EA has provided a first look at its next disastrous launch of Battlefield 2042. The next Battlefield game - tentatively called Battlefield 6 - apparently aims to deliver on that promise, but fans have next to no information about this release - that is, until today.
The developers of Battlefield 6 made a spate of massive announcements this past week, introducing new gameplay, a new studio, and a new community project in a five-minute deep dive on the official Battlefield YouTube . What caught most fans' eyes were the multiple, short-but-sweet clips of Battlefield 6's gameplay, showcasing chaotic gunplay, environmental destruction, and thrilling vehicular combat. The introductory trailer also includes a bit of a tour through Battlefield Studios, a new development team within EA DICE devoted solely to developing Battlefield 6. Finally, it reveals Battlefield Labs, a massive playtesting program coming soon.
Battlefield Labs, Battlefield Studios & Battlefield Gameplay Footage Revealed
What To Expect From Battlefield 6
The trailer begins with an introduction to Battlefield Studios, DICE's new development team for the Battlefield series. The studio consists of both EA veterans with over 20 years of experience working on the Battlefield franchise, and a fresh crop of talent from elsewhere in the industry.
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That's interspersed with footage from Battlefield 6, which, while pretty standard for the series, is graphically impressive and consistent with a reinvention of the series. World War II-era tanks share the battlefield with modern jets as massive squads rush into battle. A plane smashes into the side of a stone lookout, causing it to splinter, careen, and fall. These clips are very deliberately brief and obfuscating, but the effect is clear: it's hard to pin down a particular time period in which this game takes place. It might even span multiple, but whatever the case, it's as beautifully chaotic as Battlefield has looked in a long time.
Battlefield 6 Playtests Are Headed Our Way
How Battlefield Labs Works
Finally, the trailer turns to Battlefield Labs, a new playtesting program that allows fans to influence the future of the Battlefield franchise, confirming earlier rumors of a Battlefield 6 playtest. For those interested in getting involved directly, players can sign up now via the official Battlefield Labs website to receive updates on the program as they come. More information on Battlefield Labs will also be revealed via the official Battlefield Discord server.
In one such Discord message, Battlefield's Community Manager explains that "(almost) everything" will be up for testing during the Labs program, potentially including things like new maps, new modes, new vehicles, new weapons, et cetera. The tests will begin, though, with the basics: combat and environmental destruction, then branch out as the Labs program goes on. Classic modes like Conquest and Breakthrough will be subject to testing, as will Battlefield's class system. Of course, these tests will be limited, closed, and under non-disclosure agreements, so it may be some time before we hear about their contents publicly.
It's still very early days for Battlefield 6, which doesn't have a proper title or a release date as of yet. However, this is an exciting program for Battlefield fans, and seems to align with many players' wishlists for the next game in the series. We may still not know much about the next Battlefield game, but this is a promising first look.
Source: Battlefield/YouTube, Battlefield Labs, Battlefield/Discord