EA: Next Battlefield Game Slated for Fiscal Year 2026

The next installment in the *Battlefield* franchise is set to launch during EA’s fiscal year 2026, which runs from April 2025 through March 2026. This announcement came as part of EA’s Q3 financial report for its current fiscal year ending March 2025.

Alongside this news, EA provided a first official look at the game during an update on player testing and development progress. The sneak peek featured pre-alpha gameplay footage as part of the introduction of *Battlefield Labs*, a new initiative aimed at involving players directly in the testing and innovation process ahead of the 2026 release.

EA also introduced *Battlefield Studios*, the umbrella brand encompassing the four studios currently developing the new title. These include DICE (based in Stockholm, Sweden), Motive Studio (known for the *Dead Space* remake and *Star Wars: Squadrons*), Ripple Effect (formerly DICE LA), and Criterion Games, fresh off their work on *Need for Speed*.

Each studio has a specific role: DICE is handling multiplayer development, Motive is working on single-player missions and multiplayer maps, Ripple Effect is focused on attracting new players to the series, and Criterion is leading the charge on the single-player campaign.

EA described the current phase of development as “critical,” emphasizing the importance of community feedback in shaping the final product. While Battlefield Labs will test nearly every aspect of the game, not all content shown during these tests will be finalized. Participants will be required to sign an NDA before joining.

“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 company outlined a phased approach to testing, starting with core gameplay mechanics such as combat and destruction, followed by balancing and refining weapons, vehicles, and gadgets. Eventually, the focus will shift to how all elements integrate within maps, modes, and squad-based gameplay. Classic modes like Conquest and Breakthrough will return, while the class system (Assault, Engineer, Support, Recon) will be refined for more strategic depth.

It's worth noting that while four full studios are now dedicated to this project, EA previously shut down Ridgeline Games—a Seattle-based team working on a story-driven, single-player-focused *Battlefield* title—laying off all staff last year.

In September, EA revealed concept art and new details about the upcoming title, confirming a return to a modern military setting after previous entries explored World War I, World War II, and near-future scenarios. The artwork hinted at ship-to-ship engagements, helicopter combat, and environmental hazards like wildfires.

Vince Zampella, Head of Respawn and Group GM for EA Studios, referenced the legacy of *Battlefield 3* and *4* in an interview with IGN, stating, “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 emphasized the goal of returning to the series’ roots while building a broader Battlefield universe going forward.

This marks a clear course correction following the mixed reception of *Battlefield 2042*. That title initially struggled with controversial features like Specialist characters, which felt out of place for a franchise known for large-scale infantry warfare. Its ambitious 128-player maps were eventually scaled back to 64 players, a number the new game plans to maintain. Specialists have been removed entirely this time around.

With high expectations following *2042*'s rocky launch, EA is making a major investment in this new entry. CEO Andrew Wilson called it one of the “most ambitious projects in [EA's] history,” and the involvement of multiple studios under the *Battlefield Studios* banner reflects that commitment. As Zampella noted, “We’re all in on Battlefield.”

Further details regarding platforms and the game’s official title are expected to be revealed in the coming months.