EA Unveils Battlefield Labs and Battlefield Studios: A Collaborative Approach to the Next Battlefield Game
EA has offered the first official look at its upcoming Battlefield title, simultaneously announcing the "Battlefield Labs" playtesting program and the "Battlefield Studios" development initiative.
A short pre-alpha gameplay video accompanies the announcement, showcasing the progress made. The video serves as a call to action for playtesters willing to participate in shaping the game's development.
Four studios are collaborating under the Battlefield Studios banner: DICE (Stockholm), Motive, Ripple Effect, and Criterion. Each studio focuses on specific aspects of the game:
- 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 approach of Battlefield 2042.
EA is entering a crucial development phase and seeks player feedback to prioritize improvements before launch. Battlefield Labs will test various game elements, though not all aspects will be fully realized. Participation requires signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
Initial playtesting will be limited to a few thousand participants in Europe and North America, expanding to tens of thousands and additional regions later.
This collaborative effort contrasts with the closure of Ridgeline Games, a studio previously working on a standalone single-player Battlefield game.
The new Battlefield returns to a modern setting after exploring World War I, World War II, and near-future settings. Concept art suggests naval and aerial combat, along with natural disaster elements. The development team cites Battlefield 3 and 4 as inspirational benchmarks.
The game aims to recapture the essence of classic Battlefield titles while expanding the franchise's offerings to attract a broader audience, addressing the shortcomings of Battlefield 2042, which notably featured unpopular Specialists and large-scale maps. The new game will utilize 64-player maps and eliminate Specialists.
The project represents a significant investment for EA, with CEO Andrew Wilson describing it as one of the company's most ambitious endeavors. The "Battlefield Studios" tagline, "We’re all in on Battlefield," reflects this commitment. A release date, platforms, and final title remain unannounced.
