EA Unveils Battlefield Labs: First Look at New Gameplay

EA has unveiled the first official glimpse of the upcoming Battlefield game through an announcement centered around player testing and its development framework. The brief pre-alpha gameplay footage is part of a video introducing EA's Battlefield Labs initiative and a call for playtesters.

Alongside this, EA introduced Battlefield Studios, the collective branding for the four studios working on the new title. These include DICE in Stockholm, Sweden, focusing on multiplayer development; Motive, known for the Dead Space remake and Star Wars: Squadrons, contributing to single-player missions and multiplayer maps; Ripple Effect, formerly DICE LA in the U.S., tasked with bringing new players into the franchise; and Criterion from the UK, previously involved with Need For Speed, now working on the single-player campaign. The new Battlefield marks a return to a traditional single-player linear campaign, differing from 2021's multiplayer-only Battlefield 2042.

EA emphasized that the Battlefield Studios teams are entering a critical development phase and are seeking player feedback to prioritize, improve, and refine elements before the game's release. Through Battlefield Labs, EA plans to test nearly everything, though not all elements shown will be complete. Participants will need to agree to a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to join the testing.

EA expressed pride in the game's current state, even in pre-alpha, and highlighted the importance of player feedback in enhancing development. The testing will start with core combat and destruction, moving to balance and feedback on weapons, vehicles, and gadgets, and eventually integrating these into maps, modes, and squad play. EA confirmed that Conquest and Breakthrough modes will be tested, alongside exploring new ideas and refining the class system to enhance strategic gameplay.

Initial invites to Battlefield Labs will be limited to a few thousand participants in Europe and North America, with plans to expand to tens of thousands more across additional territories. This comes despite EA's decision last year to shut down Ridgeline Games, which was developing a standalone single-player Battlefield game.

In September, EA shared more details and concept art of the untitled Battlefield game, confirming a return to a modern setting. The concept art hinted at ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, as well as natural disasters like wildfires. Vince Zampella, Head of Respawn and Group GM for EA Studios Organization, referenced the peak of Battlefield with the modern settings of Battlefield 3 and 4, aiming to recapture that era's essence.

The new game represents a shift back to a more traditional experience following the mixed reception of Battlefield 2042, which eventually scaled back from 128-player maps to 64 and moved away from the controversial Specialists feature. EA CEO Andrew Wilson described the new Battlefield as one of the company's most ambitious projects, reflecting the significant investment with multiple studios involved. Zampella emphasized the goal of not only recapturing the core Battlefield audience but also expanding the game's universe to offer diverse experiences within the franchise.

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