EA Unveils Battlefield Labs, Offers First Official Gameplay Look

EA has shared the first official preview of the upcoming Battlefield game as part of an announcement focusing on player testing and its development structure. A short glimpse of pre-alpha Battlefield gameplay was showcased in a video introducing EA's Battlefield Labs and inviting playtesters.

The video highlights what EA calls "Battlefield Labs," along with a call to action for playtesters, offering a brief look at the early stages of the game’s development.

Additionally, EA introduced "Battlefield Studios," the collective name for the four studios working on the new Battlefield title. These include DICE, the Stockholm-based developer behind the series; Motive, known for titles like the Dead Space remake and Star Wars: Squadrons; Ripple Effect (formerly DICE LA), which focuses on bringing new players to the franchise; and Criterion, famous for Need For Speed, though its work on the latter has concluded.

DICE is responsible for developing the multiplayer aspect, while Motive handles single-player missions and multiplayer maps. Ripple Effect aims to attract new players to the franchise, and Criterion is working on the single-player campaign.

As previously announced, the new Battlefield reintroduces a traditional single-player linear campaign following 2021’s Battlefield 2042, which was multiplayer-only.

EA stated that its collective Battlefield Studios teams are entering a critical phase of development and seek player input to prioritize, enhance, and refine the game before release. Through Battlefield Labs, EA plans to test nearly everything, though not all elements seen by participants will be fully polished. Participants must agree to an NDA before joining.

Concept art for the new Battlefield. Credit: Electronic Arts."Even in pre-alpha, we’re proud of the progress," EA noted. "We rigorously playtest, but your feedback will significantly boost our development as we aim for the perfect blend of form, function, and feel."

"This marks an unprecedented moment for Battlefield. We’ll start by testing core gameplay elements like combat and destruction. Then we’ll move on to balancing weapons, vehicles, and gadgets, culminating in how all these elements come together in maps, modes, and squad play.

"And yes, we’ll be testing Conquest and Breakthrough, the heart of our all-out warfare experience. However, BF Labs will also serve as a space to explore new concepts and refine Battlefield staples like the class system (Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon) to foster deeper, more strategic gameplay."

Initial invitations will be limited to a few thousand participants, with servers initially located in Europe and North America. Over time, EA plans to expand the program to tens of thousands more participants and additional territories. It’s worth noting that while EA is dedicating four full studios to the project, it closed Ridgeline Games, a Seattle-based studio working on a standalone single-player Battlefield game, last year.

In September, EA released fresh details and concept art for its untitled Battlefield game, confirming its return to a modern setting after exploring World War I, World War II, and futuristic settings. The concept art suggests ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, as well as natural disasters like wildfires, will feature in the new game.

Vince Zampella, Head of Respawn and Group GM for EA Studios Organization, referenced Battlefield 3 and 4 in an interview with IGN, emphasizing the return to a modern setting. "If you look back to the peak of Battlefield, it's that Battlefield 3... Battlefield 4 era where everything was modern," he said. "We need to get back to the core of what Battlefield is and do that exceptionally well."

The shift to a modern setting signifies a course correction following Battlefield 2042, which faced criticism for features like Specialists—characters that made it seem like Battlefield was becoming a hero shooter. Its ambitious 128-player maps were also unpopular with fans preferring a more focused experience. Battlefield 2042 eventually reverted to 64 players per map, and the next installment plans to maintain that approach. Specialists will not be returning.

The stakes are high for the next Battlefield following the missteps of 2042. EA CEO Andrew Wilson described it as one of the "most ambitious projects in our history," and the involvement of multiple studios underscores its significance. The Battlefield Studios tagline reflects this commitment: “We’re all in on Battlefield.”

"Yeah, it's definitely betting bigger on Battlefield,” Zampella told IGN. “We’re expanding what Battlefield is. We need to win back the core players who have supported us forever, and then attract more players to the universe. When you want a different experience, you shouldn’t have to leave Battlefield—you can explore more within the universe. So we’re broadening the offerings."

EA has not yet announced a release date, launch platforms, or a final title for the new Battlefield.