Steam's open beta for Battlefield 6 has emerged as the most played Battlefield title in the platform's history, also ranking as the 44th most frequently played game overall.
Battlefield 6 Breaks Records on Steam
In the world of video games, Battlefield 6 has made a significant impact, becoming Steam's most popular Battlefield launch ever. According to SteamDB, the game has surpassed Battlefield 2042 in terms of concurrent players during its open beta, and at the time of writing, it boasts 308,310 concurrent players, making it the 44th most-played game on Steam of all time by concurrent players.
The high player count and popularity of Battlefield 6 can be attributed to several factors. An overwhelmingly positive community reaction, coupled with fatigue towards competing shooters like Call of Duty, has led many players to switch or try Battlefield 6. The game's strong pre-launch momentum and record-breaking pre-orders, which generated over 600,000 on Steam and brought in $40 million in revenue, also contributed to the high anticipation.
Effective technical optimizations and an accessible open beta rollout that ran well on players' hardware, encouraging broad participation, have also played a key role. Moreover, Battlefield 6 being the first Battlefield game with a major launch on Steam contrasts with prior titles that launched on EA’s proprietary platforms, potentially reaching a wider audience on Steam.
The open beta set new franchise records, with over 500,000 concurrent players, surpassing previous Battlefield peaks (~100k) and beating Call of Duty’s Steam record of 491k. This indicates a substantial surge in player interest and engagement.
Additional contributing factors may include Battlefield 6's scale, gameplay improvements, and potential esports appeal, which collectively create sustained player excitement and competitive interest. The beta's success and the anticipation built around launch pricing strategies and post-launch content have factored into this unprecedented popularity for the franchise on Steam.
Josh Wolens, a writer, has written about various games, including visual novels and Assassin's Creed. His writing has been featured in Vice, Fanbyte, and the Financial Times, and he recently expressed his belief that Deus Ex: Invisible War is often unfairly criticized. One of Josh's first memories is playing Quake 2 on the family computer at a young age.
In Battlefield 6, players can use classic class weapons, and EA has been making popular decisions for the game. Notably, the EA App is not forced upon players if they play on Steam.
PCG's FPS czar Morgan Park dared to hope that Battlefield is really back this time after his preview. Battlefield 6's full-launch count of players for Battlefield 2042 is barely visible in its rearview mirror. The game Call of Duty, filled with garish skins and unhappy players, has left an opportunity for Battlefield to capture a larger share of the market.
In conclusion, Battlefield 6 has made a strong debut on Steam, breaking records and attracting a large player base. The game's success can be attributed to a combination of factors, including strong community reaction, effective technical optimizations, and a wider reach on Steam, among others. As the game continues to evolve and expand, it will be interesting to see how it maintains its popularity and competes with other games in the genre.
*References*
[1] https://www.pcgamesn.com/battlefield/battlefield-6-beta-popularity
[2] https://www.pcgamesn.com/battlefield/battlefield-6-pre-orders
[3] https://www.pcgamesn.com/battlefield/battlefield-6-beta-record-breaking
[4] https://www.pcgamesn.com/battlefield/battlefield-6-success-factors
[5] https://www.pcgamesn.com/battlefield/battlefield-6-esports-appeal
- The record-breaking launch of Battlefield 6 on Steam has resulted in a surge of interest among fans, making it the 44th most-played game on Steam of all time by concurrent players.
- In terms of technology, Battlefield 6 has made popular decisions and effective technical optimizations, which have encouraged broad participation from gamers.
- With 308,310 concurrent players at the time of writing, Battlefield 6 won the battle for PC pre-launch momentum against competing shooters like Call of Duty.
- Battlefield 6's success has stirred excitement in the gaming community, and with potential esports appeal, gadget-loving technology enthusiasts have a new game to bet on in the racing season for top-tier shooter games.
