The first public test of the next game in the military shooter series Battlefield as part of the Battlefield Labs initiative is closer than ever to launch, according to trusted insider Tom Henderson.
Image source: Electronic Arts
As Henderson reports in a piece for Insider Gaming, fans will be able to try out some of the new Battlefield’s “concepts and mechanics” as early as Friday, March 7, when the first Battlefield Labs playtest kicks off.
The tests will be held on PC and will last about two hours. According to the test invitation letters, participants will be prohibited from recording and streaming gameplay, as well as publicly discussing the game.
In the past, participants in closed testing have not always respected the confidentiality required of them.
At the Battlefield Labs announcement, it was reported that the first wave of participants (you can still sign up to volunteer here) would include several thousand players from North America and Europe.
Battlefield Labs is positioned as a feedback gathering tool to identify priorities and areas for improvement in the shooter. Participants will ultimately be able to try out almost all elements of the game.
The new game is being developed by four studios at once: DICE, Criterion, Motive Studio and Ripple Effect
The next Battlefield will take place in a modern setting, and the game itself is seen as a return to its roots with 64-player matches, a reworked system of environmental destruction and class mechanics.
EA calls the new game nothing less than “the biggest Battlefield in history.” The shooter is being invested in the largest resources by franchise standards. Development has reached “pre-alpha,” and the release is expected before the end of 2025 (unless GTA VI happens).