The battle royale genre has captivated gamers for nearly a decade, evolving from humble mods in games like Arma to global phenomena such as PUBG and Fortnite since 2017. Its popularity has prompted nearly every major shooter franchise to experiment with the format, and now, Electronic Arts (EA) has officially revealed the highly-anticipated battle royale mode for Battlefield 6. Set to enter playtesting this week through Battlefield Labs, this mode promises to deliver a distinctly Battlefield experience, blending class-based squad play, tactical destruction, and vehicle combat into the battle royale framework.
EA describes the mode as "Battle Royale, the Battlefield way," emphasizing the core pillars of the Battlefield franchise. The mode supports 100 players per match, organized into 25 squads of four players, competing on a tailor-made map designed with diverse tactical Points of Interest. Each location offers unique layouts and themes to create varied gameplay opportunities. Players can expect to engage in large-scale warfare, utilizing gadgets, explosives, and vehicles, with destructible environments playing a central role. According to EA, "destruction will be everywhere," allowing players to carve pathways through walls or collapse entire buildings to outmaneuver opponents.
A standout feature of Battlefield 6’s battle royale is its shrinking ring, which EA claims is "the most dangerous ring in gaming." Unlike other battle royales where players can briefly interact with the boundary, this ring instantly kills anyone who touches it. EA emphasizes that there’s "no jumping in or out of it, no using it for cover, no walking through it." An onscreen warning alerts players to its approach, but failure to stay within the safe zone results in immediate elimination, forcing squads into intense, conflict-driven encounters.
The gameplay retains Battlefield’s signature mechanics. Players can select their class before the match, with options to form balanced squads with varied roles or specialized teams where all members share the same class. Once chosen, classes are locked for the match duration. As players progress by exploring the map, defeating enemies, and completing in-match missions, they level up their class’s unique Training, unlocking traits that enhance performance. For example, the Assault class can equip armor plates faster, making them more resilient in firefights. The Support class offers revival capabilities and supply crates, while the Engineer class excels at countering vehicles. EA plans to monitor class and gadget usage during playtesting to ensure balance.
Vehicles are integral to the mode, with common transport vehicles scattered across the map to aid exploration and enable combined arms combat. Players can also unlock armored vehicles, such as tanks, through in-match missions or "vehicle keys," which can shift the battle’s momentum. Additional rewards include redeployments for downed teammates, superior weapons, and the ability to call in air strikes. The mode features five tiers of weapons, along with attachments, explosives, and gadgets like RPGs, allowing for diverse tactical approaches.
The battle royale map is designed to encourage dynamic gameplay, with mission objectives and loot driving player movement as the deadly ring contracts. EA’s focus on destruction ensures that players can creatively reshape the battlefield, using explosives to create new routes or bring down structures. This emphasis on environmental interaction, combined with class-based teamwork and vehicle warfare, aims to differentiate Battlefield 6’s battle royale from competitors.
The playtest, launching this week via Battlefield Labs, will allow EA to gather player feedback and refine the mode before its official release. While the mode’s final integration into Battlefield 6—and whether it will be free-to-play—remains unconfirmed, rumors suggest a standalone free-to-play model may be under consideration.
Battlefield 6 is set to launch on October 10, 2025, bringing its full suite of multiplayer modes, including this ambitious battle royale, to players worldwide.
Source: Electronic Arts
