Battlefield Studios unveiled Battlefield Labs, a testing and feedback platform where players and developers can shape the development of future installments. Read on to learn more about this upcoming community collaboration.
Battlefield Labs Unveiled, Promotes Collaboration Between Community and Developers
Players Will Have a More Direct Influence on Future Battlefield Games
Battlefield Studios, together with Electronics Art (EA), announced a groundbreaking community collaboration effort called Battlefield Labs, aimed at creating future Battlefield games with players on February 3, 2025. Players and developers can test game concepts, mechanics, and features for future Battlefield games.
According to the announcement, the future Battlefield game is "entering a critical phase in development that will benefit from collaboration with the community like never before." In this case, players will be at the forefront of game development as they test out new features and mechanics of the upcoming Battlefield game.
Battlefield Studios will invite a group of players from Europe and North American servers to experience the first phase of Battlefield Labs. There is no exact release date yet, but aspiring individuals can sign up now at this link.
"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," said Vince Zampella, Head of Respawn & Group GM for EA Studios Organization. "Battlefield Labs empowers our teams to do that."
Though not all players can join this community collaboration with Battlefield Studios, they assured the "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." In addition, they are planning to collaborate with the community for future Battlefield titles.
"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."
Features and Mechanics to Test in Battlefield Labs
Not everything about the game can be accessed by lucky individuals picked by Battlefield Studios. Players will only experience "different pieces of an unfinished puzzle so we have time to incorporate your feedback into the final product." However, the studio revealed what mechanics and features players can expect from this community collaboration, reported in a Battlefield news article.
"We will start by testing the pillars of play, like core combat and destruction," Battlefield Studios explained. "Then transition to balance and feedback for our weapons, vehicles and gadgets, ultimately leading to where all these pieces come together in our maps, modes, and squad play." Two existing modes (Conquest and Breakthrough) are also included, where players can explore new ideas to improve their current state.
Conquest mode focuses on large-scale battles to capture Control Points (flags) from enemy teams. Each team starts with a set number of tickets, and the first team to run out of tickets loses the match. Tickets are lost in two ways: when a team member respawns or when the enemy controls more flags.
Meanwhile, Breakthrough assigns teams as attackers or defenders, with the former tasked with capturing sectors on the map while the latter blocks their progress. A ticket system similar to Conquest mode is also in place, but attackers can restore their tickets by securing a sector. Additionally, any remaining enemy soldiers after a sector is secured can be eliminated for an extra three tickets.
Ultimately, Battlefield Studios is also looking for ways to refine the class system of future Battlefield games. Though they are proud of the game’s current progress, the team believes that player feedback is important. "We tirelessly playtest, but your feedback will supercharge our development as we strive to hit that perfect note between form, function, and feel."
Sources:
Battlefield Labs Announcement
Battlefield Labs Further Explanation
