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 alongside EA's financial results for the third quarter of its current fiscal year, ending March 2025. In a move to engage the community early, EA has released a first official look at the game, showcasing pre-alpha gameplay as part of the introduction to Battlefield Labs, a new initiative designed for player-driven testing and innovation.
EA has also introduced Battlefield Studios, an umbrella term for the four studios collaborating on the new game. These include DICE in Stockholm, Sweden, focusing on multiplayer; 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 attracting new players to the franchise; and Criterion, previously involved with Need For Speed, now working on the single-player campaign. As the development enters a critical phase, EA is keen on gathering player feedback through Battlefield Labs, where participants will test core elements like combat and destruction, as well as new ideas and refinements to the class system.
Despite the excitement, it's important to note that EA shut down Ridgeline Games last year, which was developing a standalone single-player Battlefield game. The new game will return to a modern setting, reminiscent of the successful eras of Battlefield 3 and 4, and will feature elements like ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, along with natural disasters like wildfires. This shift aims to recapture the essence of what made the series popular, moving away from the less well-received features of Battlefield 2042, such as Specialists and 128-player maps, which will be scaled back to 64 players.
The pressure is on for the next Battlefield to succeed after the mixed reception of Battlefield 2042. EA CEO Andrew Wilson has described it as one of the company's most ambitious projects, and Vince Zampella, Head of Respawn & Group GM for EA Studios Organization, emphasized the importance of returning to the core elements that fans love while expanding the universe to offer more experiences within Battlefield. EA has yet to announce the launch platforms or the final title for the new game, but the commitment to the franchise is clear with the "We're all in on Battlefield" tagline from Battlefield Studios.
