EA reportedly expects Battlefield 6 to bring in 100 million players, a number that even DICE devs don't think is feasible

Oh hey, EA is taking an upcoming sequel, dumping a shit ton of money into it in short time, and trying to get it pushed out the doors with unrealistic sales goals?
I'm certain this has happened many other times but the first and only other example I know off the top of my head is Dead Space 3. "The last game barely sold like we wanted it to sell, so this time you're going to almost double the previous sales target in less time."

Even if they gave it away for free, they probably wouldn't hit that. Absolutely going to be used to justify layoffs.

Insanity. Hey, let's spend 400+ million on a franchise IP, and then expect player numbers to beat the last 3 combined.
Oh, you didn't hit the target? Guess we gotta close the studio.
- Just remember, it was your failure and ~~our customers~~ mean gamers who caused it, not us and our "projections"

How many games have even hit that number? Only Minecraft, Roblox, and Fortnite have likely hit those kind of numbers.
- Yeah, that's mobile game territory.
- Yep the problem is that's what shareholders expect so the CEO has to say it. If he doesn't say it share price goes down. Investors are a bunch of vapid idiots thank goodness Valve is private.
- Idk. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has sold about 70 million copies - and even Black Ops 3 only sold 43 million copies. Battlefied 1 (2018) is the battlefield with the most sales: 25 million
  Edit: I give them 30 million sold copies maximum

If BF6 even gets close to that number I will eat my own socks. Such an unrealistic sales goal.

"Among the things that we are predicting is that we won't have to cannibalize anyone else's sales," an Ars Technica source said. "That there's just such an appetite out there for shooters of this kind that we will just naturally be able to get the audience that we need."
Lol

But have you considered, line goes up?
Sadly, there are probably a lot of developers who are burning the candle at both ends to push this out the door, on an unrealistic schedule. And who will then burn the candle in the middle as well when the release is a buggy mess. Only to finally be tossed aside like so much trash when the game fails to realize these unrealistic expectations. And all of that will squarely be the fault of management, who will wipe away crocodile tears with the profits this game will generate. Just not the profit they unrealistically promised investors; so you know, the game was actually a failure. Fuck EA's management, the world would probably be a better place if the C-Level suite and board room got emptied out by some disaster.

This is either an intentional way of announcing layoffs without coming right out and saying that, or EA is insane
- Both. Definitely both.

Maybe this time they’ll let Linux users play.
- afaik linux players can still play older battlefields, like battlefield 4, which is probably superior to 2042
  
  afaik linux players can still play older battlefields, like battlefield 4,
  Yup, I still play it pretty often despite all the cheaters. Battlefield hardline was the last battlefield to allow Linux users.

Predictions: It will be the biggest failure of the franchise, just before a big game industry crash, and will be remembered as "the E.T. of the mid-2020's". Elon Musk and some other MAGA oligarchs will do their best to consolidate whatever remains of the industry into a few and far-right hands.

It's a lot but this is mostly based on free to play numbers. They plan on adding a battle royal mode.

Is there a SCP monster for EA or other big game company's marketing teams? Because they're a reality bending entity that creates unrealistic tasks that others are forced to do, despite knowing they won't manage AND will end up as lifeless husks either way

Sure, they can do that easily.
Just release for free on all platforms including mobile.