As the four major Battlefield development studios come together, EA has announced Battlefield Labs: a new initiative allowing players to playtest specific areas of a new Battlefield title in the months (or even years?) leading up to it’s release. There’s a definite focus on collaboration with the player base to ensure this release will live up to the chaotic expectations of millions of fans.
The first phase of Battlefield Labs testing will go live in the coming weeks, and sign up to players is available now at battlefield.com/labs. Initial tests will include an invited group of players and servers located in Europe and North America ahead of plans to expand invitees and server locations in the future.
Here’s the first gameplay footage shown of the upcoming and as so far untitled game.
“I’ve been playing Battlefield long before I joined the team,” says Vince Zampella, Head of Respawn & Group GM for EA Studios Organization. “This game has so much potential. To find that potential, with us being pre-alpha, now is the time to test the experiences our teams have been building for our upcoming launch. Battlefield Labs empowers our teams to do that.”
EA also adds via the official blog, that: “Players can stay up to date on the latest public testing information by keeping an eye on battlefield.com/labs. Our community will receive published updates from the team throughout testing so that even those who are not selected for Battlefield Labs can still come along for the ride. All the feedback provided during Battlefield Labs tests will influence the development of the next Battlefield title and beyond.”
Battlefield Labs plays a significant role in the development that Battlefield Studios is doing for the series. Battlefield Studios is comprised of DICE, creators of the Battlefield franchise; Ripple Effect, a studio led by franchise veterans working on an all-new experience for the series; Motive, the developers of the critically acclaimed Star Wars Squadrons and Dead Space; and Criterion, known for world-class racing franchises and playing a key role in several Battlefield entries.
With bone-rattling, explosive destruction taking centre stage in this latest trailer, could this be the return to form that we’ve been waiting for?
