There are franchises with fervent followings that have unfortunately fallen by the wayside, and for first-person shooter fans, the Battlefield IP is undoubtedly not in a good place now. While Battlefield 2042 may not be for everyone, in particular, the removal of the class system for the Operator system, the reception was unpleasantly surprising for EA and its studios. That has led to a period of reflection and the creation of a new testing programme known as Battlefield Labs under the banner of Battlefield Studios.
Simply put, this combines the expertise of four studios across the globe under a new team, bringing together over 20 years of experience with “the best emerging talent” to “shape the future” of the franchise.
“Our ambitions are big, so we’re going bigger to deliver the best experience for our players. We’re still in the early stages of development, but now is the time to test everything our teams have been building for our upcoming launch and beyond. So, we are calling in the big guns – our Community,” the description for the trailer introducing the initiative stated.
“Introducing Battlefield Labs. This new testing environment is where our players will join forces with BF Studios and help shape the evolution of Battlefield. You’ll test combat mechanics, modes, and more, while providing us with crucial feedback in the ultimate collaboration. Your voice will help shape our collective future. Let’s build together.”
This is good news for fans, especially those with strong beliefs about what should be included in the new entry for the shooter franchise. We already know that the class system will be returning, and the four studios — DICE, Ripple Effect, EA Motive, and Criterion — will be contributing to development efforts.
For a start, Battlefield Labs will include the Conquest and Breakthrough modes, along with new ideas that have not yet been detailed. Environmental destruction, powered by the Frostbite Engine, will likely play a significant role as well, as shown off in the last 10 seconds of the trailer.
If you’re interested in testing this new instalment, you can sign up for Battlefield Labs now.
