EA’s Stock Surges After Battlefield 6 Beta Shatters Player Count Records
The first weekend of the Battlefield 6 Beta has proven to be a resounding success, both in terms of player engagement and financial impact for Electronic Arts. The beta drew hundreds of thousands of concurrent players on Steam at launch, immediately surpassing the all-time peak of Battlefield 2042. As the weekend progressed, the player count climbed to nearly half a million concurrent players, eventually breaking that threshold and even surpassing Call of Duty’s highest concurrent numbers on Steam.
This surge in popularity has been accompanied by an overwhelmingly positive reception from the community. Discussions on the Battlefield subreddit highlight that many players consider Battlefield 6 a return to form for the franchise, with improved gameplay and a focus on the large-scale, team-based warfare that has long been its hallmark.
Beyond community enthusiasm, the beta also made a tangible impact on Electronic Arts’ stock performance. As reported by MP1st, EA’s share price jumped 4.7%, the largest single-day increase since late last month, closing at $176.11 per share. This rise boosted the company’s valuation to an estimated $42 billion.
The success of the Battlefield 6 beta marks a potential turning point for the series. In past years, what was once an annual battle for dominance between Call of Duty and Battlefield became increasingly one-sided, with the latter struggling to match the scale and player retention of its rival. Now, with this strong early showing, Battlefield 6 appears poised to reclaim part of that lost ground.
The next beta weekend is scheduled to begin tomorrow, August 14, and run through Sunday, August 17, before the game’s full release in October. Whether the title can maintain this momentum through launch and into its first year will be the ultimate test.
Do you think Battlefield 6 has what it takes to reclaim its place alongside Call of Duty in the FPS arena?
