EA Says Next Battlefield Is 'Expected' Fiscal Year 2026

EA's Next Battlefield Game: A Return to Form

Electronic Arts (EA) announced today that the next installment in the Battlefield franchise is slated for release within its fiscal year 2026, spanning April 2025 to March 2026. This follows the release of a pre-alpha gameplay preview and the unveiling of "Battlefield Labs," a new player testing initiative designed to gather crucial feedback during development.

This ambitious project leverages the collective expertise of four studios under the "Battlefield Studios" umbrella: DICE (Stockholm), Motive, Ripple Effect, and Criterion. Each studio is tackling specific aspects of development:

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

EA emphasizes that Battlefield Labs will involve testing core gameplay elements, including combat, destruction, weapons, vehicles, gadgets, and map design, alongside the classic Conquest and Breakthrough modes. The initiative also aims to refine the class system and explore innovative gameplay ideas. Participation requires signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

This renewed focus on core Battlefield gameplay marks a departure from Battlefield 2042, which faced criticism for its Specialists system and large-scale maps. The upcoming title will revert to 64-player maps and eliminate Specialists, aiming to recapture the essence of earlier titles like Battlefield 3 and 4, as confirmed by Vince Zampella, Head of Respawn and Group GM for EA Studios Organization. The game will return to a modern setting, incorporating elements like ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, and environmental hazards such as wildfires.

EA's commitment to the next Battlefield is substantial, involving four studios and representing a significant investment. The company aims to regain the trust of core Battlefield players while expanding the franchise's appeal to a wider audience. While platforms and a final title remain unannounced, the anticipation is high for this pivotal entry in the series.