued into 2025, with hundreds of EA employees and developers from companies under Microsoft and Tencent also losing their jobs — highlighting ongoing instability across major studios.

While Battlefield 6 continues to perform well commercially, Lehto’s comments have reignited discussion about crediting practices and fair recognition within the gaming industry — an issue that remains as relevant as ever.