What to Expect From Battlefield 6 in 2026

Battlefield 6 has had an interesting start to its life to say the least. Its initial reveal and impressive beta resulted in plenty of hype, something that carried the game to a hugely successful launch — so successful, in fact, that it beat longtime rival Call of Duty in terms of sales. While its campaign was disappointing, that’s never been the main reason gamers love Battlefield, as it’s the multiplayer that has long been the series’ bread and butter. Battlefield 6’s multiplayer is fortunately very strong, with a solid foundation that has the potential to be supported for years to come. However, long-term success will depend on how Battlefield Studios tackles future updates.

Sure, Battlefield 6 Season 1 brought some well-received additions like the Eastwood multiplayer map, but it also brought controversy. The release of the Battlefield RedSec battle royale mode essentially kicked a hornet’s next, as fans of large maps like those seen in older Battlefield games were outraged to see a BR experience essentially “hogging” the kind of content they wanted from the base mode. An accidental movement nerf for Battlefield 6 was quickly reverted, which caused more controversy, while the holiday season passing without any double XP was a letdown. Add on some messy updates that broke certain parts of the game, and player counts dipping like they usually do for aging multiplayer releases, and it’s clear that Battlefield 6 has its work cut out for it in 2026.

Several Seasons of Content Will Come to BF6 Throughout 2026

Battlefield 6 players can safely expect several Seasons of content this year. With even the struggling Battlefield 2042 getting seven Seasons of content (and an unofficial eighth Season to hype up BF6), it can be assumed that Battlefield 6 will be supported all the way until the next Battlefield game drops in a few years’ time. With Battlefield 6 Seasons lasting three months, four Seasons’ worth of content can be expected throughout 2026, with additions sure to include the following:

• Maps
• Modes
• Weapons
• Vehicles
• Battle Passes
• Paid Cosmetics

Given the presence of Operation Firestorm, it will be interesting to see what other maps, if any, Battlefield Studios chooses to revive. Classic close quarters maps like Operation Metro and Operation Locker would certainly suit the high-octane gameplay of BF6, while some large maps like Caspian Border would fill a void many still want to see addressed. In terms of guns, there are plenty of iconic firearms not yet in BF6, while vehicles like the AMTRAC and Little Bird are on many fans’ wish lists. In terms of game modes, a comeback for Operations, which debuted in the hugely popular game Battlefield 1, is constantly requested. It would suit Battlefield 6 thanks to the “Theaters of War” setup where multiple maps take place in a single setting, so hopefully it returns this year.

Battlefield 6 Will Likely Make Up Its Mind on Large Maps, One Way or the Other

Image via EA

Battlefield Studios has mentioned that it is looking into map size after a significant amount of criticism from old-school Battlefield fans who prefer large-scale warfare. What comes from this feedback, whether it be expanding the boundaries of existing maps, creating more large maps for future Seasons, or remastering massive maps from classic games, remains to be seen. With the complaints acknowledged, though, and multiple Seasons set to drop throughout 2026, players will know if Battlefield Studios is changing course or sticking to its guns by the end of the year. Given Battlefield 6’s success, there’s certainly a chance that the game’s developers don’t want to budge too much on map size, as the chaotic experiences currently in the game do seem to be winning over casual fans and lapsed CoD players. Still, a more even spread of maps could be beneficial to please all sides of the community.

Addressing the RedSec in the Room

Image via EA

For better or worse, 2026 will surely determine RedSec’s fate. While it’s hard to tell how much Battlefield‘s free-to-play battle royale experience has benefited BF6, as the player count is shared between it and the main game on Steam, RedSec has fallen to just 1,000 viewers on Twitch at the time of writing. While it had a lot of interest at launch, it doesn’t seem to have the legs of something like Call of Duty: Warzone, which currently has 13x the amount of views on the streaming platform. It may not be a complete flop, but if things don’t change soon, it’s hard to imagine RedSec getting major updates or new maps in 2026.

