EA Says Next Battlefield Is 'Expected' Fiscal Year 2026

EA's next Battlefield installment is slated for release within fiscal year 2026, the company announced. This timeframe, revealed during their Q3 2025 financial report, places the launch between April 2025 and March 2026.

This week saw the first official preview of the game, accompanying news of player testing via "Battlefield Labs." This pre-alpha gameplay footage was part of a video announcing the initiative and a call for playtesters. EA's report highlighted Battlefield Labs as a player-driven testing program designed to refine the game before its 2026 launch.

Simultaneously, EA introduced "Battlefield Studios," an umbrella group encompassing four studios collaborating on the project: DICE (Stockholm, handling multiplayer), Motive (single-player missions and multiplayer maps), Ripple Effect (new player acquisition), and Criterion (single-player campaign). Criterion's involvement follows the completion of their work on Need for Speed.

These studios are now in a crucial development phase, actively seeking player feedback to prioritize improvements before release. Battlefield Labs will test various aspects, though not everything shown will be finalized. Participation requires signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

EA expressed confidence in the game's pre-alpha state, emphasizing the importance of player feedback in achieving the ideal balance of form, function, and feel. Testing will encompass core gameplay elements, including combat, destruction, weapons, vehicles, gadgets, maps, modes, and squad play, specifically focusing on Conquest and Breakthrough modes. The class system (Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon) will also undergo refinement for enhanced strategic gameplay.

It's noteworthy that despite the commitment of four studios, EA previously closed Ridgeline Games, a Seattle-based studio developing a standalone single-player Battlefield title.

September saw the release of concept art and details confirming a return to a modern setting after previous installments set in World War I, World War II, and the near future. The art hinted at ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, alongside natural disasters like wildfires.

Vince Zampella, Head of Respawn and Group GM for EA Studios Organization, cited Battlefield 3 and 4 as benchmarks in an interview with IGN, emphasizing a return to the core elements that defined those titles.

This modern setting represents a departure from Battlefield 2042, which, despite eventually improving, faced criticism for features like Specialists and large-scale maps. The new Battlefield will revert to 64-player maps and eliminate Specialists.

The high stakes following Battlefield 2042's reception are evident. EA CEO Andrew Wilson termed it one of EA's most ambitious projects, reflecting the significant investment and collaborative effort. The "Battlefield Studios" tagline, "We’re all in on Battlefield," underscores this commitment. Zampella highlighted the intention to both recapture the trust of core Battlefield players and expand the franchise's appeal to a broader audience.

EA has yet to announce the game's title and supported platforms.