EA Unveils Battlefield Labs: First Look at New Gameplay

EA has unveiled the first official glimpse into the eagerly awaited new Battlefield game, spotlighting its development progress and introducing the concept of player testing through what they call Battlefield Labs.

In a brief showcase of pre-alpha gameplay footage, EA revealed details about Battlefield Labs and issued a call for playtesters to contribute to the game's development.

Alongside this, EA introduced Battlefield Studios, an umbrella brand encompassing four studios dedicated to the project. These include 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 involved with Need For Speed, now working on the single-player campaign.

The new Battlefield game marks a return to a traditional single-player linear campaign, a departure from the multiplayer-only approach of Battlefield 2042 released in 2021.

EA emphasized that the Battlefield Studios teams are entering a crucial phase of development, seeking player feedback to refine and enhance the game before its release. Through Battlefield Labs, EA plans to test various aspects of the game, though participants will need to agree to a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

EA expressed pride in the pre-alpha state of the game, stating, "We tirelessly playtest, but your feedback will supercharge our development as we strive to hit that perfect note between form, function, and feel."

The testing will begin with core gameplay elements like combat and destruction, then move to balancing weapons, vehicles, and gadgets, culminating in the integration of these elements into maps, modes, and squad play. EA confirmed that iconic modes like Conquest and Breakthrough will be tested, alongside new ideas and improvements to the class system (Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon) to enhance strategic gameplay.

Initially, a limited number of playtesters will be invited, with servers in Europe and North America. EA plans to expand this to tens of thousands of participants across more regions over time. It's worth noting that despite the significant investment in Battlefield, EA closed Ridgeline Games last year, which was working on a standalone single-player Battlefield title.

In September, EA shared more details and concept art of the untitled Battlefield game, confirming its return to a modern setting after exploring 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, reminisced about the peak of the Battlefield series during an interview with IGN, citing Battlefield 3 and 4 as the pinnacle of the franchise. He stressed the importance of returning to the core elements that define Battlefield while expanding the universe to retain and attract players.

Following the challenges faced by Battlefield 2042, which shifted back to 64-player maps after experimenting with 128-player modes and introduced the controversial Specialists system, the new game aims to stick to more traditional elements. EA CEO Andrew Wilson described the project as one of the most ambitious in the company's history, and Zampella reiterated EA's commitment to expanding the Battlefield universe to cater to both core fans and new players.

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