The future is familiar territory for DICE and the Battlefield franchise. The studio gave us its version of an icy, mech-filled next century in 2008's Battlefield: 2142. And after a cargo box bearing the number 2143 was discovered in Battlefield 3: Back to Karkand, many fans hoped DICE would pull a Marty McFly and go back to the future with its next installment in the franchise. Sorry, but DICE GM Karl Troedsson revealed today that Battlefield 4 will maintain its present-day setting.
The Verge reports on Troedsson's presentation at GDC Europe, where the studio boss had this to say about the shift rival FPS franchises are making to the future:
"We still want to stay in this genre, the modern day as it is," Troedsson said. "We feel this is a place we can be and continue with the series. Battlefield 4 can live in this space and be very successful."
So while it appears there won't be a full-blown Battlefield: 2143, it's worth noting DICE has a history of updating its older games in various ways, as it did with Battlefield 1943, BF3: Back to Karkand, and the Bad Company 2 expansion, Vietnam. I'm guessing we'll see 2143, in some shape or form, in the not-too-distant future.