After a rocky period with the Battlefield series, Electronic Arts is doubling down on their investment by bringing together four powerhouses—Ripple Effect, Criterion, Motive, and DICE—to work on the next installment following Battlefield 2042. Drawing inspiration from their development strategy for the upcoming Skate game, EA and the combined efforts of their Battlefield teams are giving players an early, “pre-alpha” peek into what they’re crafting, ensuring that gamer feedback shapes the game’s evolution right from the start.
On Monday, EA introduced Battlefield Labs, a fresh initiative inviting Battlefield enthusiasts to dive into “specific focus areas in the game,” as explained by the game’s producer, Christian Grass. Participants will get to test combat and destruction mechanics, multiplayer maps, and different game modes. The goal, according to producers and company heads, is to create a cycle of testing, refining, and integrating feedback from both seasoned veterans and newcomers of the Battlefield community.
Byron Beede, the general manager for the Battlefield series, stressed the importance of developing gameplay that truly connects with their audience in a video showcasing Battlefield Labs. David Sirland from DICE, one of the brains behind the original Battlefield, echoed this sentiment, stating that the labs will enable them to experiment and ensure the game meets player expectations.
If you’re eager to get hands-on with the new Battlefield game, you can sign up to be a tester over on EA’s website and join their official Discord channel. Initially, invitations will be limited to a few thousand testers, with servers in Europe and North America, but EA plans on eventually expanding Battlefield Labs testing to “tens of thousands more” players in different regions.
EA and the Battlefield teams also shared a sneak peek of the new game in action, albeit with a disclaimer that the footage is “pre-alpha gameplay.” Despite that, it clearly carried the essence of classic Battlefield titles, featuring modern-day warfare with a mix of infantry combat, various vehicles, and large-scale destruction.
The series’ last entry, Battlefield 2042, emerged in 2021 to mixed reviews. This futuristic shooter stood out with its capacity for matches of up to 128 players, gameplay-altering weather systems, and a community-driven mode known as Battlefield Portal, which allowed players to blend elements from previous games.
As of now, Electronic Arts hasn’t pinned down a release date or specified platforms for the upcoming Battlefield game. However, judging by their Skate. (a.k.a Skate 4) approach, it seems we might be in for a bit of a wait before we can experience it firsthand.
