EA Unveils Battlefield Labs and a Glimpse of the Next Battlefield Game

EA has offered the first official look at its upcoming Battlefield title, alongside details about its player testing program, Battlefield Labs, and the development structure behind the game.

A short pre-alpha gameplay video accompanies the announcement, showcasing the progress being made. The video is part of a broader reveal of Battlefield Studios, the collective name for the four studios collaborating on the new game: DICE (Stockholm), Motive, Ripple Effect, and Criterion.

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

The new Battlefield marks a return to a traditional, linear single-player campaign, a departure from the multiplayer-only approach of Battlefield 2042. EA is currently in a crucial development phase and is seeking player feedback through Battlefield Labs to prioritize improvements and refinements before launch. Participation requires signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

EA emphasizes that even in its pre-alpha state, the game shows significant promise. Battlefield Labs will initially test core gameplay elements such as combat and destruction, progressing to weapon, vehicle, and gadget balance, ultimately culminating in testing maps, modes, and squad play, including Conquest and Breakthrough. The class system (Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon) will also undergo refinement to enhance strategic depth.

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

It's noteworthy that despite the significant investment of four studios, EA previously shut down Ridgeline Games, a studio working on a standalone single-player Battlefield title.

The new Battlefield returns to a modern setting after previous installments in World War I, World War II, and the near future. Concept art hints at ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, alongside natural disaster elements like wildfires. The game aims to recapture the essence of Battlefield 3 and 4, addressing the criticisms leveled at Battlefield 2042, particularly concerning Specialists and large-scale maps. The new game will utilize 64-player maps and will not feature Specialists.

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