EA Says Next Battlefield Is 'Expected' Fiscal Year 2026

Electronic Arts (EA) announced today that the next installment in the Battlefield franchise is slated for release within its fiscal year 2026, spanning from April 2025 to March 2026. This announcement accompanied the unveiling of Battlefield Labs, a new player-testing initiative designed to gather feedback and shape the game's development. A brief pre-alpha gameplay preview was shared as part of this announcement.

EA also introduced Battlefield Studios, a collaborative effort uniting four studios—DICE (Stockholm), Motive, Ripple Effect, and Criterion—to create the new Battlefield game. Each studio contributes specialized expertise: DICE handles multiplayer development; Motive focuses on single-player missions and multiplayer maps; Ripple Effect aims to attract new players to the franchise; and Criterion is responsible for the single-player campaign. These teams are currently in a crucial phase of development, actively seeking player input via Battlefield Labs. Participation requires signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

EA emphasized the importance of player feedback in refining core gameplay elements, including combat, destruction, weapons, vehicles, gadgets, and map design. Conquest and Breakthrough modes will be tested, alongside exploration of new ideas and improvements to the class system. This initiative marks a significant shift for Battlefield, aiming to incorporate player feedback throughout the development process.

It's noteworthy that this new Battlefield follows the closure of Ridgeline Games, a studio previously working on a standalone single-player Battlefield title. The new game will return to a modern setting after exploring World War I, World War II, and near-future scenarios. Concept art suggests the inclusion of ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, as well as natural disasters. Development aims to recapture the essence of earlier titles like Battlefield 3 and 4, focusing on core gameplay elements while expanding the overall Battlefield universe to attract a wider player base.

The game will feature 64 players per map, abandoning the 128-player format and Specialist system of Battlefield 2042. EA has described the project as highly ambitious, reflecting the significant investment and collaborative effort involved. While launch platforms and the official title remain unannounced, EA's commitment to the project is evident, signifying a renewed focus on regaining player trust and delivering a successful Battlefield experience.