Battlefield’s Initial Playtest Kicks Off with Exciting Gameplay Footage Emerging Online

If you’ve been following Battlefield, you are likely aware of EA’s intention to hold exclusive playtests for the series’ upcoming installment in a bid to rectify the negative feedback surrounding the disappointing reception of Battlefield 2042. With the first of these now in progress, it’s perhaps not surprising to find gamers already breaching their NDAs and revealing early gameplay online.

The fundamental information known about the forthcoming Battlefield thus far indicates that it is set in the present day and will reintroduce classic classes and more focused maps following the unpopular modifications made in Battlefield 2042. Beyond this, everything else remains a matter of conjecture — although one detective sifted through the recent game’s concept art and identified landmarks suggesting it may take place in Gibraltar.

There’s still a great deal being kept under wraps, leading to the question of why EA is eager to kick off playtests before a major reveal. Yet here we are, with the initial phase of its Battlefield Labs initiative — described as the “most ambitious community testing program in franchise history” — now active. And even as participants are required to sign an NDA to get involved, gameplay footage is already surfacing across various corners of the internet.

Naturally, EA finds itself engaged in a game of whack-a-mole concerning leaked gameplay; however, much remains concealed. Many of the images that have appeared feature multiplayer encounters in Conquest mode, unfolding along the narrow, winding streets of what seems to be a North African city, complete with substantial environmental destruction.

Conquest mode is just one aspect of the upcoming Battlefield game EA previously stated it would be testing as part of its Labs initiative — with the developer also confirming that sessions will include a chance to playtest Breakthrough mode, the game’s older class system, and “new ideas”. With additional tests on the horizon, it’s almost certain that more leaks will follow — which may not be entirely adverse for EA after Battlefield 2042, considering that the gameplay currently circulating seems to be receiving a cautiously optimistic response.

In its latest community update, EA stated, “Within Battlefield Labs, we’re focused on enhancing the best features from past titles, modernizing them, and confirming if they feel enjoyable and rewarding, while ensuring a balanced experience between intuitive control and dynamic combat… Our aim is to provide gameplay that rewards skill with precise weapon feedback and movement options for veterans, while offering an intuitive experience for newcomers to learn and enjoy.”