If one were to be optimistic, though, they’d point to RedSec being fairly well received by those who gave it a chance. Much of its review bombing came from angry Battlefield 6 fans who did not want BF Studios splitting its attention between a battle royale mode and normal multiplayer, as well as players annoyed that there were battle pass challenges tied to RedSec. The core gameplay is solid, and players seem to enjoy it for what it is, with the biggest issue being that the battle royale genre has been steadily losing popularity and is arguably oversaturated. RedSec needs a big wow factor to re-attract players who quickly got bored of it, as well as more challenges to keep them busy when they do come back. More playlist choices (a permanent solo option is a must) would also make a difference. As 2026 goes on, the type of updates RedSec receives will make it clear if it’s here to stay or being quietly phased out as a failed attempt like Firestorm.

Potential Surprises for Battlefield 6 in 2026

While more Seasons for BF6 and RedSec updates are the obvious path for the franchise throughout 2026, there’s certainly room for surprises as well. Perhaps the most obvious avenue for unexpected content is cosmetics. While grounded skins have been the path taken by Battlefield 6 so far, with outfits deemed unrealistic even being removed and re-designed, it’s hard to imagine Battlefield Studios never releasing any crossovers. After all, Battlefield 2042 collaborated with fellow EA franchises Mass Effect and Dead Space for some standout bundles. And while some players would likely be outraged at these kinds of flashy cosmetics making their way to BF6, perhaps some more subtle nods to EA’s franchises could be included via charms, camos, and clothing as opposed to full futuristic armor sets.

Potential EA collabs for Battlefield 6 include:

• Dead Space
• Mass Effect
• Dragon Age
• Star Wars Jedi
• Star Wars Zero Company
• Marvel’s Iron Man (EA Motive’s next game)
• Titanfall
• Apex Legends

Non-EA collabs are certainly a possibility too, as games like Overwatch 2, Fortnite, and Call of Duty regularly show. Beyond this, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see 2026 kick things up a notch in regard to Easter eggs. A massive Easter egg hunt like the Phantom Program from previous Battlefield projects would be fun to watch unfold, with clever players tracking down hints online and inside maps. For those unfamiliar with these hunts, they essentially merged ARGs with in-game puzzles, as players worked together to eventually obtain an exclusive weapon or outfit. In addition to the Phantom program, some more grand and memorable Easter eggs that the entire lobby sees — like the Megalodon on BF4‘s Paracel Storm map — could be in the cards for 2026.

Is a Dinosaur (or Alien) Game Mode Actually Possible?

Lastly, it’s worth discussing the potential ‘teasers’ left by Battlefield Studios in regard to another big game mode. Dino mode was a running DICE gag for years, with a Battlesaurus poster on Iberian Offensive (with a 2026 ‘release date’ attached) re-igniting this discussion. Beyond this, aliens were teased via a skull on New Sobek City, which would be another valid candidate for a PvE experience. A CoD Zombies equivalent for Battlefield 6 is certainly an interesting prospect, and with multiple studios working on the Battlefield IP now, it’s actually a real possibility. While the community’s push for grounded content and rejection of anything it deems too flashy makes such an addition feel a bit less viable, it’s not out of the question. And if an alien and/or dinosaur mode were going to happen, 2026 would be the year to drop it, as the game will only become less relevant with time.

Battlefield 6’s 2026 plans seem fairly clear, even if there is room for surprises. Predictability doesn’t have to be bad, though, as consistency is a healthy thing for any live-service title. So long as Battlefield 6’s maps cater to all kinds of players, its additions include commonly requested vehicles and modes, and feedback is taken into consideration regarding movement, balancing, and other features, the game could have a great year ahead of it. It’s had its ups and downs since launch, but there’s no denying that it’s an incredibly fun military shooter overall, so hopefully it thrives in 2026 and the BF6 player count rebounds as a result.

Released

October 10, 2025

ESRB

Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, In-App Purchases, Users Interact

Developer(s)

Battlefield Studios