This week, EA and Dice released a video introducing Battlefield Labs, which they call an “ambitious community development collaboration” that allows Battlefield fans to sign up and become pre-launch playtesters. The video also teased a glimpse of the next Battlefield game, which could be coming sooner than fans may have expected. Here’s what we know so far about the release of the seventh instalment in the Battlefield franchise:
In the reveal for Battlefield Labs, EA offered a quick look at some Battlefield gameplay and invited fans of the franchise to join their new initiative and help playtest the game. In addition to offering a short glimpse at pre-alpha footage of the next Battlefield game, EA’s financial report confirms that the new game is planned for a “fiscal year 2026 release“. This means it should come out between the 1st of April 2025 and 31st of March 2026, should everything stay on track.
It’s still early days and there’s not a whole lot of information on what players can expect in the game, but EA did announce last year that the multiplayer shooter would be returning to a “modern” era after Battlefield 2042’s poor release in 2021. Following the launch, there were massive server issues, bugs and glitches, but most importantly, fans felt that the game didn’t really fit in with the games’ core design and aesthetic. It was torched in Steam reviews and though it’s in a much better state today after countless bug fixes and patches, the player count never really recovered.
What can we expect in Battlefield 7?
Andrew Wilson, the EA chief executive, has teased that Battlefield 7 will be “one of the most ambitious projects in [EA] history“. He also told fans that they “have brought together the very best team, coupled with the resources and technology they need to deliver an epic Battlefield experience”.
Following the poor performance and reviews of Battlefield 2042, EA are evidently eager for Battlefield 7’s success, and Battlefield Labs seems like a good place to start. Fan engagement in the development and playtesting progress will hopefully yield a more polished Battlefield game that will feel much more authentic to the franchise than the 2021 instalment. Stay tuned with news on the next Battlefield here at ReadWrite Gaming!
Featured image credited to: EA/Battlefield