markdown Battlefield 6: Will EA’s New Labs Initiative Save the Franchise?

The Battlefield series isn’t as strong as it once was, but Electronic Arts (EA) plans to improve this with their latest announcement: Battlefield Labs. This is a program intended to give you the opportunity to play the upcoming Battlefield game even before its official release, though at present, neither its name nor launch date has been disclosed. The only glimpse we’ve had so far is a brief 10-second video of early-stage gameplay that accompanied the Battlefield Labs trailer.

According to the announcement from EA, Battlefield Labs is set to launch within a few weeks for players who register on the Battlefield website now. The initial stages seem to be exclusive, invitation-based events with servers located in Europe and North America. However, these restrictions are likely to be broadened in the future.

In contrast to previous Battlefield games, Battlefield Labs appears to be the most ambitious project yet. Notably, playtesting is being conducted prior to the game’s release, a first for this series. David Sirland, a Producer at DICE, promises an unprecedented amount of content. The testing phase will encompass a wide range of aspects including combat, destruction, maps, game modes, vehicles, gadgets, and novel features, all aimed at Labs participants.

Why such an emphasis on player feedback?

For enthusiasts of the series who’ve been following Battlefield updates, it’s likely that the Battlefield Labs initiative won’t catch them off guard.

In 2021, the latest installment of Battlefield, titled Battlefield 2042, was met with relatively unenthusiastic criticism upon its release. As a matter of fact, Windows Central’s Brendan Lowry, in his critique of Battlefield 2042, stated it rather mildly.

Battlefield 2042, created by Electronic Arts and DICE, has laid an excellent groundwork, yet it needs enhancements for long-term success. I’m optimistic that this title will eventually become one of the top PC games out there, perhaps even my dream Battlefield game. However, its initial release leaves much room for improvement.

Regrettably, Lowry’s dreams didn’t materialize. I tried revisiting 2042 several times, but ultimately found myself drawn back to older games. Despite being called a Battlefield game, 2042 never quite captured the essence of its predecessors. Instead, it seemed to pursue current trends rather than focusing on what initially made those games so appealing.

Recently, I’ve found myself engrossed in Battlefield 1, a game that still stands strong despite being almost a decade old.

Although Battlefield V, released in 2042’s immediate preceding year, was initially impressive, the dearth of content and waning support gradually diminished its charm. Recently, I’ve been engrossed in Battlefield 1, which remarkably remains engaging despite being almost a decade old.

It’s clear that many people are engaged in Battlefield 1. A glance at Steam statistics (which doesn’t account for the game being available on Xbox Game Pass and Origin) shows approximately 24,000 players on PC just a short while ago, compared to around 8,000 for Battlefield 2042. The gap between these numbers seems significant, doesn’t it?

Battlefield 1 on Steam is roughly the price of a coffee with its ongoing discount, but let me make a case for this atmospheric and eerie World War I game that could turn into a passionate plea. If you miss out on the current Steam sale, consider visiting the CDKeys Battlefield 1 page instead for regular discounts.

Battlefield Studios is a new collective name for the development team

Alongside the introduction of Battlefield Labs, there’s also a change in the studio organization. Now, the combined efforts of DICE, Criterion, Ripple Effect, and Motive studios are referred to as Battlefield Studios moving forward.

In the video I shared earlier, it was clarified that DICE continues to be responsible for the development of multiplayer gameplay aspects. This encompasses a variety of elements such as destruction systems, character classes, squads, vehicles, gadgets, and unique features that distinguish Battlefield from other popular shooter games in the mainstream market.

It turns out that while Motive is primarily concentrating on designing multiplayer maps for the upcoming game, they are also dedicating their efforts to crafting single-player missions. In other words, it seems that a campaign will indeed be making a comeback in the next installment.

Ripple Effect is working on creating an experience designed to attract a wide range of new players to the Battlefield series while continuing to thrill its established fanbase who have contributed significantly to the franchise’s success. The specifics of what this involves are yet to be unveiled.

To sum up, after a decade of developing Battlefield series games, Criterion Studios has been given the opportunity to influence the storyline of the single-player campaign. If you’re wondering about what Criterion Games is planning for the Need for Speed series, a comment from Battlefield head Vince Zampella to Eurogamer provides some insight. Zampella explains that although the Criterion team is currently focused on the upcoming Battlefield game, they aim to revitalize the franchise by introducing it in fresh and captivating ways.

Can Battlefield 6 fare better than its predecessor?

Rebecka Coutaz, General Manager of Criterion & DICE, states in the Battlefield Labs trailer:

For the first time ever, we’ve gathered so many teams and talents working on Battlefield. Our goal is to design an exhilarating future for this franchise, in close collaboration with our players.

Here’s another way of expressing it: This plan seems promising, but history has shown similar scenarios don’t always end well. Whether bringing on more developers will rescue the franchise is yet to be determined, but I must admit, the new Labs project is noteworthy. Battlefield 2042 encountered trouble due to questionable decisions that didn’t resonate with players, so correcting that course of action definitely seems like a positive move.

Speaking as a long-term enthusiast of the Battlefield series, who often revisits its classic titles, I believe it’s safe to express shared excitement that this might be a victory for all of us fans.

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2025-02-03 20:40