The next installment in the acclaimed *Battlefield* series is set to launch during EA's fiscal year 2026, as confirmed in the company's recent financial results announcement for the third quarter ending March 2025. This means fans can expect the game to be available anytime between April 2025 and March 2026. This week, EA provided the first official glimpse into the new *Battlefield* game through a video showcasing pre-alpha gameplay, coinciding with the announcement of *Battlefield Labs*, a player-driven testing initiative aimed at shaping the game's development.

EA's financial report highlighted the launch of *Battlefield Labs*, stating, "EA unveiled *Battlefield Labs*, a new initiative allowing player-driven testing and innovation ahead of the franchise's expected fiscal year 2026 release." This move emphasizes the importance of community feedback in the game's development process.

Alongside this, EA introduced *Battlefield Studios*, an umbrella term for the four studios involved in crafting the new *Battlefield* game. These include DICE in Stockholm, Sweden, focusing on multiplayer development; Motive, known for *Dead Space* and *Star Wars: Squadrons*, handling single-player missions and multiplayer maps; Ripple Effect in the U.S., tasked with attracting new players to the franchise; and Criterion in the UK, previously involved with *Need For Speed*, now dedicated to the single-player campaign.

The development cycle is entering a critical phase, with EA emphasizing the importance of player feedback. *Battlefield Labs* will enable testing of nearly all game elements, though not everything shown will be in its final form. Participants will need to agree to a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to participate. EA expressed pride in the game's current pre-alpha state and stressed the value of community input in refining the game's feel, function, and form.

The testing will start with core gameplay elements like combat and destruction, then move on to weapon, vehicle, and gadget balance, and finally, how these elements integrate into maps, modes, and squad play. EA confirmed that classic modes like Conquest and Breakthrough will be tested, alongside exploring new ideas and refining the class system (Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon) to enhance strategic gameplay.

It's important to note that while EA is heavily investing in *Battlefield* with four studios, it shut down Ridgeline Games last year, which was developing a standalone single-player *Battlefield* game focused on storytelling.

In September, EA shared more details and concept art for the untitled *Battlefield* game, confirming a return to a modern setting after exploring World War I, World War II, and the near future. The concept art hinted at ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, as well as natural disasters like wildfires. Vince Zampella, Head of Respawn & Group GM for EA Studios Organization, highlighted the importance of returning to the essence of *Battlefield* seen in *Battlefield 3* and *Battlefield 4*, aiming to recapture the nostalgia and core experience that defined those games.

The shift back to a modern setting is a strategic move following the mixed reception of *Battlefield 2042*, which introduced controversial features like Specialists and large 128-player maps. The next *Battlefield* will revert to 64-player maps and abandon the Specialist system, focusing on a more traditional *Battlefield* experience.

With the stakes high after *Battlefield 2042*'s challenges, EA CEO Andrew Wilson described the new game as one of the "most ambitious projects in [EA's] history." The involvement of multiple studios underscores EA's significant investment in the franchise. Vince Zampella emphasized the goal of not only regaining the trust of core *Battlefield* players but also expanding the game's universe to offer diverse experiences within the *Battlefield* ecosystem.

As of now, EA has not announced the launch platforms or the final title for the new *Battlefield* game.