EA Unveils Next Battlefield Game for Fiscal Year 2026 Release

EA has announced that the next Battlefield game is slated for release in its fiscal year 2026.

In its third-quarter financial results for the fiscal year ending March 2025, EA confirmed the new Battlefield is targeted for a fiscal year 2026 launch.

This places the release window between April 2025 and March 2026.

EA recently provided a first look at the upcoming Battlefield title, highlighting its development process and plans for player testing.

A brief preview of pre-alpha gameplay was shared in a video introducing Battlefield Labs, alongside an invitation for playtesters to join the effort.

"EA introduced Battlefield Labs, a player-driven testing initiative to shape the franchise’s fiscal year 2026 release," the company stated in its financial report.

EA also revealed Battlefield Studios, the collective name for the four studios developing the new title: DICE in Stockholm, Sweden; Motive, known for Dead Space remake and Star Wars: Squadrons; Ripple Effect, formerly DICE LA; and Criterion in the UK, which has concluded its work on Need For Speed.

DICE is crafting the multiplayer experience, Motive is developing single-player missions and multiplayer maps, Ripple Effect is focused on attracting new players, and Criterion is building the single-player campaign.

EA noted that its Battlefield Studios teams are entering a pivotal development phase, seeking player input to refine priorities and enhance the game. Battlefield Labs will test core elements, though not all features will be fully polished, and participants must sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

“Even in pre-alpha, we’re confident in the game’s progress,” EA stated. “We test extensively, but player feedback will accelerate our efforts to balance form, function, and feel.”

“This is a defining moment for Battlefield. We’ll begin testing core mechanics like combat and destruction, then focus on refining weapons, vehicles, and gadgets, before integrating them into maps, modes, and squad play.”

“We’ll test Conquest and Breakthrough, the essence of our all-out warfare, while Battlefield Labs will also explore fresh ideas and refine core elements like the class system (Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon) for deeper, strategic gameplay.”

Notably, EA closed Ridgeline Games last year, a Seattle-based studio working on a story-driven single-player Battlefield title, laying off its entire team.

In September, EA shared new details and concept art for the untitled Battlefield game, confirming a return to a modern setting after exploring World War I, World War II, and near-future themes. 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, referenced Battlefield 3 and 4 in an interview with IGN. “The peak of Battlefield was the Battlefield 3 and 4 era, with its modern setting,” he said.

“We need to recapture the essence of Battlefield and execute it flawlessly, then build from there. For players and our teams, that Battlefield 3 and 4 era was the pinnacle, evoking nostalgia, alongside the classic 1942.”

The shift to a modern setting follows Battlefield 2042, which eventually stabilized but faced criticism for features like Specialists, which gave it a hero-shooter feel, and its ambitious 128-player maps. Fans preferred a tighter experience, leading EA to revert to 64-player maps for the next title and remove Specialists.

The stakes are high for the next Battlefield after 2042’s challenges. EA CEO Andrew Wilson called it one of the company’s “most ambitious projects,” reflecting the significant investment across four studios. The Battlefield Studios motto is, “We’re all in on Battlefield.”

“We’re doubling down on Battlefield,” Zampella told IGN in 2024. “We’re delivering what core players expect while earning back their trust. We’re also expanding the universe to offer diverse experiences, so players can explore more within Battlefield.”

EA has not yet confirmed the launch platforms or final title for the new Battlefield.