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 a first 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.

Battlefield Studios unites four EA studios: DICE (Stockholm), Motive, Ripple Effect, and Criterion. Each studio has a specific role in the development:

• DICE (Sweden): Multiplayer development.
• Motive: Single-player missions and multiplayer maps.
• Ripple Effect: Attracting new players to the franchise.
• Criterion: Single-player campaign.

This new Battlefield marks a return to a traditional linear single-player campaign, a departure from the multiplayer-only 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 weapons, vehicles, and gadgets, ultimately encompassing maps, modes, and squad play. Conquest and Breakthrough modes will also be tested. Participation requires signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

Initially, a few thousand players in Europe and North America will be invited, with plans to expand to tens of thousands more and additional regions.

This ambitious project follows the closure of Ridgeline Games, a studio previously working on a standalone single-player Battlefield title. The new game will feature a modern setting, a shift from previous installments set in World War I, World War II, and the near future. Concept art hints at ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, alongside natural disasters like wildfires. The game aims to recapture the essence of Battlefield 3 and 4, while expanding the franchise's offerings to attract a wider audience and retain core players.

The game will feature 64 players per map and will not include Specialists, addressing criticisms of Battlefield 2042. EA has yet to announce a release date, platforms, or the official title.