EA Unveils Battlefield Labs and Battlefield Studios: A Return to Core Gameplay

EA has offered the first official look at its upcoming Battlefield game, simultaneously announcing Battlefield Labs, a playtesting initiative, and Battlefield Studios, the collective of four studios developing the title. A short pre-alpha gameplay video accompanies the announcement.

Battlefield Studios unites DICE (Stockholm, focusing on multiplayer), Motive (single-player and multiplayer maps), Ripple Effect (player acquisition), and Criterion (single-player campaign). This marks Criterion's shift away from the Need for Speed franchise.

The new Battlefield marks a return to a traditional linear single-player campaign, a departure from the multiplayer-only Battlefield 2042. EA is currently in a crucial development phase and seeks player feedback via Battlefield Labs. This program will test various aspects of the game, from core combat and destruction to weapon balance and map design, all under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). Initial testing will be limited to a few thousand players in Europe and North America, expanding later.

This ambitious project follows the closure of Ridgeline Games, a studio previously working on a standalone single-player Battlefield title. The new game returns to a modern setting, incorporating elements reminiscent of Battlefield 3 and 4, featuring ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, and natural disasters. The game will also revert to 64-player maps and eliminate the Specialist system from Battlefield 2042.

EA CEO Andrew Wilson describes the project as one of EA's most ambitious, reflecting the significant investment and the "all in" commitment from Battlefield Studios. Vince Zampella highlights the need to regain player trust after Battlefield 2042's reception while expanding the Battlefield universe to attract a broader audience.

A release date, platforms, and official title remain unannounced.