Gameplay details about Battlefield's upcoming Battle Royale

Leaked details, gameplay mechanics and insights about upcoming Battlefield Battle Royale

Fan-Made Concept Art by @Emadalden_

Battlefield is returning to the Battle Royale genre with a fresh attempt at large-scale, tactical survival. And it’s not just a rumour anymore. Thanks to renowned Battlefield dataminer Temporyal and an ongoing stream of datamined content from Battlefield Labs, we now have a detailed look at what EA and Ripple Effect are building behind the scenes.

In late June, Temporyal posted a Reddit thread that uncovered detailed strings and concept art pulled directly from Battlefield Labs files. These included early gameplay systems, descriptions of contracts and mission types, references to wall-of-fire zone mechanics, and even the foundation of a backstory for the mode. It also revealed over 50 weapons in the files, many of which are modeled after real-world counterparts but will be renamed in-game.

Alongside the Reddit leaks, the Battlefield One Podcast offered extended analysis on Episode 42, adding developer context, technical critique, and impressions of the leaked game’s early alpha state. All available leaked details available in this Reddit post by Temporyal himself: https://www.reddit.com/r/Battlefield/comments/1kti0m0/bf_labs_datamining_the_battle_royale_mode_new/

Gameplay Structure

The new Battle Royale mode is built around a squad-based gameplay loop. It seems that Solos, Duos, Trios and Squads will be available at some point when the Battle Royale mode is out. According to the datamined string “Keep moving and survive”, players will parachute into an American city/location - possibly designed after Florida or some California location - where they will:

• Loot weapons and gadgets

• Complete missions for tactical rewards

• Intercept enemy objectives

• Equip custom weapons and loadouts

• Stay ahead of a closing fire wall called the NXC Flame Front

  
  

This structure mirrors some systems seen in Call of Duty’s Warzone, but adds Battlefield’s unique environmental scale, vehicle combat, and destructibility.

Leaked concept art from Battlefield Labs game build

Mission Types

There are two major mission systems in the leaked design:

1. Priority Missions: Optional side objectives that appear throughout the match, often offering rewards like keycards, vehicle access, and custom loadout drops. These are dynamic and scale as the match progresses.

2. Counter Missions: When a nearby squad activates a Priority Mission, you can intercept and steal their progress and rewards.

   
   
   
   

Custom Loadouts and Vehicles

Datamined files confirm that players will be able to create and drop custom weapon loadouts, continuing a design popularized in Warzone. Vehicles will also play a role, with access controlled via lootable keycards. The exact vehicle types haven’t been confirmed.

Drones in Battlefield’s Battle Royale (aka The Oversight system)

Among the most intriguing leaks uncovered by Temporyal were references to multiple drone types embedded in the Battlefield Labs files - suggesting a layered drone system built for both combat and support roles in the Battle Royale environment. While drones have appeared in previous Battlefield titles, the scope here is broader, with each drone seemingly built for a specific tactical function.

1. Recon Drone (Oversight Drones)

   • Role: Surveillance and spotting

   • Details: Functions similarly to the Recon Drone in Battlefield 2042 and Warzone. It allows a player to manually pilot the drone through the environment to spot enemies, mark targets, or scout buildings before pushing.

   • Technical Possibility: Could integrate with Battlefield's traditional spotting system (3D pings), potentially enhanced with thermal or motion sensors for tighter indoor surveillance.

     
     

2. Combat Drone / Attack UAV

   • Role: Light offense or harassment

   • Details: Temporyal’s strings include references to a drone equipped with small-caliber weaponry or high-explosive ordnance (likely similar to a mini-Sentry drone or RC-XD). May be deployed like a killstreak or unlocked through mission rewards.

   • Possible Use Case: Late-game zone control, enemy suppression, flushing out entrenched squads, or delivering pressure from elevated positions.

   
   

Balance Considerations

There are concerns about drone abuse in a Battle Royale setting. Based on Temporyal's findings, offensive drones that being controlled by "dead" players might the most annoying thing while playing Battlefield Battle Royale, as Tom (TheLankySoldier) discusses in this clip:

Environmental Design

Concept art leaked by Temporyal showcases a highly urban map design - featuring parking lots, high-rises, residential zones, a large crater, and a central freeway. The artwork’s layout and density suggest limited open terrain, which prompted concern from Battlefield One Podcast’s host Tom (TheLankySoldier):

“If the entire map is just cluttered with buildings and no open space, people are going to get bored. Fast.”

The design appears visually rich but potentially claustrophobic - a contrast to previous Battlefield maps or Verdansk from Call of Duty Warzone, which offered more breathing room and clearer POI variation.

Leaked concept art from Battlefield Labs game build

Visibility and Lighting Concerns:

Early alpha footage from Battlefield Labs revealed a recurring issue: visibility. Tom (TheLankySoldier) was blunt:

“The visibility is actually terrible. The lighting creates hard shadows, and there’s either blinding brightness or pitch-black interiors.”

In addition to rough contrast levels, excessive use of smoke, particles, and post-processing effects made it difficult to distinguish enemy silhouettes. This is a critical problem in a Battle Royale, where visual clarity is essential.

The HUD system may also contribute to confusion. In some cases, friendly icons appear through walls before enemy markers load in, leading players to misidentify hostiles. This legacy issue in Battlefield’s Frostbite engine has historically frustrated players, and will need to be addressed.

Weapon Naming & Legal Strategy

Over 50 weapons were uncovered in the files — including the HK433, MP7, SCAR-L, G36, MG4, Vector, and more. But don’t expect to see these names in the final game. EA is opting for fictional weapon names to avoid legal risks.

The reason, as explained on the podcast, stems from lawsuits like the one faced by Activision after a real-world school shooting was allegedly inspired by in-game weaponry. To minimize liability, modern shooters have increasingly removed real names and branding. As Tom (TheLankySoldier) put it:

“If it shoots like an M416, reloads like an M416, and kills like an M416 — you won’t care what it’s called on the HUD.”

Leaked concept art from Battlefield Labs game build

Map Variety and Design Balance

The current concern is that the Battle Royale map, despite looking good on paper, lacks visual and gameplay diversity. Much of the map shown in concept art — and described in datamined POI markers — focuses on residential zones, commercial centers, and dense city blocks.

This urban density may reinforce close-quarters gunplay, but without large open spaces, varied elevation, or distinct zones, players may struggle with repetitive engagements and limited tactical choices.

The podcast drew comparisons to Call of Duty’s “Urzikstan” map - a visually repetitive layout that made it hard to distinguish between locations. A good Battle Royale map needs clear POI identity, natural movement funnels, and visual landmarks. If everything looks the same, players won’t feel compelled to explore.

What we know so far paints a promising but cautious picture. Battlefield’s upcoming Battle Royale is more than just a Firestorm 2.0. It’s an ambitious attempt to merge Battlefield’s scale, destruction, and teamplay with the mission-based, high-agency gameplay of titles like Warzone.

However, serious issues remain: poor visibility, risk of map monotony, and an unclear release window. Battlefield One Podcast believes the current state of the game suggests an early 2026 launch, maybe even late 2026. There’s simply too much left to polish, refine, and test. The recent article from Arstechnica about the progress that new Battlefield is making, is not giving a lot of positives either.

But make no mistake - if executed well, this Battle Royale could become a serious contender in the genre that could compete against Call of Duty Warzone, Fortnite and EA's own Apex Legends.

This article is brought to you by the Battlefield One Podcast, where we break down announcements like this, analyze gameplay footage, and track the development of Battlefield week to week. Whether you're new to the franchise or a returning veteran, follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you listen, and get the full picture behind the frontlines.

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