Battlefield 6 Status Report: Community Check-In Three Months Post-Launch

The gaming world is abuzz with the latest developments surrounding Battlefield 6, as its Steam reviews have now dropped to a ‘Mixed’ status. Players are voicing their dissatisfaction due to persistent bugs, “aggressive monetization,” and AI-generated content, leading to a decline in player numbers while anticipation for Season 2 grows.

When Battlefield 6 was released for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S on October 10, it marked a high point for the EA FPS franchise, setting new sales records. However, the game has since faced a series of challenges, with the current situation being its most prolonged period of disfavor among fans.

Truly a Battlefield 6 experience.
byu/helish_88 inBattlefield

After a rebound in player sentiment with the Season 1: California Resistance update, December brought a wave of negative reviews and dwindling player numbers. This downturn coincided with the release of the Winter Offensive update, which offered limited-time, snowy maps. However, the lack of new content was not the sole reason for this decline.

On December 9, the 1.1.3.0 update introduced the Ice Lock event and a new melee weapon, the Ice Climbing Axe, but also brought technical glitches that disrupted gameplay. BF Studios promised swift fixes across platforms, but Winter Offensive has significantly weakened the game’s standing among fans.

Losing Steam

Player complaints about Winter Offensive have been compounded by ongoing desires for larger Conquest maps and more grounded skins, resulting in a decline in Steam reviews. On December 10, there were 652 negative and 474 positive reviews, reflecting a shift from previous days when positive reviews outweighed the negative.

While Battlefield 6 had been rated as “Mostly Positive” in most languages, recent reviews have shifted this status to ‘Mixed’ on Steam. Just 53% of the 17,331 reviews in the last 30 days have been positive, teetering on ‘Mostly Negative.’

Steam regards 70% positive ratings as ‘Mostly Positive,’ meaning Battlefield 6 was close to reclaiming this status before Winter Offensive’s momentum halted progress. Now, the game remains stuck in the ‘Mixed’ category, with reviews veering towards ‘Mostly Negative.’

Seeing Red

A negative review posted on January 1 sums up the reversal in opinion, “I can’t believe how hard my opinion on this game flipped from the first week of release to now.” With over 95,000 negative Steam reviews, players express grievances about the need for larger maps, bug fixes, and consistent gunplay since October.

Recent reviews have criticized Winter Offensive and monetization strategies within Battlefield 6. The game faced backlash for its pop-up windows, and the December update has intensified the sting of costly microtransactions.

The controversy over EA and BF Studios’ suspected use of generative AI has also been a significant factor. Players pointed out a sticker featuring an M4A1 with two barrels, fueling further negative reviews. Many players have highlighted the use of AI as a critical issue.

Despite these challenges, some dedicated fans continue to engage with Battlefield 6, contributing hundreds of hours of gameplay. However, they express frustration with the game’s shortcomings. “The gameplay is back, but EA just robbed us (again),” one review notes.

In Need of Reinforcements

Opinions are divided within the Battlefield 6 community as controversial updates mount, and player counts decline on Steam. The game saw a 24-hour peak of just above 90,000 concurrent players, a far cry from its launch peak of 747,440. In contrast, Embark Studios’ Arc Raiders has shown resilience with a peak player count of 352,000 on Steam.

Amid criticism and praise, Reddit remains a battleground for the Battlefield 6 community. The r/Battlefield subreddit has gained notoriety for its harsh critiques, prompting a spin-off called r/LowSodiumBattlefield focused on positivity. With 1.5 million users, r/Battlefield is a prominent forum for discussing the game’s issues.

As Battlefield 6 struggles, Season 2 offers a chance for redemption. EA and BF Studios have been actively addressing player feedback with updates, both large and small, since October. Upcoming revelations about Season 2 will shed light on the game’s future direction.

In the meantime, discussions continue about whether Battlefield 6 will surpass Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 as the best-selling game of 2025. For those interested, updates like changes to controversial skin designs reflect ongoing community influence on the game’s development.