Battlefield 6 Has the Potential to be “The Best Battlefield Has Ever Done,” Surpasses 600K Steam Pre-Orders
The open beta for Battlefield 6 is only in its second week, but the momentum already suggests it could become one of the biggest releases of 2025. According to SteamDB, the game has already surpassed 400K concurrent players during the beta, while pre-orders have climbed past 605K on Steam alone.
Industry analyst Rhys Elliot of Alinea Analytics predicts the number could reach 1 million pre-orders before launch. In a recent post on X, Elliot shared projections that Battlefield 6 has already generated an estimated $35 million in pre-sales revenue. Speaking further with Eurogamer, Elliot described Battlefield 6 as being on track to deliver “the best Battlefield has ever done.”
Analysts See Record-Breaking Potential but Temper Expectations
Elliot believes the early success shows Battlefield 6 is winning over the hardcore FPS crowd with massive maps, a return to the classic class system, and the series’ signature destruction mechanics. He expects the title to exceed any prior entry in the franchise’s launch performance.
However, he is less optimistic about EA’s broader ambitions. EA executives have floated the idea of reaching 100 million players, a target Elliot called “completely unrealistic.” He also disagreed with former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra’s assertion that Battlefield 6 could “boot stomp” Call of Duty.
“Call of Duty is still a cultural juggernaut,” Elliot noted. “It has a massive casual audience that buys it on autopilot every year, even when they complain. Battlefield is making the right moves, but CoD’s seasonal treadmill, Warzone funnel, and streamer partnerships are hard to match.”
EA’s Shooter Faces Fierce Competition
Battlefield 6 launches in October 2025, but it won’t be without competition. Borderlands 4 and other major shooters will release within the same window, putting pressure on EA to maintain its early momentum.
For now, players can still experience the open beta, which remains active through this weekend. With record-breaking pre-orders, high concurrent player counts, and widespread excitement among FPS fans, all eyes are on whether Battlefield 6 can truly deliver on its potential when it launches later this year.
Do you think Battlefield 6 can finally challenge Call of Duty’s dominance, or will it remain a franchise mainly for the hardcore FPS crowd?
