EA Unveils Battlefield Labs: First Look at New Gameplay

EA has unveiled the first official glimpse of the upcoming Battlefield game through an announcement about player testing and the game's development framework. This brief look at pre-alpha gameplay is part of a video that introduces Battlefield Labs, a new initiative aimed at engaging playtesters.

The new Battlefield game marks a return to a traditional single-player linear campaign, a departure from 2021's multiplayer-only Battlefield 2042.

EA emphasizes that the development teams at Battlefield Studios are entering a critical phase and are eager to incorporate player feedback to refine the game before its release. Through Battlefield Labs, EA plans to test various aspects of the game, although not all elements shown will be finalized. Participants will be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

Battlefield Labs is specifically designed to involve playtesters in the development process. Concept art credit: Electronic Arts. EA expressed pride in the game's current state, even at the pre-alpha stage, and highlighted the importance of player feedback in enhancing development. The focus will initially be on core gameplay elements like combat and destruction, progressing to weapon, vehicle, and gadget balance, and ultimately integrating these into maps, modes, and squad play.

Key game modes such as Conquest and Breakthrough will be tested, alongside exploring new ideas and refining the class system (Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon) to deepen strategic gameplay.

Initial testing will be limited to a few thousand participants in Europe and North America, with plans to expand to tens of thousands across additional regions. Despite the significant investment in four studios for this project, EA closed Ridgeline Games last year, which was working on a standalone single-player Battlefield game.

In September, EA shared more details and the first concept art for the untitled Battlefield game, confirming a return to a modern setting following previous entries set in 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, spoke to IGN about returning to the essence of Battlefield seen in Battlefield 3 and 4. He emphasized the importance of recapturing the "Battlefield-ness" of those games and expanding the franchise to retain and attract players.

The shift back to a modern setting and traditional campaign structure is seen as a strategic move after the mixed reception to Battlefield 2042, which introduced controversial features like Specialists and large 128-player maps. The next Battlefield will revert to 64-player maps and abandon the Specialist system.

With significant investment and high expectations, the new Battlefield game is under pressure to succeed. EA CEO Andrew Wilson has described it as one of the most ambitious projects in EA's history. Zampella reiterated the commitment to the core Battlefield experience while expanding the universe to offer diverse experiences within the franchise.

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