EA Unveils Battlefield Labs: First Look at New Gameplay

EA has provided the first official glimpse into the new Battlefield game, highlighting player testing and the development framework in a recent announcement. This brief look at pre-alpha gameplay is part of a video introducing Battlefield Labs, along with a call for playtesters to join the development process.

EA also introduced Battlefield Studios, a collective term for the four studios working on the new Battlefield. These include DICE in Stockholm, Sweden, focusing on multiplayer; Motive, known for the Dead Space remake and Star Wars: Squadrons, handling single-player missions and multiplayer maps; Ripple Effect (formerly DICE LA) in the U.S., aiming to attract new players to the franchise; and Criterion in the UK, previously involved with Need For Speed, now tasked with developing the single-player campaign.

The new Battlefield will feature a return to a traditional single-player linear campaign, a shift from the multiplayer-only approach of 2021's Battlefield 2042. EA emphasized that the Battlefield Studios teams are entering a crucial development phase and are seeking player feedback to prioritize, improve, and refine elements before the game's release. Battlefield Labs will facilitate this by testing various aspects, though not everything shown will be final. Participants in this testing phase will need to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

EA expressed pride in the game's current pre-alpha state and highlighted the importance of player feedback in enhancing the game's core elements of combat, destruction, weapons, vehicles, gadgets, maps, modes, and squad play. They plan to test key modes like Conquest and Breakthrough, alongside exploring new ideas and refining the class system to enhance strategic gameplay.

Initial testing will be limited to a few thousand participants in Europe and North America, with plans to expand to tens of thousands across more regions. Despite the focus on Battlefield, EA closed Ridgeline Games last year, which was developing a standalone single-player Battlefield game.

In September, EA shared more details and concept art of the upcoming Battlefield game, confirming a return to a modern setting after previous entries set in World War I, World War II, and the near future. The concept art hinted at ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, as well as natural disasters like wildfires.

Vince Zampella, Head of Respawn & Group GM for EA Studios Organization, emphasized the importance of returning to the essence of Battlefield as seen in Battlefield 3 and 4, aiming to recapture the nostalgia and core appeal of those games. This approach represents a course correction following the mixed reception to Battlefield 2042, which eventually adjusted to a 64-player format and moved away from the criticized Specialist system.

The pressure is high for the next Battlefield game, with EA CEO Andrew Wilson describing it as one of the company's most ambitious projects. The involvement of multiple studios underscores the significant investment in the franchise. Zampella reiterated the goal of not only regaining the trust of core Battlefield players but also expanding the game's universe to offer diverse experiences without players needing to leave the Battlefield ecosystem.

EA has not yet announced a release date, launch platforms, or a final title for the new Battlefield game.