EA's Next Battlefield Game Set for Fiscal Year 2026

The highly anticipated next installment in the Battlefield series is set to launch during EA's fiscal year 2026, which spans from April 2025 to March 2026. EA announced this timeline as part of their financial results for the third quarter of the current fiscal year, ending March 2025. This news comes alongside the release of the first official look at the new Battlefield game, showcasing pre-alpha gameplay as part of the introduction to Battlefield Labs.

Battlefield Labs is a new initiative from EA aimed at fostering player-driven testing and innovation. It's designed to gather crucial feedback before the game's expected release in fiscal year 2026. The initiative is part of EA's broader strategy to refine the game's development through direct player involvement, even in its pre-alpha stage.

EA has also introduced Battlefield Studios, an umbrella branding for the four studios dedicated to the new Battlefield game. These include DICE in Sweden, focusing on multiplayer; Motive, responsible for single-player missions and multiplayer maps; Ripple Effect, tasked with bringing new players into the franchise; and Criterion, which is developing the single-player campaign. The collective effort of these studios marks a "critical" phase in the development cycle, with EA eager to prioritize, improve, and refine the game based on player feedback.

The development process will start by testing core gameplay elements like combat and destruction, progressing to weapon, vehicle, and gadget balance, and ultimately integrating these into maps, modes, and squad play. EA plans to test traditional modes like Conquest and Breakthrough, while also exploring new ideas and refining the class system to enhance strategic gameplay.

This new Battlefield game will return to a modern setting, a move seen as a course correction after the mixed reception to Battlefield 2042. The previous game, which experimented with 128-player maps and a hero shooter-like Specialists system, faced criticism for deviating from the series' core appeal. The upcoming game will revert to 64-player maps and abandon the Specialists concept, aiming to recapture the essence of what made Battlefield 3 and 4 successful.

EA CEO Andrew Wilson has described the new Battlefield as one of the "most ambitious projects" in EA's history, reflecting the significant investment and high expectations. Vince Zampella, Head of Respawn & Group GM for EA Studios, emphasized the importance of returning to the core elements that define Battlefield, while also expanding the game's universe to offer diverse experiences within the franchise.

Despite the excitement, EA has yet to reveal the final title or the launch platforms for the new Battlefield game. As the development progresses, fans and new players alike can look forward to a more focused and engaging Battlefield experience.