EA Unveils Battlefield Labs and Battlefield Studios: A Collaborative Approach to the Next Battlefield Game
EA has offered the first official look at its upcoming Battlefield game, simultaneously announcing Battlefield Labs, a player testing initiative, and Battlefield Studios, a collaborative effort uniting four studios to develop the title.
A short pre-alpha gameplay video accompanies the announcement, showcasing the progress. Battlefield Studios comprises DICE (Stockholm, focusing on multiplayer), Motive (single-player and multiplayer maps), Ripple Effect (new player acquisition), and Criterion (single-player campaign). This marks a return to a traditional single-player campaign after the multiplayer-only Battlefield 2042.
The development is in a critical phase, and EA seeks player feedback via Battlefield Labs. While the testing will cover core aspects like combat, destruction, weapons, vehicles, gadgets, maps, modes, and squad play (including Conquest and Breakthrough), it will also explore new ideas and refine elements such as the class system. Participants will be bound by a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
Initial testing will involve a few thousand players in Europe and North America, scaling to tens of thousands later, with broader geographical support. This ambitious project follows the closure of Ridgeline Games, a studio previously working on a standalone single-player Battlefield title.
The new game returns to a modern setting, drawing inspiration from the Battlefield 3 and 4 era, as confirmed by Vince Zampella. Concept art previously released hints at ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, and natural disaster elements. The game will feature 64 players per map, abandoning the 128-player maps and Specialist system of Battlefield 2042.
EA CEO Andrew Wilson has described the project as one of EA's most ambitious, reflecting the significant investment and the "all in" commitment from Battlefield Studios. Zampella emphasizes the need to regain the trust of core Battlefield players while expanding the franchise's reach to a wider audience.
A release date, platforms, and official title remain unannounced.
