Great news for Battlefield players as the devs are bringing back the popular Battlefield Labs programme, giving players an early look and the chance to test out some serious core gameplay tweaks before they hit the main game in the December 9th update.
Just a quick heads-up: participation in the Labs is still covered by a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), so keep those lips sealed about the exact details! If you’re invited, keep a sharp eye on the email address you signed up with for the precise timing.
Combat Improvements Under Testing
This particular session is laser-focused on refining the overall combat experience, aiming for better clarity, responsiveness, and that all-important “feel.” Testing will take place on the Eastwood and Operation Firestorm maps in the All-Out Warfare playlist (Conquest and Escalation).
Here are the key combat changes being evaluated:
- Audio footstep updates that improve distance perception, surface definition, and enemy audibility.
- Networking and hit registration refinements aimed at more consistent interactions and better responsiveness during close-quarters and high-intensity combat.
- Broader adjustments across key combat systems that influence all experiences, evaluated through focused Labs testing.
This play session will be PC-only (via the EA app and Steam) at the following times:
- APAC: Tuesday, December 2 from 8-10 PM JST
- EU: Tuesday, December 2 from 7-9 PM CET
- NA: Tuesday, December 2 from 4-6 PM PST
Evolving Battlefield Labs
The Labs programme itself is growing and changing. The team is expanding how they test new gameplay features to get clearer feedback, involve more players, and validate upcoming experiences more effectively.
Going forward, you can expect two main types of play opportunities:
- Planned Play Sessions: These will be recurring, future-focused sessions around specific features or content that needs validation before release, allowing players to shape the final form of upcoming updates.
- Quick, Short-Notice Sessions: These will be put together rapidly to gather immediate community feedback on focused gameplay changes.
The developers are also investigating new and smoother ways to make future Labs sessions accessible to more players, so watch this space!
Looking Ahead
In the coming months, Battlefield Labs is set to explore a broader range of early concepts and experimental scenarios. Beyond the current combat fixes, future Labs sessions are being prepared to look at:
- Changes to map layouts and pacing.
- Alternative team compositions, such as smaller player counts or vehicle-focused setups.
- New maps and experiences.
- New modes and experimental rulesets.
- Prototype mechanics and systems.
- Environmental changes.
- Future seasonal beats before they fully solidify.
- Stability and performance.
What We Think
The return of Battlefield Labs is a welcome move. It shows the development team is serious about using community feedback to shape the future of the game. Testing core combat and audio features, especially networking and hit registration, is crucial for improving the day-to-day experience. Having both ‘Planned’ and ‘Quick’ sessions should give them the flexibility to address immediate issues while also validating bigger, longer-term concepts. We’re particularly keen to see how the experiments with map layouts and alternative team compositions play out!
Tell Me More & Get Involved
The Battlefield Team is clearly excited for the return of the programme and to resume playtesting efforts to build the future of the franchise alongside the community.
You can find out more about Battlefield Labs and sign up to EA Playtesting on their website today, and you can join the discussion and stay updated on the latest information by jumping into the Battlefield Discord.
