EA Unveils Battlefield Labs: First Look at New Gameplay

EA has recently unveiled the first official glimpse of the upcoming Battlefield game, accompanied by announcements regarding player testing and the game's development structure.

This brief look at pre-alpha gameplay footage was showcased in a video introducing EA's new initiative, Battlefield Labs, and a call for playtesters to join in.

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 collective teams at Battlefield Studios are entering a crucial phase of development and are seeking player feedback to refine the game before its release. Through Battlefield Labs, EA plans to test various aspects of the game, though not all features shown will be finalized. Participants in these tests will be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

“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.”

Initially, EA will invite a few thousand participants to test the game, with servers located in Europe and North America. Plans are in place to expand invitations to tens of thousands more across additional territories. It's worth noting that while EA is dedicating four studios to this project, they closed Ridgeline Games last year, a studio that was developing a separate single-player Battlefield game.

In September, EA shared more details and the first concept art for the untitled Battlefield game. IGN confirmed that the game will return to a modern setting, following its ventures into World War I, World War II, and the near future. The concept art hinted at ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, alongside natural disasters like wildfires.

Vince Zampella, Head of Respawn & Group GM for EA Studios Organization, highlighted the nostalgia associated with Battlefield 3 and 4 in an interview with IGN. "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 noted.

“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 shift back to a modern setting is a strategic move following the mixed reception of Battlefield 2042, which, despite eventually finding its footing, was criticized for elements like the Specialists system and its ambitious 128-player maps. The next game will revert to 64-player maps and abandon the Specialists feature.

The pressure is on for the next Battlefield to succeed after 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 and the involvement of multiple studios. The motto for Battlefield Studios, “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 game.