EA Announces Next Battlefield Game Set for Fiscal Year 2026

Exciting news for *Battlefield* fans: the next installment in the iconic franchise is slated to hit the shelves during EA's fiscal year 2026, spanning from April 2025 to March 2026. This announcement came during EA's financial results report for the third quarter of its current fiscal year, ending March 2025.

This week, EA treated us to a first official glimpse of the new *Battlefield* game, showcasing pre-alpha gameplay footage as part of an announcement about player testing and development progress. The sneak peek was embedded in a video introducing *Battlefield Labs*, EA's innovative approach to player-driven testing and development.

"EA unveiled *Battlefield Labs*, a new initiative allowing player-driven testing and innovation ahead of the franchise's expected fiscal year 2026 release," EA detailed in its financial report. The initiative seeks to refine the game's core elements through direct player feedback.

Moreover, EA introduced *Battlefield Studios*, an umbrella branding encompassing four studios dedicated to the new *Battlefield* game. The teams involved are DICE in Stockholm, Sweden, focusing on multiplayer; Motive, responsible for single-player missions and multiplayer maps; Ripple Effect in the U.S., tasked with bringing new players into the franchise; and Criterion in the UK, working on the single-player campaign. Each studio brings its expertise to ensure a comprehensive and engaging *Battlefield* experience.

EA emphasized that the *Battlefield Studios* teams are now in a "critical" phase of the development cycle, eager to gather player feedback on what to prioritize, improve, and refine before the game's release. Participants in *Battlefield Labs* will test various aspects of the game, from core combat and destruction to weapons, vehicles, gadgets, maps, modes, and squad play, all under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

"Even in pre-alpha, we are proud of where the game is at," EA stated. "We tirelessly playtest, but your feedback will supercharge our development as we strive to hit that perfect note between form, function, and feel."

The game aims to revisit the essence of *Battlefield* by testing key gameplay elements like Conquest and Breakthrough modes, while also exploring new ideas and refining the class system to enhance strategic gameplay. This approach signifies a return to a modern setting, a nod to the beloved *Battlefield 3* and *4* era, following the mixed reception to *Battlefield 2042*.

It's important to note that despite the significant investment in *Battlefield*, EA shut down Ridgeline Games last year, which had been developing a standalone single-player *Battlefield* game with a strong narrative focus.

Vince Zampella, Head of Respawn & Group GM for EA Studios Organization, highlighted the importance of returning to the core *Battlefield* experience. "I mean, if you look back to the peak or the pinnacle of *Battlefield*, it's that *Battlefield 3... Battlefield 4* era where everything was modern," he explained. The new game aims to capture that nostalgic feel while expanding the *Battlefield* universe to offer diverse experiences within the franchise.

The next *Battlefield* game will feature a modern setting, ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, and natural disasters like wildfires. It will stick to 64-player maps, moving away from the 128-player maps that proved unpopular in *Battlefield 2042*, and will not include the controversial Specialists feature.

With the stakes high after *Battlefield 2042*'s challenges, EA CEO Andrew Wilson has called the new *Battlefield* one of the "most ambitious projects in [EA's] history." The involvement of multiple studios underscores EA's significant commitment to revitalizing the franchise. Vince Zampella emphasized the goal of regaining the trust of core *Battlefield* players while expanding the game's reach to new audiences.

As of now, EA has not announced the launch platforms or the final title for the new *Battlefield* game, keeping fans eagerly anticipating more details as the release date approaches.