News about First Official Look at New Battlefield Gameplay as EA Reveals Battlefield Labs

EA Unveils Battlefield Labs and Battlefield Studios for the Next Battlefield Game

EA has offered the first official look at its upcoming Battlefield game, alongside details about its player testing program, "Battlefield Labs," and the newly formed "Battlefield Studios."

A short pre-alpha gameplay video accompanies the announcement, showcasing early development footage. The video also serves as a call to action for playtesters.

Battlefield Studios unites four EA studios in the development of the new Battlefield title: DICE (Stockholm, handling multiplayer), Motive (single-player missions and multiplayer maps), Ripple Effect (player acquisition), and Criterion (single-player campaign). This marks the end of Criterion's work on Need for Speed.

The new game will feature a traditional linear single-player campaign, a departure from the multiplayer-only Battlefield 2042. EA is entering a critical development phase and seeks player feedback through Battlefield Labs to prioritize improvements before release. Participation requires signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

Battlefield Labs is designed to bring in playtesters for the new Battlefield. Concept art credit: Electronic Arts.

EA emphasizes the importance of player feedback in refining core gameplay elements, including combat, destruction, weapons, vehicles, gadgets, maps, modes, and squad play. Conquest and Breakthrough modes will be tested, along with explorations of the class system.

Initial testing will involve a few thousand players in Europe and North America, expanding to tens of thousands later with broader geographical support. This ambitious project follows the closure of Ridgeline Games, a studio previously working on a standalone single-player Battlefield game.

The new Battlefield returns to a modern setting after previous installments set in World War I, World War II, and the near future. Concept art hints at ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, along with natural disaster elements. The game aims to recapture the essence of Battlefield 3 and 4, addressing criticisms of Battlefield 2042, such as the Specialist system and large-scale maps. The new game will feature 64-player maps and will not include Specialists.

EA CEO Andrew Wilson has described the project as one of EA's most ambitious, reflecting the significant investment and involvement of multiple studios. The goal is to revitalize the franchise, regain player trust, and expand the Battlefield universe to attract a wider audience.

EA has yet to announce a release date, platforms, or the official title.