Everything we know about Battlefield 6 before the reveal

Step into next decade with the latest Battlefield reveal around the corner.

The next Battlefield game is coming soon, ushering players to the near-future frontlines. The legendary first-person franchise, renowned for large-scale multiplayer warfare, looks poised to go bigger than ever this year. Details remain tight, with Electronic Arts yet to reveal the title, but all signs point toward an evolution of the formula fit for the latest console generation.

Battlefield 6 reportedly brings a modern backdrop set ten years in the future, bringing high-tech gadgets but grounded the reality of the world we know. Leveraging advancements with Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, we're expecting up to 128-player modes, expansive locations, beefed-up visuals, and much more. Here's everything we know so far about the next Battlefield, ahead of its imminent reveal.

Battlefield 6 release date

EA showcases new facial animation technology for the next Battlefield at EA Play 2020.

"The next Battlefield is set to launch in holiday 2021, and we're excited to share a lot more about the game in the spring," stated Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson during its November earnings call. This will cement the title as the year's blockbuster release for the publisher.

Previous Battlefield releases have seen a May debut before launching later the same year, generally sometime around October or November. It appears likely Battlefield 6 could see a similar rollout. It's currently unclear whether the next Battlefield will be named "Battlefield 6" or diverge from the expected following previous entries like "Battlefield 1" and "Battlefield V." The latest rumors suggest a reboot, solely titled "BATTLEFIELD."

"We have hands-on play tests underway, and the team has been getting very positive feedback on the game as we've begun to engage our community," stated Wilson. The debut follows a three-year hiatus for the franchise, with the tease of a retooled approach geared around the latest console generation.

Battlefield 6 trailer reveal date and time

Battlefield 4.

Electronic Arts has teased its next Battlefield project to reveal this "spring," with current rumors suggesting an early May showcase for the new title. As seen with past Battlefield titles, the initial announcement could provide our first Battlefield 6 trailer, confirming its expected near-future setting. Formal gameplay details may prove scarce, setting up for a more significant reveal this summer. We're expecting the first week of May, with May 6 or May 7 looking increasingly likely.

We expect the next Battlefield to have a considerable presence at EA Play Live 2021, the publisher's annual live showcase for upcoming video game releases. With current world events, we're expecting the publisher to remain detached from the E3 industry trade show this June, spinning out its own digital event around future titles. It could bring our first extended look at Battlefield 6 gameplay ahead of its launch later in the year.

Battlefield 6 gameplay: What we know so far

Battlefield 4.

With Electronic Arts yet to formally name and reveal the next Battlefield, details on the upcoming are understandably scarce. However, the publisher has confirmed its existence, leaving a trail of clues surrounding technical advancements made around the project. That included a brief presence at EA Play Live 2020, with thoughts shared by Electronic Arts chief studios officer Laura Miele.

"Every console generation, DICE sets the bar for excellence in audio and visual presentation," Miele stated during the event. "We are creating epic battles at a scale and fidelity, unlike anything you've experienced before." While Battlefield didn't earn a full trailer, we received a work-in-progress glimpse of early iterations. Footage included dozens of soldiers fighting in an open space, new destruction simulations, and facial animations, all of which likely feed into the next Battlefield project.

Electronic Arts continues to pitch Battlefield 6 as a "next-gen" experience, with significant upgrades likely in store on the new Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 consoles, also assumedly translating to PC. "DICE is creating our next Battlefield game with never before seen scale," Andrew Wilson in late 2020. "The technical advancements of the new consoles are allowing the teams to deliver a true next-gen vision for the franchise."

The upgrades in-store on next-generation hardware remain unclear, though upgraded underlying gameplay systems and visual fidelity are safe assumptions. Previous Battlefield titles have experimented with raytracing and high framerates on PC, both likely to translate to console this generation. Staple mechanics like destruction, map size, and player count may also see upgrades. However, it remains unclear whether Battlefield 6 will retain support for Xbox One and PlayStation 4, with the potential to throttle advancements in some areas of the project.

