EA Says Next Battlefield Is 'Expected' Fiscal Year 2026

EA's Next Battlefield Game: A Return to Roots

Electronic Arts (EA) has announced that the next installment in the Battlefield franchise is slated for release within its fiscal year 2026, spanning April 2025 to March 2026. This announcement followed the release of a pre-alpha gameplay glimpse and the unveiling of "Battlefield Labs," a new player-testing initiative designed to gather crucial feedback during development.

The development is a collaborative effort involving four studios under the "Battlefield Studios" banner:

• DICE (Stockholm): Developing the multiplayer component.
• Motive: Contributing to single-player missions and multiplayer maps.
• Ripple Effect: Focusing on attracting new players to the franchise.
• Criterion: Working on the single-player campaign.

This marks a significant investment, with EA emphasizing the "critical" phase of development and the need for player input to refine core gameplay elements, including combat, destruction, weapons, vehicles, and the class system. Conquest and Breakthrough modes are confirmed, alongside exploration of new ideas. Battlefield Labs will test various aspects, but participation requires signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

This ambitious project follows the less-than-stellar reception of Battlefield 2042. The new game aims to recapture the essence of earlier titles like Battlefield 3 and 4, returning to a modern setting and abandoning the controversial Specialist system and 128-player maps. The focus will be on a more refined 64-player experience. Concept art suggests the inclusion of ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, as well as natural disaster elements.

EA CEO Andrew Wilson described the project as one of EA's most ambitious undertakings. Vince Zampella, Head of Respawn and Group GM for EA Studios Organization, highlighted the importance of regaining the trust of core Battlefield players while also expanding the franchise's appeal to a wider audience.

While the specific platforms and title remain unannounced, the emphasis on player feedback and the return to core Battlefield gameplay mechanics suggests a renewed commitment to delivering a satisfying experience. The future of Battlefield hangs in the balance, but EA's substantial investment and focus on player input offer a glimmer of hope for a triumphant return to form. The image below shows a placeholder for the image that was in the original text. The actual image is not available to me.

(Note: Replace https://imgs.34wk.complaceholder_image.jpg with the actual image URL from the original input.)