Everything we know about the next Battlefield game: Setting, gameplay details, more
EAThe next Battlefield game is in active development and EA has already begun sharing some early details. From the return of traditional classes to information on the setting, here’s everything we know so far.
It’s been three years since Battlefield 2042 launched to much contention. Be it the new Specialists or the litany of launch issues, much of the conversation around the last Battlefield was negative.
While the course has been corrected in the years since launch, with plenty of fresh content winning players back over, EA aims to wipe the slate clean and restart with a new release in the near future. Leading the charge is none other than Vince Zampella, who’s effectively been made the leader of the Battlefield franchise moving forward.
While we don’t have a proper name nor have we seen any actual gameplay yet, we already know a great deal about what’s in store. From its setting to a rundown on the earliest hands-on tests, here’s everything we know about the next Battlefield title.
Is there a release date for the next Battlefield yet?
EANo, there’s no release date or release window for the next Battlefield game yet, as it’s still very early days.
What we do know for certain is devs are actively “play testing the game every week,” meaning there are proper builds already. So it’s further along than the conceptual stage, but we could still be a few years out from the full release.
Furthermore, in speaking with IGN, Respawn Entertainment head Vince Zampella teased fans can expect something in 2025.
“We have a program we’re going to announce next year around getting more community in,” Zampella said.
We’ll have to wait and see if this means an early access period of sorts is arriving later next year, or merely being announced for a rollout in 2026. Regardless, it’s clear there’s still plenty of work left to be done on the next Battlefield title, so fans shouldn’t hold their breath on an imminent release.
Late 2026 or 2027 look to be more reasonable bets for when we might see the next Battlefield game hit store shelves.
What platforms will the next Battlefield game be on?
Since the game remains in early development, there’s no guarantee of what platforms it may appear on. However, we can make some educated guesses based on the release timeline above and some early dev comments.
It’s all but guaranteed we’ll see the new Battlefield launch across both PS5, Xbox Series X | S, and PC. However, that might not be all.
With mid-gen console refreshes now in focus, it’s possible there will be support for the PS5 Pro. Beyond that, with next-gen consoles just a few years out, there’s every chance next-gen support rolls out as well, with more technically advanced builds running on the beefed-up hardware.
EAAs for how Nintendo factors in, don’t expect this one to run on the current Nintendo Switch. However, it appears there’s a chance it might make its way to the Switch successor. At the very least, EA is open to the possibility.
“We don’t have anything to announce,” Zampella said, “but is there a world? Sure. We love [Nintendo] as partners. They’ve been great to us. I love the [Switch].”
When is the next Battlefield game set? Timeline confirmed
Battlefield is returning to a modern setting with the next release. According to a report from Insider Gaming‘s Tom Henderson, the new entry will specifically take place “somewhere between 2027 and 2030” in a campaign wherein a private military group faces off against NATO.
Should this prove accurate, players can expect to explore multiple locations around the world such as Gibraltar and the United States. (Other than the modern setting, EA has yet to confirm specifics.)
As such, we’re not reflecting on wars long gone like BF1 or 1942, nor are we focusing on the future like 2042 or 2142. Instead, the game is set in the modern age, featuring weapons and technology that exist today.
“If you look back to the pinnacle of Battlefield, it’s that Battlefield 3, Battlefield 4 era where everything was modern,” Zampella told IGN.
“I think we have to get back to the core of what Battlefield is and do that amazingly well, and then we’ll see where it goes from there.”
Who is making the next Battlefield game?
During EA Investor Day 2024, the publisher confirmed that four studios will be working on Battlefield in distinct roles: DICE, Criterion, Motive, and Ripple Effect.
Battlefield creator EA DICE will work on the game’s multiplayer. The team is also known for making Mirror’s Edge and the Star Wars Battlefront games.
Criterion Games will assist with multiplayer and work on single-player. The British studio is best known for its work on Burnout and Need for Speed and has assisted with titles such as Battlefield 5 and 2042.
Also working on the next entry’s single-player offering is Motive, the studio behind Star Wars: Squadrons, 2023’s Dead Space remake, and EA’s upcoming Iron Man game.
Finally, Ripple Effect is developing a new “Battlefield experience” set in the 2042 universe. Exactly where this fits into the equation remains unclear, but this is the outfit responsible for 2042’s Portal mode.
Gameplay details
While it’s early days, meaning plenty can change along the way, we do have some initial gameplay details to run with. From possible modes to the return of the typical class system, there’s plenty to be excited about.
EAAt the core of it all, Zampella outlined, is promoting the game’s fun factor at every turn. “We’re testing everything around what’s the most fun. We are designing something more akin to previous Battlefields.”
That means bigger maps with enormous 128-player lobbies are out the window. The next Battlefield game is focusing back on 64-player matches with more focused map layouts.
“I’d rather have nice, dense, well-designed play spaces,” Zampella assured.
Furthermore, we know for certain Specialists have been thrown in the bin. With the controversial 2042 pivot gone, we’re set to return to the classic class-based system of earlier Battlefield games.
“I wasn’t there for 2042. I don’t know what the rationale was, but for me, it’s like the team tried something new. You have to applaud that effort. Not everybody likes it, but [you’ve] got to try things.
“It didn’t work. It didn’t fit. Specialists will not be coming back. Classes are kind of at the core of Battlefield, we’re going back to that.”
Amusingly enough, we know to expect a fully functioning scoreboard at launch this time around, too.
Insider Gaming claims the current goal is for multiplayer to arrive with 45 weapons, two times 2042’s core online offerings at launch. Reportedly, developers also have their sights set on building no less than 10 multiplayer maps.
In terms of destruction, it’s unclear if levolution will return, but EA is apparently eyeing a “significant overhaul” in this regard. Insider Gaming spoke with more than half a dozen sources who said the new Battlefield will feature Rainbow Six Siege-esque, “caliber-based destruction.”
Movement changes represent another work in progress based on Tom Henderson’s reporting, one example being the ability to pick up and carry downed users. Such an addition plays key a part in the development crew’s mission to prioritize “Battlefield moments” that made the series what it is today.
On the vague side of things, devs have teased that there’ll be more to the next installment than just the traditional multiplayer suite. Akin to how Fortnite has morphed into a platform in its own right, offering up various gameplay experiences within, Zampella sounds eager to replicate that with EA’s FPS franchise.
“When you want a different experience, you don’t have to leave Battlefield. So we’re expanding the offerings that we’re giving.”
From another spin on the Battle Royale formula to a second attempt at an extraction shooter, anything is possible. We’ll have to wait and see what experiences EA is cooking up.
One thing it appears we can bank on, however, is the game being far more stable at launch than other recent entries in the franchise. Especially after the dire release window experience with BF 2042, EA is reportedly pulling out all the stops and thoroughly testing the next Battlefield game.
There’s plenty to look forward to as the next Battlefield game slowly comes into focus. We’ve still got a long road ahead to the full release, but rest assured, we’ll update you here as any further details emerge in the coming months.
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