Battlefield 6 is riding high, but for how long?

So, the new Battlefield entrant did it? Battlefield 6 was released to huge hype, and although the work continues, it feels like it’s been a largely successful launch. Sadly, for developers, a title’s initial success doesn’t always guarantee ongoing joy. And for BF6, it has EA’s lofty 100 million player number to strive for, meaning there’s plenty of miles to travel. 

Will it get there? As much as releasing ahead of the holidays makes sense for a triple-A title. It’s also a difficult period to navigate. Below, we’ll take a look at Battlefield 6’s initial and current standing. Plus, with potential threats from other titles, we’ll consider how outside influences, technical issues, and content plans may impact its trajectory. 

According to EA itself, which published an October 16 press release, Battlefield 6 shattered records, “becoming the biggest launch in franchise history.” The game reportedly sold over seven million copies as of that date, and hit the highest all-time concurrent player count in franchise history. According to Steam Charts, its peak so far has been 656,067 players. 

Those are impressive numbers, particularly with the prior series standout, BF3, netting five million sales. As such, BF6 can clearly be considered successful compared to other Battlefield games. Gaming-wise, the launch weekend felt colossal, too. This writer logged on as access was granted via Steam and was met with an eye-watering queue position of 423,600.

Such hype just isn’t usual for Battlefield games, and many gamers have voiced that it was more akin to CoD levels of release day anticipation. BF6’s launch has had a massive impact on console and PC gamers, but it’s easier to quantify on PC, as Steam Charts has it recorded as the fourth most-played game, behind stalwarts CS2, Dota 2, and PUBG.

What I’m wondering is, “How long will such a high player base be there?”. That will remain an important question throughout the rest of 2025, given the competition emerging. The most obvious rival is Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. And although CoD does seem to have fallen from grace, Black Ops 6 delivered the biggest Call of Duty launch ever. 

There are whispers about Black Ops 7 pre-orders, yet no numbers have been shared by Activision. What we do know is that the Black Ops 7 beta test hit a peak of just 75,000 players on Steam. Compare that to the more than 520,000 players for the BF6 beta, and it may be that Battlefield 6 needn’t actually worry about its most obvious foe. 

CoD aside, there could be multiple aggressors to draw players away from BF6’s all-out warfare. Odd as it may seem, Escape from Duckov could be one title that offers a fresh alternative. A duck-themed looter-shooter may not be on many people’s radar. However, as I write, it’s currently fifth in the Steam Charts, one place behind Battlefield 6.

A more natural threat? Arc Raiders. A title that may appeal to adventure and exploration fans as well as PvP lovers. And the recent Arc Raiders Server Slam success was impressive. It’s not a direct competitor, but it still amassed 190,000 players in its play test. It may offer an enjoyable alternative to draw gamers away from BF6’s game modes.

Perhaps Battlefield 6 needn’t worry about any competition, though. Although players may be drawn in multiple directions when new titles arrive, focusing on fixes and more content is what’s essential. We already know that the BF6 Season 1 Roadmap kicks off this month. Yet some issues persist from launch, and when we say some, we mean…quite a few. 

Some players are still missing their pre-order Phantom Edition rewards, Battlefield Portal has been home to XP Farms, and PC players have reported performance drops due to memory leaks. Additional bugs and glitches affecting the title have been reported, too, and posts by Battlefield Bulletin provide further context.

These issues may be resolved speedily, but there is still a question of ongoing content enjoyment. Ripple Effect Studios’ Vince Zampella has been vocal about monthly content updates and keeping BF6 fresh. That’s key, because a focus on fun will be needed in the months to come. While glitches can cause gnawing frustration, BF6 gamers must want to keep coming back.

As for the Season 1 roadmap, it shows promise. However, it is concerning that no larger game modes are coming in 2025. With Battlefield 6’s Battle Royale not given an official release date, fans of larger warfare may be left wanting, even if leaker Shaun Weber has claimed the Battle Royale is arriving in Season 1.

Ultimately, such initial success is uncharted territory for a Battlefield game. The BF6 devs will be well aware of the need to firefight on all fronts, and the upcoming period feels critical in delivering fixes, a smooth roll-out of further content, and balancing community wants with technical priorities. How long can Battlefield 6 keep soaring? As ever, gamers decide. 

Battlefield 6 has performed phenomenally, establishing itself both as one of the most played games on Steam and the most successful Battlefield launch ever. But big launches don’t always mean a long lifespan of ever-eager gamers. Battlefield 6 has competitors, bugs, and its own content roadmap to consider in the coming months. 

Each of those elements needs to be addressed adequately if Battlefield 6 is to retain an impressive player base into the future. Will EA’s 100 million player goal be realised? It’s a lofty hope. So far, it feels as though BF6 has more than lived up to its early expectations. Gamers can keep the title on the up, but the developers need to give gamers the impetus.