EA Unveils Battlefield Labs: First Look at New Gameplay

EA has unveiled the first official glimpse of the new Battlefield game, showcasing pre-alpha gameplay as part of an announcement about player testing and its development framework.

The brief preview comes within a video that introduces Battlefield Labs, along with a call for playtesters. Meanwhile, EA introduced Battlefield Studios, the collective branding for the four studios working on this new title: DICE in Stockholm, Sweden, focusing on multiplayer development; 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., tasked with attracting new players to the franchise; and Criterion in the UK, previously focused on Need For Speed, now working on the single-player campaign.

This new Battlefield game marks the return of a traditional single-player linear campaign, a shift from the multiplayer-only approach of 2021's Battlefield 2042.

EA stated that the Battlefield Studios teams are entering a "critical" phase of development, 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 features will be complete. 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, like core combat and destruction. Then 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 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. It's noteworthy that while EA is dedicating four studios to this project, it shut down Ridgeline Games last year, a studio that was developing a standalone single-player Battlefield game.

In September, EA shared further details and the first concept art for the untitled Battlefield game. IGN confirmed that the game will return to a modern setting, following previous iterations set in World War I, World War II, and the near future. The concept art hints 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, highlighted the importance of returning to the essence of the series, referencing the peak of Battlefield 3 and 4. "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 said.

"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 return to a modern setting is a strategic move after the mixed reception to Battlefield 2042, which eventually found its footing but faced criticism for its Specialists and 128-player maps. The next Battlefield game will revert to 64-player maps and will not feature Specialists.

The pressure is on for the new Battlefield following the challenges faced by Battlefield 2042. EA CEO Andrew Wilson described it as one of the "most ambitious projects in [EA's] history," reflecting the significant investment in the game. The Battlefield Studios slogan, "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.