Quick Take
- Battlefield 6 is getting a standalone battle royale mode developed by Ripple Effect.
- Testing will begin through the Battlefield Labs program later this year.
- Teaser shows tropical island, firestorm mechanic, and less serious tone than core game.
A standalone battle royale mode is now officially in development for Battlefield 6, confirmed by EA’s Battlefield Studios during the multiplayer reveal on August 1. A teaser trailer showed soldiers deploying into a tropical setting as a firestorm rolled down a nearby mountain, though no product name or gameplay specifics were disclosed in the footage.
Following the teaser, Battlefield’s community manager confirmed the game is a dedicated battle royale project, separate from the mainline Battlefield 6 campaign and multiplayer experience. The teaser suggests a looser, more playful tone, with one scene showing a soldier crashing a golf cart into a swimming pool.
Return of the Firestorm Concept
This isn’t Battlefield’s first foray into the genre. In 2019, EA introduced Firestorm as a battle royale mode inside Battlefield V, featuring a fire circle mechanic that forced players into closer proximity as the match progressed. Firestorm received a mixed reception and was locked behind Battlefield V’s base game, limiting its reach.
No pricing model has been confirmed for this new version, but EA has not ruled out a free-to-play format. With major competition from Fortnite, Warzone, and PUBG, a standalone approach may be necessary to compete for player retention and monetization.
Ripple Effect Takes Lead
Development is being handled by Ripple Effect, the EA studio that created Battlefield 2042’s Portal mode. Ripple Effect now leads development for the battle royale and joins DICE, Criterion, and Motive as one of four core teams within the Battlefield Studios umbrella.
The new game is being built from the ground up and will not reuse the Firestorm branding. No features or gameplay systems have been confirmed outside of the teaser footage.
Battlefield Labs Testing
Closed testing for the mode will run through Battlefield Labs, EA’s internal feedback program used to test new Battlefield content. Players previously accessed early builds of Battlefield 6 through Labs. While sign-ups for new testers are temporarily closed, Battlefield Studios has said the program will reopen prior to the battle royale rollout.
No dates have been shared for testing or public availability, and the project remains in pre-release stages.
Battle Royale in 2025
The release of a new battle royale title adds another entry into an already saturated field. Call of Duty: Warzone continues to draw large player counts, while Fortnite remains a category leader with regular content updates and cross-media partnerships. Few details have emerged on how EA plans to carve out space with its Battlefield take on the format.
With Halo Infinite’s reported battle royale spinoff shelved earlier this year, Battlefield now has a clear runway to pursue this space, pending positive community feedback. Whether EA will be able to build long-term engagement remains an open question.
Battlefield 6 is scheduled to release on October 10 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
