Electronic Arts (EA) has given fans their first glimpse at the next Battlefield game, and one feature stood out above all—an impressively destructible environment. The pre-alpha footage, which was briefly showcased at the end of EA’s presentation for their new initiative “Battlefield Labs”, hints at a return to the franchise’s roots with large-scale destruction playing a central role.
The Battlefield franchise has long been known for its chaotic, large-scale warfare, and destruction has been a key part of that identity. While previous titles like Battlefield 3 and Battlefield 4 featured dynamic environmental destruction, later installments, such as Battlefield 2042, scaled back this element, leaving many fans disappointed. However, the pre-alpha footage suggests that EA is set to bring back the highly demanded feature, making destruction a core gameplay mechanic once again.
The 10 seconds pre-alpha Footage of the next Battlefield
The pre-alpha footage was a brief 10-second clip, offering only a small glimpse into the destructible environment. During this short preview, you’ll see an entire building collapsing from an RPG fire, terrain deforming, and objects within the environment responding dynamically to destruction. These real-time effects suggest a significant improvement in how physics and destruction are implemented in the game.
EA has confirmed that Battlefield Labs will be testing “core combat and destruction” early in the development cycle. This means destruction will not be an afterthought but rather a pillar of the new Battlefield’s design.
The Battlefield LABS
Beyond the destruction feature, EA has also detailed its development structure for the new Battlefield, with multiple studios collaborating on different aspects of the game with a new initiative called “Battlefield LABS”:
- DICE (Sweden): Leading multiplayer development.
- Motive: Working on single-player missions and multiplayer maps.
- Ripple Effect: Focused on bringing new players into the Battlefield universe.
- Criterion: Developing the single-player campaign.
If the footage is any indication, this new Battlefield installment may take destructible environments to an unprecedented level. Compared to previous games, where destruction was sometimes scripted or limited to specific structures, the pre-alpha footage hints at a more systemic approach. Players might have the ability to reshape the battlefield entirely, creating new pathways, eliminating cover, and altering strategies in real-time. This could lead to a more dynamic and immersive warfare experience, where no two battles play out the same way. Will there be no more camping or more camping hiding behind rubbles? You can watch the presentation below: