Battlefield 2042 left some fans feeling let down, but DICE is determined to improve with the next game.
Fans are hopeful that the upcoming Battlefield will bring back the good old days, ditching the 128-player matches and Specialist characters that were unpopular in Battlefield 2042. The new game will be set in modern times, a refreshing change from the future and historical settings of recent installments. There’s even talk about a possible battle-royale mode, and with four studios working on it, expectations are high.
Though EA hasn’t given a release date, rumors suggest it might come out in October 2025. The game is already being tested, and a community test program is planned for early 2025. This suggests they’re making good progress.
When will the new Battlefield be released?
There’s no official release date yet, but a report hints at October 2025. Considering the three-year gap between Battlefield V and 2042, this seems likely. EA is playtesting the game almost daily and plans to launch a community test program in early 2025, indicating the game is well underway.
Preorder the new Battlefield
You can’t preorder the new Battlefield yet. Be cautious of any site claiming otherwise.
New Battlefield trailer information
No trailer is available yet, but some concept art was shared in mid-September, showing intense combat scenes typical of Battlefield games.
New Battlefield platforms
While platforms haven’t been confirmed, it’s likely the game will be available on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. It’s unclear if it will come to Nintendo’s upcoming console or mobile devices. EA had a mobile Battlefield game in the works but canceled it, leaving future mobile plans uncertain.
New Battlefield story, setting, and characters
Details on the story, setting, and characters are sparse, but we know it’s set in modern times, a shift from the futuristic and WWII settings of the last games. Fans are happy about this return to the present. According to Insider Gaming, the game takes place between 2027 and 2030 and features a massive private military group battling NATO, with scenes in the USA and Gibraltar.
“If you look back to the peak or the pinnacle of Battlefield, it’s that Battlefield 3… Battlefield 4 era where everything was modern. And I think we have to get back to the core of what Battlefield is and do that amazingly well, and then we’ll see where it goes from there,” Vince Zampella told IGN. “But I think for me, [that] peak of Battlefield-ness is in that Battlefield 3 and 4 days. So I think it’s nostalgic for players, for me, for the teams even. Those are kind of the heyday…although I would say 1942 also.”
What will it be called?
The name of the new Battlefield game hasn’t been decided yet. Insider Gaming reports that EA is considering names like “Battlefield 6” or just “Battlefield,” based on surveys.
Battle royale?
EA’s popular Apex Legends is a battle-royale game, but rumors suggest the new Battlefield will have its own battle-royale mode, possibly developed by Ripple Effect. Insider Gaming says this mode will be free-to-play and separate from the main game, similar to Call of Duty: Warzone.
Who’s developing the new Battlefield
DICE is leading the multiplayer development, while Motive is working on the single-player campaign. Criterion is handling additional content and experiences, and Ripple Effect might be developing the battle-royale mode. Vince Zampella wants to create a “Battlefield universe” with connected experiences. Initially, Marcus Lehto’s Ridgeline studio was also involved, but it was closed due to budget cuts.
Weapons, destruction, and gameplay
DICE aims to have 45 weapons at launch, more than double the number in Battlefield 2042. There will be 10 multiplayer maps at the start, with more expected post-launch. Destruction will remain a core feature, with “caliber-based destruction” similar to Rainbow Six Siege. Players will also be able to move downed teammates, a feature expected in the battle-royale mode.
Fans will be relieved to hear that 128-player matches are likely gone. Battlefield 2042’s large maps felt empty despite bots filling in, so the team is focusing on better-designed, dense play spaces. As Zampella put it, “The 128 player, did it make it more fun? Like…doing the number for the sake of the number doesn’t make any sense.”
Specialist characters, another disliked feature of Battlefield 2042, won’t be returning. The game will go back to the traditional class-based system. Zampella acknowledged, “Not everybody liked it,” and emphasized that classes are central to Battlefield.
Taking on Call of Duty?
Battlefield and Call of Duty are rivals in the shooter world, and Zampella believes the new Battlefield could outsell Call of Duty. However, the goal is to create a unique product that stands apart from Call of Duty.
“I mean, is that what we’re going for? I mean, not directly, but always,” he said about Battlefield outselling Call of Duty. “We’re not looking to take down Call of Duty. We’re making something that’s different and we’re making something that’s us. But yeah, it definitely has the possibility.”
