First Official Look at New Battlefield Gameplay as EA Reveals Battlefield Labs %v

EA Unveils Battlefield Labs and Battlefield Studios for Upcoming Title

EA has offered the first official peek at its new Battlefield game, alongside details about its player testing program, Battlefield Labs, and the development structure, Battlefield Studios.

A short pre-alpha gameplay video accompanied the announcement, showcasing the game's progress.

The announcement also introduced Battlefield Studios, a collective of four studios collaborating on the new Battlefield game: DICE (Stockholm), Motive, Ripple Effect, and Criterion. Each studio has a specific role:

DICE (Sweden): Multiplayer development.
Motive: Single-player missions and multiplayer maps.
Ripple Effect: Attracting new players to the franchise.
Criterion: Single-player campaign.

The new Battlefield marks a return to traditional linear single-player campaigns, a departure from the multiplayer-only Battlefield 2042.

EA emphasizes that development has reached a critical stage, and player feedback is crucial for prioritizing improvements before release. Battlefield Labs will facilitate this, testing various aspects of the game, though not all elements will be fully realized. Participation requires signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

Battlefield Labs is designed to bring in playtesters for the new Battlefield. Concept art credit: Electronic Arts.

EA stated that even in the pre-alpha stage, they're pleased with the game's progress. Battlefield Labs will initially focus on core gameplay elements like combat and destruction, progressing to weapon, vehicle, and gadget balance, ultimately culminating in testing maps, modes, and squad play, including Conquest and Breakthrough. The class system (Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon) will also undergo refinement for enhanced strategic depth.

Initial invitations to Battlefield Labs will be limited to a few thousand players in Europe and North America, expanding to tens of thousands more and additional regions later.

It's important to note that while EA is heavily investing in this new Battlefield title with four studios, the company previously closed Ridgeline Games, a studio working on a standalone single-player Battlefield game.

The new Battlefield returns to a modern setting after previous installments set in World War I, World War II, and the near future. Concept art suggests ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, alongside natural disasters as gameplay elements. The development team has cited Battlefield 3 and 4 as inspiration, aiming to recapture the core essence of the franchise while expanding its appeal. The game will feature 64 players per map and will not include Specialists.

The high stakes for this new Battlefield are undeniable, following the mixed reception of Battlefield 2042. EA's significant investment and the involvement of multiple studios underscore its ambition. The aim is to regain the trust of core players while attracting a wider audience.

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