The anticipation for the next installment in the Battlefield series is building as Electronic Arts (EA) has officially announced that the new game is slated for release during their fiscal year 2026, spanning from April 2025 to March 2026. This exciting news came alongside EA's financial results for the third quarter of their current fiscal year ending March 2025, highlighting the "expected fiscal year 2026 release" of the new Battlefield.
This week, EA provided fans with a first official look at the upcoming game through a pre-alpha gameplay teaser. This glimpse was part of an announcement unveiling Battlefield Labs, a new initiative designed to incorporate player-driven testing and innovation into the game's development process. EA is inviting playtesters to join this effort, marking a significant step towards ensuring the game meets community expectations.
EA also introduced Battlefield Studios, an umbrella term for the four studios collaborating on the new title. These include DICE in Stockholm, Sweden, focusing on multiplayer; Motive, known for the Dead Space remake and Star Wars: Squadrons, contributing to 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, who are developing the single-player campaign after concluding their work on Need For Speed.
As the development progresses into a "critical" phase, EA emphasizes the importance of player feedback. Through Battlefield Labs, almost every aspect of the game will be tested, though not everything shown will be in its final form. Participants will be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to take part in this process.
EA expressed pride in the game's current state, even in its pre-alpha stage, and highlighted their commitment to refining core elements such as combat, destruction, weapons, vehicles, gadgets, maps, modes, and squad play. The testing will also cover iconic modes like Conquest and Breakthrough, while exploring new ideas and enhancing the class system to foster deeper, more strategic gameplay.
It's important to note that while EA is heavily investing in this new Battlefield, they closed Ridgeline Games last year, a studio that was developing a standalone single-player Battlefield game. This decision underscores the focus on the current project.
In September, EA shared more details and concept art, confirming the game's return to a modern setting after exploring World War I, World War II, and the near future in previous titles. 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, emphasized the importance of returning to the essence of what made Battlefield 3 and 4 successful, aiming to recapture the nostalgia and core appeal of 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, aiming to realign with fan expectations.
With the stakes high after Battlefield 2042's challenges, EA CEO Andrew Wilson has described the new project 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 reiterated the goal of not only winning back core fans but also expanding the Battlefield universe to offer diverse experiences within the game.
While EA has yet to reveal the launch platforms or the final title for the new Battlefield, the commitment to delivering a game that resonates with both long-time fans and new players is clear. The journey towards the next Battlefield is well underway, promising a return to the series' roots with fresh innovations.
