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

EA Unveils Battlefield Labs and Battlefield Studios for Next-Gen 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 accompanied the announcement, showcasing the progress being made. The video also introduced Battlefield Studios, a collective of four studios collaborating on the new title: DICE (Stockholm), Motive, Ripple Effect (formerly DICE LA), and Criterion.

The division of labor within Battlefield Studios is as follows: DICE is handling multiplayer development; Motive is focused on single-player missions and multiplayer maps; Ripple Effect is tasked with attracting new players to the franchise; and Criterion, following the completion of its work on Need for Speed, is developing the single-player campaign.

The new Battlefield marks a return to traditional linear single-player campaigns, a departure from the multiplayer-only focus of Battlefield 2042. EA is currently in a crucial development phase and seeks player feedback through Battlefield Labs. This program will test various aspects of the game, from core combat and destruction to weapon balance and map design. Participation requires signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

EA emphasized the importance of player feedback in refining the game's core mechanics, including Conquest and Breakthrough modes, as well as the class system. Initial testing will involve a few thousand players in Europe and North America, expanding to tens of thousands globally over time.

It's noteworthy that while EA is dedicating four studios to this project, Ridgeline Games, a studio previously working on a standalone single-player Battlefield title, was shut down last year.

The new Battlefield will return to a modern setting after exploring World War I, World War II, and near-future settings in previous installments. Concept art previously revealed hints of ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, along with natural disaster elements like wildfires. Vince Zampella, Head of Respawn and Group GM for EA Studios Organization, cited Battlefield 3 and 4 as inspirations, aiming to recapture the essence of those titles. The game will also abandon the Specialist system and 128-player maps of Battlefield 2042, opting instead for a more focused experience with 64 players per map.

EA CEO Andrew Wilson described the project as one of EA's most ambitious endeavors, reflecting the significant investment and the collaborative effort of Battlefield Studios, whose tagline is "We’re all in on Battlefield." Zampella highlighted the goal of regaining the trust of core Battlefield players while also expanding the franchise's appeal to a wider audience.

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