Electronic Arts (EA) announced today that the next installment in the Battlefield franchise is slated for release sometime during its fiscal year 2026, spanning April 2025 to March 2026. This announcement accompanied the unveiling of Battlefield Labs, a new player testing initiative designed to gather feedback and shape the game's development. A brief pre-alpha gameplay glimpse was shared as part of this reveal.
EA also introduced Battlefield Studios, a collective of four studios—DICE (Stockholm), Motive, Ripple Effect, and Criterion—collaborating on the project. DICE is leading multiplayer development, Motive is handling single-player missions and multiplayer maps, Ripple Effect focuses on attracting new players, and Criterion is developing the single-player campaign. These teams are now in a critical development phase, actively seeking player input via Battlefield Labs. Participation in Battlefield Labs requires signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). EA emphasized that while pre-alpha gameplay is already promising, player feedback will significantly influence the final product, particularly concerning core combat, destruction, weapons, vehicles, gadgets, maps, modes, and squad play. Conquest and Breakthrough modes will also be tested. The class system (Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon) will be refined for deeper strategic gameplay.
It's noteworthy that this new Battlefield follows the closure of Ridgeline Games, a studio previously working on a standalone single-player Battlefield title. Concept art and details released earlier revealed a return to a modern setting after previous iterations in World War I, World War II, and the near future. The art hinted at ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, alongside natural disasters as environmental elements. The decision to return to a modern setting reflects a course correction after the mixed reception of Battlefield 2042, addressing criticism regarding Specialists and large map sizes. The new Battlefield will feature 64 players per map and will not include Specialists.
EA's commitment to the new Battlefield is substantial, involving multiple studios and described by CEO Andrew Wilson as one of EA's most ambitious projects. Vince Zampella, Head of Respawn and Group GM for EA Studios Organization, highlighted the aim to recapture the essence of Battlefield 3 and 4, while expanding the franchise's offerings to attract a broader player base. Launch platforms and the game's official title remain unannounced.
