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

EA Unveils Battlefield Labs and Battlefield Studios: A New Era for the Franchise

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 accompanies the announcement, showcasing early development footage. The video also introduces Battlefield Studios, a collaborative effort uniting four studios under a single banner: DICE (Stockholm), Motive, Ripple Effect (formerly DICE LA), and Criterion.

Each studio has a specific role: DICE leads multiplayer development; Motive handles single-player missions and multiplayer maps; Ripple Effect focuses on attracting new players; and Criterion is responsible for the single-player campaign. This marks a return to traditional linear single-player campaigns after the multiplayer-only Battlefield 2042.

Battlefield Labs is crucial to the development process. EA seeks player feedback to refine core gameplay elements before release. Participants will test various aspects, including combat, destruction, weapons, vehicles, gadgets, maps, modes, and squad play. Conquest and Breakthrough modes will also be tested. The program will also explore new ideas and improvements to the class system. Participation requires signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

Initial invites are limited to a few thousand players in Europe and North America, 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 returns to a modern setting, as confirmed by EA, drawing inspiration from the highly-regarded Battlefield 3 and 4. Concept art suggests ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, along with natural disasters as gameplay elements.

The game aims to recapture the essence of classic Battlefield experiences, addressing criticisms of Battlefield 2042, such as the Specialist system and large-scale maps. The new title will feature 64-player maps and abandon the Specialist system.

EA's investment in the new Battlefield is substantial, with CEO Andrew Wilson describing it as one of the company's most ambitious projects. The goal is to revitalize the franchise, regain player trust, and expand the Battlefield universe to attract a broader audience.

A release date, platforms, and official title remain unannounced.