The Battlefield 6 Open Beta, launched on August 7, 2025, has drawn over 300,000 concurrent players on Steam, marking the largest beta in the Battlefield franchise’s history.
With the full release set for October 10, 2025, EA and Battlefield Studios have offered a preview of a game aiming to recapture the series’ roots while addressing issues from Battlefield 2042.
The beta has generated engagement, topping Twitch viewership and Steam sales charts, but it faces criticism. Here’s an overview of player feedback, strengths, and challenges.
Return to Core Gameplay
The beta emphasises Battlefield’s foundations: large-scale battles, destruction, class-based gameplay, and vehicles. Players have noted the gunplay’s responsiveness, particularly on controllers, and the presence of destructible environments and maps.
The absence of stylised cosmetics, a point of contention in 2042, has been acknowledged, with players favouring the grounded aesthetic. A firing range for testing weapons and loadouts has added depth to the beta.
The beta’s player count, nearly double that of 2042’s beta, reflects interest. It has dominated Twitch and PS5 sales charts, indicating appeal among longtime fans and newcomers, including some Call of Duty players.
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Technical Hiccups Persist
Server congestion and matchmaking issues have impacted the beta, with players reporting long queue times, repetitive map rotations, and playlist loading errors.
EA has responded, increasing server capacity and implementing a queue system to stabilise access. “Since this is Battlefield’s biggest Open Beta ever, we’re putting in the work to ensure that players have the best possible experience and servers remain stable,” a Battlefield Studios spokesperson said.
Performance varies. Some players report stability with few bugs, a contrast to 2042’s beta, while others, particularly on PC, note optimisation issues affecting gameplay. These challenges, common in betas, have prompted calls for refinement before launch.
Community Feedback: Praise and Critique
The gunplay has been a highlight for many, described as “crisp” and “satisfying”, though some, though few, argue it lacks a skill ceiling, drawing unfavourable comparisons to 2042 or Call of Duty’s more demanding mechanics.
Movement has also drawn criticism, with some players calling it “clunky” or “unpolished.” The time-to-kill (TTK) has been another divisive topic, with reports of inconsistent or overly fast TTK leading to frustrating engagements.
Specific balance issues, such as overpowered jets (capable of killing in just four bullets) and problematic mechanics like double assault primaries or headshot-focused ammo attachments, have also sparked calls for tweaks.
For a franchise known for pushing boundaries, some fans worry that Battlefield 6 leans too heavily on nostalgia without addressing longstanding issues or introducing bold new features.
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Lessons from Battlefield 2042
Battlefield 2042’s beta faced criticism for bugs, optimisation issues, and design choices like Specialists. In contrast, Battlefield 6’s beta returns to classes, destruction, and vehicles, reflecting player feedback.
The absence of Specialists and focus on core mechanics signals a shift from 2042’s approach. EA’s proactive response to server issues and community feedback is encouraging, but the pressure is on to deliver a polished experience come October.
Path to Launch
With just two months until Battlefield 6’s full release, the beta has set a high bar. Its unprecedented player turnout and positive buzz position it as a potential redemption arc for the franchise, but EA must address the community’s concerns to maintain that momentum.
Refining movement, balancing TTK, and fixing server issues will be critical, as will delivering on the promise of innovation to differentiate Battlefield 6 from its predecessors.
For now, the Battlefield 6 beta has rekindled the spark that made the series a titan of the FPS genre. Whether EA can capitalise on this momentum and deliver a game that lives up to the hype remains to be seen.
Well written article.
Looking forward to more 🙂