EA has offered the first official look at its new Battlefield game, alongside details about its player testing program, Battlefield Labs, and the development structure behind it. A short pre-alpha gameplay video accompanies the announcement.
EA also unveiled Battlefield Studios, a collective of four studios working on the new title: DICE (Stockholm), Motive, Ripple Effect, and Criterion. DICE is leading multiplayer development; Motive is handling single-player missions and multiplayer maps; Ripple Effect focuses on attracting new players; and Criterion is developing the 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's Battlefield Studios teams are entering a crucial development phase, seeking player feedback to refine the game before release. Battlefield Labs will test various aspects, though not everything will be fully polished. 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 later. It's important to note that while EA has committed four studios to this Battlefield, Ridgeline Games, a studio working on a separate single-player Battlefield title, was shut down last year.
September saw EA reveal details and concept art for the untitled game, confirming a return to a modern setting after previous installments set in World War I, World War II, and the near future. The concept art hinted at ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, along with natural disasters like wildfires.
Vince Zampella, Head of Respawn & Group GM for EA Studios Organization, referenced Battlefield 3 and 4 as inspirations, aiming to recapture the core essence of those titles. The return to a modern setting is a response to the criticism of Battlefield 2042, which, while eventually improving, was initially criticized for its Specialists system and large 128-player maps. The new Battlefield will feature 64 players per map and will not include Specialists.
The new Battlefield faces high expectations after Battlefield 2042's shortcomings. EA CEO Andrew Wilson described it as one of EA's most ambitious projects, reflecting the significant investment and the commitment of multiple studios. The Battlefield Studios tagline emphasizes this commitment: "We’re all in on Battlefield.” Zampella stated the goal is to regain the trust of core Battlefield players while expanding the franchise to attract a wider audience.
EA has not yet announced a release date, platforms, or the official title for the new Battlefield.
