EA has unveiled the first official look at the new Battlefield game, integrating it into an announcement about player testing and its development structure. This glimpse at pre-alpha gameplay is part of a video introducing EA's Battlefield Labs and a call for playtesters to join the testing phase.
EA also introduced Battlefield Studios, an umbrella term for the four studios collaborating on the new Battlefield game. These include DICE in Stockholm, Sweden, which is focusing on multiplayer development; Motive, responsible for the Dead Space remake and Star Wars: Squadrons, tasked with creating single-player missions and multiplayer maps; Ripple Effect, formerly DICE LA, which is working on attracting new players to the franchise; and Criterion, known for Need For Speed, now focusing on the single-player campaign.This new Battlefield game marks the return of a traditional single-player linear campaign, a departure from 2021's multiplayer-focused Battlefield 2042. EA states that the Battlefield Studios teams are now entering a "critical" phase of development and are eager to incorporate player feedback to refine and enhance the game before its release. Battlefield Labs will facilitate this process by allowing EA to test various aspects of the game, though not everything shown will be in its final form. Participants in these tests will need to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
Battlefield Labs aims to engage playtesters for the new Battlefield. Concept art credit: Electronic Arts. "Even in pre-alpha, we are proud of where the game is at," EA commented. "We tirelessly playtest, but your feedback will supercharge our development as we strive to hit that perfect note between form, function, and feel.
EA plans to start by testing core gameplay elements such as combat and destruction, then move on to balancing and refining weapons, vehicles, and gadgets. Ultimately, they will focus on how these elements integrate into maps, modes, and squad play. Both Conquest and Breakthrough modes, central to the Battlefield experience, will be tested, along with new ideas to enhance and refine the game's class system (Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon) for deeper, more strategic gameplay.
Initial invites to Battlefield Labs will be limited to a few thousand participants in Europe and North America, with plans to expand to tens of thousands more across additional regions over time. This comes after EA shut down Ridgeline Games, which was developing a standalone single-player Battlefield game, and laid off all its staff.
In September, EA provided more details and the first concept art for the untitled Battlefield game. IGN confirmed the game's return to a modern setting, moving away from previous themes of World War I, World War II, and the near future. The concept art hinted at ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, as well as natural disasters like wildfires.
Vince Zampella, Head of Respawn & Group GM for EA Studios Organization, emphasized the importance of returning to the essence of Battlefield, referencing the peak periods of Battlefield 3 and 4. "I mean, if you look back to the peak or the pinnacle of Battlefield, it's that Battlefield 3... Battlefield 4 era where everything was modern," he stated. "And I think we have to get back to the core of what Battlefield is and do that amazingly well, and then we'll see where it goes from there."
The return to a modern setting is a strategic move following the mixed reception of Battlefield 2042, which introduced controversial features like Specialists and large 128-player maps. The new game will revert to 64-player maps and eliminate the Specialist system, aiming to reconnect with core fans and expand the player base.
With significant investment and multiple studios involved, the pressure is high for the next Battlefield to succeed. EA CEO Andrew Wilson has described it as one of the "most ambitious projects in [EA's] history." Zampella reiterated the commitment to the franchise, saying, "Yeah, it's definitely betting bigger on Battlefield. It's going in and expanding what Battlefield is. We have to have the core. The core Battlefield players know what they want. They've been with us forever, they've been amazing supporters. We need to earn their trust back and get them back on our side."
EA has yet to disclose a release date, launch platforms, or the final title for the new Battlefield game.
