I kind of agree. Why would they want this? I can only assume it's because of the negative feedback which is suspect to say the least.
I can't believe how far this game has fallen.
A combo of negative feedback, and them knowing in the next month or so they won't be changing the core mechanics of the game. They've done some tweaks and they might do some more, but there is no way they can go wild like adjusting map sizes and layouts.
If they do a EA Access preview, it will show gamers they haven't done any serious changes vs. the tech test, which will turn off gamers and last minute pre-order cancels.
What Respawn will likely do is PR their way over the next few months that everything is great and hope sales keeps up at launch. No early previews. No demos. No nothing. Just hope gamers trust them.
And then Blam! The final game is basically the same as the tech test.
The key things people don't like are:
- Maps too big and open, leading to too much sniper gunplay when the old game had hardly any
- Not enough buildings for vertical movement/wallrunning
- Foot speed seems slower
- Mechs too easy to die (lack of shields)
- No hint of Attrition Mode (it seems Bounty Hunt is the substitute)
I'm no programmer, but aside from being able to adjust foot speed (I guess Reapwns can always make everyone run 25% faster), the other things seem like too much work to re-do and balance for launch.
As for how far the series has fallen, it is ex-Inifnity Ward employees. And EA has been trying to get that CoD crowd for a decade. Although TF has mechs (the only key shooter franchise that has it), the core gameplay of TF2 now feels exactly like BO 3. Instead of keeping the fast pace of TF (or making it even faster), Respawn slowed it down to appease casuals. Instead of dying after maybe 5-6 good shots, it's now CoD 3-4 bullet deaths. Take away the mechs and bright colours, and TF2 plays just like last years BO 3.
http://gamingbolt.com/titanfall-2-director-explains-why-respawn-lowered-game-speed-for-the-sequel
“We started by addressing the fact that you move so fast. You can’t shoot out of the air so easily. So we slowed things down just a touch. Then also thinking more in terms of having players more proactive decisions, so instead of reacting to everything, they’re thinking more like, “This match and this mode, this map, etc.” They go, what things in the loadout menu will best help me fulfill that purpose. There’s a much greater sense of purpose for players, so now they are thinking in terms of planning ahead, in terms of “I want to do this. This is my goal, this is my identity of how I am as a player.” There’s a huge difference, because all the different modes now kind of necessitate the player proactively thinking about what they want to do.”
