The next installment in the iconic Battlefield series is set to launch during EA's fiscal year 2026, which spans from April 2025 to March 2026. This announcement came as part of EA's financial results for the third quarter of its current fiscal year, ending March 2025. In an exciting development, EA has given fans a sneak peek into the pre-alpha stage of the game through a video that introduced Battlefield Labs—a new initiative aimed at fostering player-driven testing and innovation.
Alongside this, EA unveiled Battlefield Studios, the collaborative effort of four studios dedicated to the new Battlefield game. These studios include DICE in Stockholm, Sweden, focusing on multiplayer development; Motive, known for the Dead Space remake and Star Wars: Squadrons, handling single-player missions and multiplayer maps; Ripple Effect, formerly DICE LA, tasked with bringing in new players; and Criterion, previously working on Need For Speed, now concentrating on the single-player campaign. This collective effort marks a "critical" phase of development, with EA keen on gathering player feedback to refine and prioritize elements before the game's release.
Through Battlefield Labs, EA plans to test nearly everything, from core combat and destruction to weapons, vehicles, gadgets, maps, modes, and squad play. Players will get to experience and provide feedback on classic modes like Conquest and Breakthrough, as well as explore new ideas and enhancements to the class system (Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon) to deepen strategic gameplay. Participants in these tests will be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
EA's commitment to the new Battlefield comes after the closure of Ridgeline Games, which was developing a standalone single-player Battlefield game. The upcoming title will return to a modern setting, moving away from the historical and near-future themes of recent entries. This shift aims to recapture the essence of the series' peak with Battlefield 3 and 4, as highlighted by Vince Zampella, Head of Respawn & Group GM for EA Studios Organization.
The decision to revert to a modern setting and smaller 64-player maps, abandoning the controversial Specialist system and 128-player maps from Battlefield 2042, reflects a strategic course correction. EA CEO Andrew Wilson has emphasized the ambitious nature of this project, and with the involvement of multiple studios, it's clear that EA is heavily investing in the future of the Battlefield franchise.
While the pressure is on following the mixed reception of Battlefield 2042, EA's goal is to not only regain the trust of core Battlefield players but also to expand the game's universe to offer a more varied experience without players needing to venture outside the Battlefield ecosystem. As of now, EA has yet to reveal the launch platforms or the final title for the upcoming Battlefield game.
