Rebecka Coutaz - 6 Months at DICE
Here in Sweden, it is approaching Midsummer – a cherished tradition for us in welcoming summertime that then leads into vacations. So, I thought I would take some time to reflect on my time here at DICE over the last six months and my excitement for the future of the studio as we celebrate our 30th anniversary this year.
I have been in the video games industry for over 20 years, starting in QV localization and most recently as Managing Director of Ubisoft Annecy. Throughout this time, as a proud Swede, I have always admired DICE from afar. The phenomenal talent at the studio, along with the incredible game experiences the studio delivered to players have always amazed me. So, when the opportunity came late last year for me to take on the role of General Manager and lead this studio, I couldn’t have been more excited.
I joined DICE at a tough time. We had just shipped Battlefield 2042 which did not meet our, or our players, expectations. We heard that loud and clear. What impressed me immediately though was the desire from our teams – despite being disappointed by what they were hearing – to focus on addressing the game’s core issues as quickly as possible, as well as making the difficult decision to postpone Season 1 until we got the game into a better spot.
We hope that decision has been validated based on the enjoyment we are hearing and seeing from our community playing Season 1: Zero Hour and the Battle Pass. Long may that continue through the entire Season. This starts our Year 1 where we will deliver four Seasons of new content, alongside the ongoing evolution and improvement of the game that we spoke about in our Development Update last month.
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My passion for creating and sharing entertainment with others is really what led me into the games industry. All the teams I have been part of that have delivered successful game experiences have all had one thing in common – passion. And I have seen that in abundance across all those working on Battlefield at DICE, EA Gothenburg, Ripple Effect, our new studio in Seattle, and across Electronic Arts. DICE is at the heart of the future of the Battlefield franchise – one of the biggest franchises in gaming – and we are all-in to unlock its enormous potential.
It is such an exciting time for us in video games with new technology, new platforms, new business models, new player demographics, new ways of working, the metaverse! My focus for those that already work at DICE, as well as those that will work here in the future, is to ensure that we match their aspirations when it comes to ambition, creativity, and innovation. Ultimately, I want to make our people proud of what we create together for our players.
Our industry is a massive part of entertainment, with millions across the globe playing games every day. So, my objective has always been to support universities and schools to create specialized training for video games to grow a more diverse developer network. I have also always been dedicated to bettering the culture in the teams I lead, and this will continue at DICE. We will continue to build a diverse and inclusive studio, and partner with organizations and governing bodies to help grow our fantastic gaming scene here in Stockholm and across Sweden.
I also started at the perfect time! This year, DICE celebrates 30 years and we recently announced DICE at the Opera. I cannot wait to be at the Royal Swedish Opera in October to celebrate the unforgettable music we have all heard across our games.
In the longer term, I have a very clear vision for DICE as we enter our fourth decade. To become one of the world’s FPS powerhouses, and to become the ultimate destination for game creators both in Sweden and across the world. If you want to join me and be part of this amazing journey to shape the future of Battlefield, come join us at DICE!
Thank you to everybody at DICE and across Electronic Arts that has welcomed me to the Battlefield family over these past six months. Time has flown by, but we are just getting started!
Glad Midsommar! (Swedish for “Happy Midsummer”)
/ Rebecka Coutaz, VP GM DICE