We're yet to receive official confirmation of the Battlefield 6 setting, but all signs currently point toward a near-future backdrop. With former titles, Battlefield 1 and Battlefield V, set throughout World Wars of the 20th century, the next Battlefield looks to break free with an outlook on what's ahead.

Battlefield 6 latest leaks and screenshots

EA showcases new technical demo for building destruction while talking Battlefield at EA Play 2020.

With official word on the next Battlefield title close to absent, much of our understanding comes from leaks via proven sources. It suggests an ambitious next entry ahead for the franchise, leaving hopes high for the potential May unveiling.

The majority of reports come from reputable leakster Tom Henderson, among the first to pin down the near-future setting for Battlefield 6. The latest suggests a soft franchise reboot simply titled "BATTLEFIELD," mixing current military gear with a slight science fiction twist. While many modern weapons will feature, Henderson claims military robots and drones may accompany tanks, jets, and other staple vehicles.

We're expecting Battlefield 6 to support up to 128 players simultaneously in multiplayer, a rumor Henderson also backs, described as Battlefield 3 or Battlefield 4 "on steroids." Destruction will reportedly be cranked up to the maximum, with almost fully destructible maps pushing forward philosophies from past Battlefield games. The fan-favorite Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon classes will supposedly return, with new perk-like "abilities" and four-member squads.

Alleged Battlefield 6 screenshots have also hit the internet in the lead-up to the reveal, with reputable names backing their authenticity. The images support past leaks, featuring drones and futuristic heads-up displays (HUDs) of the near-future, although light on firm gameplay details. As low-quality, work-in-progress captures, we don't expect these images to represent the final product but provide a tease of the likely theme.

here I made them a bit cleaner and sharper. pic.twitter.com/7A1B2LvxAm

— Sian (@Sian92984059) May 1, 2021

The campaign also appears to be seeing a revamp, also with support for cooperative play. It looks less linear than past Battlefield games, with players assembling a "specialist unit," and choosing to join either U.S. or Russian forces. Choosing which side of the conflict should make for a somewhat less-structured experience, although the specifics remain unclear.

The latest leaks pitch the next Battlefield as a next-generation experience focused on series strengths, capturing the spectacle of a large-scale conflict. High player headcounts and maps to support that population further differentiates Battlefield from the competition, especially amid the rise of rival battle royale modes. But it all hinges on the execution, fighting a mix of weapons and gadgets and deliver a multiplayer robust shooter experience.

Will Battlefield 6 have a battle royale mode?

Battlefield V.

Battle royale remains a hot genre for the video game industry, with continued success from Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, Apex Legends, and more, all feeding the trend. Electronic Arts hoped for similar success with its Battlefield V "Firestorm" battle royale mode, but after launching to mixed reception, the player base steadily plummeted in the following months.

It's currently unknown whether Battlefield 6 will deliver a second attempt at the mode, although with Warzone hitting the jackpot as Activision's second outing, it's not ruled out for Battlefield. Leakster Tom Henderson states this could be the case, likely on the way as a post-launch release, adopting an all-new name.

Is Battlefield 6 coming to Xbox One and PS4?

Electronic Arts hasn't confirmed planned platforms for Battlefield 6, although with ongoing discussion around next-generation upgrades, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PlayStation 5 look confirmed, coupled with PC. Availability on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles, soon to be retired, remains a question ahead of the reveal.

Current rumors suggest the next Battlefield could go next-gen only, suggesting a title in dire need of the latest console hardware. Upgrades like 128-player multiplayer and more advanced systems could rule out older consoles entirely. However, with the latest consoles still in short supply, the move would severely limit the potential player base.

Even if demanding, there's always a chance Battlefield 6 could make it to Xbox One and PlayStation 4 through watered-down variants of the next-generation versions. Past Battlefield games had console player counts limited, compared to PC, which could help support previous-generation releases. But with generations closely blended, this could cause generational cross-play issues.