The Battlefield franchise is seeing a major resurgence in the wake of the Battlefield 6 beta. Despite its rocky launch in 2021, Battlefield 2042 has recently leapfrogged Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on the Steam charts, marking a surprising twist for DICE’s troubled entry.
When Battlefield 2042 was first released, it faced widespread criticism for bugs, missing features, and lackluster content. Over time, consistent updates, seasonal events, and fixes helped turn community perception around. Now, with the next installment on the horizon, the game is enjoying a farewell moment of success.
Battlefield 6 Beta Shatters Records
Battlefield 6’s open beta gave players two weekends of hands-on access and has already broken records for EA and Steam. Over 500,000 concurrent players joined the test, surpassing Call of Duty’s all-time Steam peak. This surge in attention has reignited interest in the series and pulled players back into Battlefield 2042 while they wait for the October release.
Why Players Are Returning to Battlefield 2042
Several factors are driving the renewed popularity of Battlefield 2042:
- Farewell Event: The ongoing event offers exclusive Pax Armata-themed skins, which will carry over into Battlefield 6.
- Deep Steam Discount: The game dropped to just $3 on Steam, dramatically lowering the entry barrier.
- AFK Farming Servers: Many players are joining XP farming servers to maximize cosmetic rewards before the transition to Battlefield 6.
According to SteamCharts, Battlefield 2042 has peaked at 74,000 players in the past 24 hours, surpassing Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone’s combined peak of 70,000.
The Final Stretch for Battlefield 2042
Despite the spike, Battlefield 2042’s revival will be short-lived. The $3 sale ends on September 2, and the game’s latest battle pass expires on October 7—just days before Battlefield 6 launches on October 10 for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.
While 2042 may finally be winding down, this farewell surge proves that anticipation for Battlefield 6 is at an all-time high.
