EA Says Next Battlefield Is 'Expected' Fiscal Year 2026

Electronic Arts (EA) announced today that the next installment in the Battlefield franchise is slated for release within its fiscal year 2026, spanning from April 2025 to March 2026. This announcement accompanied the unveiling of Battlefield Labs, a new player testing initiative designed to gather feedback and shape the game's development. A brief pre-alpha gameplay glimpse was shared as part of this announcement.

Battlefield Labs will allow for player-driven testing and innovation, focusing on core gameplay pillars such as combat, destruction, and class systems (Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon). Conquest and Breakthrough modes will also be tested. Participation requires signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

EA also introduced Battlefield Studios, a collective of four studios collaborating on the project: DICE (Stockholm), Motive (Montreal), Ripple Effect (U.S.), and Criterion (UK). DICE is leading multiplayer development, Motive is handling single-player missions and multiplayer maps, Ripple Effect is focused on attracting new players, and Criterion is developing the single-player campaign. The teams are entering a critical development phase, emphasizing the importance of player feedback.

This new Battlefield marks a return to a modern setting after previous iterations explored World War I, World War II, and a near-future setting. Concept art suggests the inclusion of ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, along with natural disasters like wildfires. The game aims to recapture the essence of the Battlefield 3 and 4 era, focusing on core gameplay mechanics while expanding the overall Battlefield universe to attract a broader audience. Unlike Battlefield 2042, the new game will feature 64-player maps and will not include Specialists.

The project represents a significant investment for EA, involving multiple studios and aiming to address the shortcomings of Battlefield 2042. EA has yet to reveal official launch platforms or the game's final title.