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

EA Unveils Battlefield Labs and Battlefield Studios: A Return to Form

EA has offered the first official glimpse of 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 the progress being made. The video introduces Battlefield Labs, a dedicated playtesting initiative seeking player feedback to shape the game's development. Participants will be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

Battlefield Studios unites four EA studios: DICE (Stockholm), Motive, Ripple Effect, and Criterion. Each studio has a specific role:

• DICE (Sweden): Multiplayer development.
• Motive: Single-player missions and multiplayer maps.
• Ripple Effect: Attracting new players to the franchise.
• Criterion: Single-player campaign.

The new Battlefield marks a return to a traditional linear single-player campaign, a departure from the multiplayer-only Battlefield 2042. EA emphasizes that this is a crucial development phase, and player feedback is paramount in prioritizing features and refining gameplay before launch.

EA states that Battlefield Labs will test core gameplay elements, including combat, destruction, weapons, vehicles, gadgets, maps, modes, and squad play. Conquest and Breakthrough modes will also be tested. The class system (Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon) will be refined for deeper strategic gameplay.

Initial testing will involve a few thousand players in Europe and North America, expanding to tens of thousands globally over time.

This ambitious project follows the closure of Ridgeline Games, a studio previously working on a standalone single-player Battlefield title. The new game will return to a modern setting, featuring ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, and incorporating natural disasters like wildfires. Development aims to recapture the essence of Battlefield 3 and 4, focusing on core gameplay and expanding the Battlefield universe to attract a wider audience.

While EA hasn't revealed a release date, platforms, or the final title, the significant investment and the involvement of four studios highlight the high stakes and the determination to deliver a successful Battlefield experience. The "We’re all in on Battlefield" tagline underscores EA's commitment to regaining player trust and revitalizing the franchise.