Electronic Arts (EA) announced today that the next installment in the Battlefield franchise is slated for release sometime during its fiscal year 2026, which runs from April 2025 to March 2026. This announcement came alongside the company's third-quarter financial results for the fiscal year ending March 2025.
EA provided a first official glimpse of the new Battlefield game this week, showcasing pre-alpha gameplay footage as part of a larger announcement detailing “Battlefield Labs,” a new player testing initiative. This initiative aims to gather player feedback to shape the game's development. The video also revealed “Battlefield Studios,” the collective name for the four studios collaborating on the project: DICE (Stockholm), Motive, Ripple Effect, and Criterion.
DICE is leading the development of the multiplayer experience, while Motive is contributing to single-player missions and multiplayer maps. Ripple Effect is focused on attracting new players to the franchise, and Criterion is handling the single-player campaign. EA described the development as entering a critical phase, emphasizing the importance of player feedback in refining core gameplay elements. Battlefield Labs will allow for testing of various aspects, including core combat, destruction, weapons, vehicles, gadgets, maps, modes, and squad play. Conquest and Breakthrough modes are confirmed to be included, alongside planned improvements to the class system.
It's noteworthy that this new Battlefield marks a departure from the controversial Battlefield 2042, which initially received criticism for its Specialists system and large-scale maps. The new game will return to a modern setting, similar to Battlefield 3 and 4, and will feature a more traditional class system, ditching the Specialists. The game will also revert to 64-player maps, addressing another common complaint about 2042. Concept art previously revealed hints of ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, alongside natural disaster elements like wildfires.
EA's commitment to the new Battlefield is significant, involving four studios and representing a substantial investment. The company aims to recapture the essence of classic Battlefield gameplay while expanding the franchise's appeal to a broader audience. While specific launch platforms and the official game title remain unannounced, the return to a more traditional Battlefield formula, coupled with extensive player testing, suggests a concerted effort to address past criticisms and deliver a successful entry in the series.
