In Short:
- EA Launches Battlefield Labs to Gather Community Feedback for Next Game
- It quickly turned into a hub for leaks, many lacking context and potentially causing harm
- The game’s community manager condemned the leakers and criticized those undermining the spirit of the community-driven initiative
It all happened last February when EA opened up about the next chapter in the Battlefield series, introducing Battlefield Labs as a new approach.
The initiative focuses on collaborating with players through closed testing to help ensure a smoother and more successful launch.
Not long after sign-ups opened, over 1.3 million players registered for Battlefield Labs, hoping to contribute to a title not expected before April 2026.
However, by March 7, gameplay footage had begun surfacing through livestreams and leaks. Even with a Non-Disclosure Agreement in place, participants were still sharing their experiences and opinions publicly.
Tensions escalated earlier this week when data miners uncovered internal code suggesting the next Battlefield instalment will feature Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM).
The discovery sparked a wave of community backlash, prompting lead producer David Sirland to step in, urging fans to “calm this thing down a tad” while offering clarification on the situation.
Battlefield Labs Will Fail If Leaks Continue to Flood the Community
The team mentioned that Battlefield Labs had been in development for some time, created in response to players’ requests for greater participation and a return to a more reactive approach to all things Battlefield.
However, they highlighted that much of the leaked content is taken out of context and often framed with misleading narratives, which damages the trust and transparency they are working to build. Consequently, individuals who breach the NDA will be removed from the program.
Leaks can have serious consequences, particularly when they are missing key context, as demonstrated by the SBMM leak that triggered panic within the community.
Although EA is taking stronger measures against leakers, it’s uncertain what additional steps they can implement to prevent further damage or curb the spread of inaccurate information prematurely.
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