Battlefield 2026: EA Confirms Next Installment

Electronic Arts (EA) announced today that the next installment in the Battlefield franchise is slated for release sometime during 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 glimpse was included in the announcement video.

EA also introduced Battlefield Studios, a collective of four studios collaborating on the project: DICE (Stockholm), Motive, Ripple Effect, and Criterion. DICE is leading multiplayer development; Motive is handling single-player missions and multiplayer maps; Ripple Effect is focused on attracting new players; and Criterion is developing the single-player campaign. These teams are entering a crucial development phase, seeking player input on core gameplay elements. Participation in Battlefield Labs requires signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

EA emphasized the importance of player feedback in refining core combat, destruction, weapons, vehicles, gadgets, maps, modes, and squad play, including the return of Conquest and Breakthrough modes. The class system (Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon) will also be refined for enhanced strategic gameplay.

This new Battlefield marks a significant investment for EA, involving four studios, following the closure of Ridgeline Games last year. The game will return to a modern setting after previous iterations in World War I, World War II, and the near future, featuring ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, and incorporating natural disasters like wildfires. The developers have cited Battlefield 3 and 4 as inspiration, aiming to recapture the core elements that defined those titles while expanding the Battlefield universe to attract a broader audience. The game will feature 64 players per map and will not include Specialists, addressing criticisms of Battlefield 2042. EA CEO Andrew Wilson described the project as one of EA's most ambitious endeavors. While EA has yet to reveal launch platforms or the game's official title, the ambitious scope and significant investment suggest a high-stakes return for the franchise.