It has become an open secret that Electronic Arts (EA) is working diligently to complete the latest entry in the Battlefield franchise. To avoid repeating the missteps of Battlefield 2042, the company has launched Battlefield Labs, a feedback program designed to gather direct input from fans. However, it appears that EA’s ambitions with Battlefield 6 go far beyond simple redemption: they are setting their sights on a player base of unprecedented scale.
According to a new report published by Ars Technica, citing conversations with current EA employees, the goals surrounding Battlefield 6 are massive. So massive, in fact, that some might consider them unrealistic.
The company reportedly aims to attract at least 100 million players over the game’s lifetime. This figure provides indirect confirmation that Battlefield 6 will follow a live-service model, continuing the trend established by previous titles in the series. When contacted for comment, EA declined to respond to Ars Technica’s detailed report.
Feeling Good About Battlefield 6
Sources indicate that EA is both inspired and challenged by the success of games like Call of Duty and Fortnite, which have demonstrated the feasibility of reaching such player numbers. For context, the most successful Battlefield title to date, which is Battlefield 1, reached around 30 million players, meaning EA is targeting more than triple that amount with this new instalment.
To achieve this monumental goal, EA reportedly has a multi-pronged release strategy. In addition to a premium version that includes both a multiplayer suite and a roughly 6-hour single-player campaign, the company is planning to launch several free-to-play components. These include a battle royale game, a new mode called Gauntlet, and a community-driven experience under the returning Portal branding.
Supporting this ambition is a massive budget. EA has allegedly already spent over $400 million on the development of Battlefield 6, with a full reveal expected sometime during summer 2025. Whether this will all pan out for the company is a gamble, considering the state of the industry and the live service space. We will just have to wait and find out.
