Electronic Arts has officially revealed the formation of Battlefield Studios, uniting four development teams to revitalize one of its flagship series. For this, the company selected DICE, Motive, Ripple Effect, and Criterion to collaborate on a shared vision for a ‘Battlefield universe.’ The new joint effort intends to please fans by launching the Battlefield Labs beta tests as well. However, this move comes amidst challenges at EA’s internal studios.
According to the reveal trailer, each studio is going to bring its own unique expertise. DICE, with its ‘rich history’ with the franchise, will be handling the multiplayer side. That includes all underlying systems that ‘drive the experience,’ such as destructions, class and squad play, vehicles, and gadgets, among others.
Meanwhile, Battlefront 2 and Dead Space‘s Motive, is tasked with creating maps and cinematic single-player missions that are ‘never seen before’ in a Battlefield game. Ripple Effect, also known as Danger Close Games and for its Medal of Honor series, focuses on new player acquisition features. Lastly, Need for Speed developer Criterion is taking the lead on the campaign.
“We have never before had this many teams and talents dedicated to the development of Battlefield,” said the general manager for Criterion and DICE Rebecka Coutaz in the reveal video. “And we have a plan to create a new, exciting future for the franchise, alongside our players. This game has so much potential.”
To prepare for future Battlefield games, the studios also launched what they called as Battlefield Labs for closed player-driven testing. The beta tests will let players help shape concepts and mechanics before release, ensuring an ‘authentic Battlefield experience,’ according to the FAQ page.
It’s also mentioned that the testing is released during a ‘critical development phase,’ with the studios aiming for a huge ‘cross-collaboration’ with the community. Interested fans and newcomers can apply to join Battlefield Labs on the official web page.
“We’ve done similar things in the past, but this is a whole other level,” said David Sirland, producer at DICE. “We’re doing it before we launch the game, and we’re doing it with so much more content. It’s an exciting way for us to interact with our audience before things go live and make sure that what we have is really fun and polished.”
Yet, beneath the excitement, lies troubling signs for EA’s internal teams — and their franchises. Previously, Battlefield 2042 was released to a negative response from the player base. It had a buggy launch, lacking key features from previous entries, and poor optimization. Fans also felt it strayed too far from the franchise’s core identity.
To add salt to the wound, the timing of Battlefield Studios’ formation coincides with BioWare’s struggles. Both problems cast doubt on EA’s ability to manage its iconic IPs.
Recently, BioWare, known for its critically acclaimed Dragon Age and Mass Effect, has been hit hard by layoffs and restructuring. Recent reports reveal fewer than 100 staff remain at BioWare, down from over 200 just two years ago.
On one hand, EA touts its commitment to building a new Battlefield experience with a huge collaborative studio and Labs. On the flip side, the company’s challenges seem to paint a desperate attempt to recoup its losses; financially and the goodwill of its fans.
