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

EA has unveiled a first look at its new Battlefield game, alongside details about its player testing program, Battlefield Labs, and its development structure, Battlefield Studios. A short pre-alpha gameplay video accompanies the announcement.

Battlefield Studios unites four EA studios: DICE (Stockholm), Motive, Ripple Effect, and Criterion. DICE leads multiplayer development, Motive handles single-player missions and multiplayer maps, Ripple Effect focuses on attracting new players, and Criterion is developing the single-player campaign. The new game marks a return to a traditional linear single-player campaign after Battlefield 2042’s solely multiplayer focus.

EA is entering a crucial development phase and seeks player feedback via Battlefield Labs. This program will test various aspects, from core combat and destruction to weapon balance and map design, including Conquest and Breakthrough modes. Participants will need to sign an NDA. Initial testing will involve a few thousand players in Europe and North America, expanding to tens of thousands and more regions later. This follows the closure of Ridgeline Games, a studio previously working on a standalone single-player Battlefield title.

EA emphasizes the importance of player feedback in refining the game’s core elements and creating a deeper, more strategic experience, including improvements to the class system (Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon). The game will return to a modern setting after previous installments in World War I, World War II, and the near future, featuring ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, and natural disasters like wildfires, as hinted at in previously released concept art.

Vince Zampella, Head of Respawn and Group GM for EA Studios Organization, cited Battlefield 3 and 4 as inspirations, aiming to recapture the series’ peak. The new game will revert to 64-player maps and abandon the Specialist system from Battlefield 2042, addressing criticisms of that game.

EA CEO Andrew Wilson calls the new Battlefield one of EA’s most ambitious projects, reflecting the significant investment and involvement of multiple studios. Zampella highlights the goal of regaining the trust of core Battlefield players while expanding the franchise to attract new audiences.

EA has yet to announce a release date, platforms, or the official title for the new Battlefield game.