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

EA has provided the first official glimpse into the eagerly anticipated new Battlefield game, unveiling it alongside an announcement about player testing and the game's development framework. The brief showcase of pre-alpha gameplay footage was part of a video that introduced EA's Battlefield Labs and a call for playtesters to join the development process.

Additionally, EA introduced Battlefield Studios, the unified branding for the four studios working on the new Battlefield title. These include DICE in Stockholm, Sweden, responsible for the multiplayer aspect; Motive, known for the Dead Space remake and Star Wars: Squadrons, which is handling single-player missions and multiplayer maps; Ripple Effect, formerly DICE LA, focused on attracting new players to the franchise; and Criterion from the UK, previously involved with Need For Speed, now tasked with the single-player campaign.

The upcoming Battlefield game marks the return of a traditional linear single-player campaign, a departure from the multiplayer-only approach of 2021's Battlefield 2042. EA emphasized that the collective teams at Battlefield Studios are entering a crucial development phase and are eager to incorporate player feedback to refine the game before its release. Through Battlefield Labs, EA will test various elements, though not all features will be fully developed. Participants will need to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to join the testing.

Battlefield Labs aims to engage playtesters for the new Battlefield. Concept art credit: Electronic Arts. "Even in pre-alpha, we are proud of where the game is at," EA stated. "We tirelessly playtest, but your feedback will supercharge our development as we strive to hit that perfect note between form, function, and feel.

"This is an unprecedented moment for Battlefield. We will start by testing the pillars of play, such as core combat and destruction. Then, we will transition to balance and feedback for our weapons, vehicles, and gadgets, ultimately leading to where all these pieces come together in our maps, modes, and squad play.

"And yes, we will be testing Conquest and Breakthrough, the heart and soul of our all-out warfare experience, but BF Labs will also be a place to explore new ideas and fine-tune and improve Battlefield pillars like our class system (Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon) to create deeper, more strategic play."

Initial testing will be limited to a few thousand participants, with servers in Europe and North America, expanding to tens of thousands more and additional territories over time. It's noteworthy that while EA is dedicating four studios to Battlefield, it closed Ridgeline Games last year, a studio that was developing a standalone single-player Battlefield game with a strong narrative focus.

In September, EA shared more details about the untitled Battlefield game, including its first concept art. IGN confirmed that the game will return to a modern setting, moving away from the historical contexts of World War I and II and the near future. The concept art hints at ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, as well as natural disasters like wildfires being part of the game.

Vince Zampella, Head of Respawn & Group GM for EA Studios Organization, highlighted the influence of Battlefield 3 and 4 in an interview with IGN. "I mean, if you look back to the peak or the pinnacle of Battlefield, it's that Battlefield 3... Battlefield 4 era where everything was modern,” he remarked.

"And I think we have to get back to the core of what Battlefield is and do that amazingly well, and then we'll see where it goes from there. But I think for me, it's that peak of Battlefield-ness is in that Battlefield 3 and 4 days. So I think it's nostalgic for players, for me, for the teams even. Those are kind of the heyday… although I would say 1942 also."

The shift back to a modern setting is a strategic move following the mixed reception of Battlefield 2042, which, despite eventually finding its footing, was criticized for features like Specialists and its 128-player maps. The next Battlefield will revert to 64-player maps and will not include Specialists.

The pressure is on for the new Battlefield to succeed after the challenges faced by its predecessor. EA CEO Andrew Wilson has described it as one of the "most ambitious projects in [EA's] history," reflecting the significant investment and involvement of multiple studios. The Battlefield Studios tagline, “We’re all in on Battlefield,” underscores this commitment.

"Yeah, it's definitely betting bigger on Battlefield,” Zampella told IGN in a 2024 interview. “It's going in and expanding what Battlefield is. We have to have the core. The core Battlefield players know what they want. They've been with us forever, they've been amazing supporters. We need to earn their trust back and get them back on our side. And then it's expanding out and getting more players into the universe and seeing what we can do, so when you want a different experience, you don't have to leave Battlefield. You can experience more things within the Battlefield universe. So we're expanding the offerings that we're giving."

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