> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.techloy.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Battlefield 6 open beta breaks Call of Duty's player count record while smashing franchise record - URL: https://www.techloy.com/battlefield-6-open-beta-breaks-call-of-dutys-player-count-record-while-smashing-franchise-record/ - Published: 2025-08-11T13:43:28.000Z - Updated: 2025-08-11T13:43:28.000Z - Description: It seems that some FPS (first-person shooter) fans, dissatisfied with Call of Duty, are treating Battlefield 6 as a risky venture. - Author: Oluwaseun Bamisile - Tags: / News, Battlefield 6, Gaming, / Entertainment I can’t remember the last time *Battlefield* genuinely outshone *Call of Duty*, but this weekend it happened, and in spectacular fashion. The game’s open beta pulled in 521,079 concurrent players on [Steam](https://www.techloy.com/tag/steam/) at its peak, breaking the unified Call of Duty app’s all-time player count record of 491,670 from November 2022. That peak puts *Battlefield 6*’s beta in 18th place for the highest concurrent player counts in Steam history, two spots ahead of *Call of Duty*. For a franchise that’s spent years fighting to reclaim its crown, this feels like a major comeback moment. The spike shows just how much players are craving an alternative in the FPS (first-person shooter) space, especially at a time when *Call of Duty*’s reputation is shaky. *Call of Duty* has received a lot of backlash from gamers, including myself, over the crossover content that has become a staple in the franchise. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c1/a6/c1a6d111-d951-41ad-a392-c1e841210b93/content/images/2025/08/image-70.png) **Image credit: SteamDB* While most of these collaborations have been financially successful, the brightly colored, outlandish cosmetic items often detract from the gritty military aesthetic that the game was traditionally known for. Meanwhile, *Battlefield* appears to be keeping things grounded and sticking to the realistic military theme, which appeals to a lot of gamers. The numbers tell a bigger story beyond Steam. *Battlefield 6* also lit up [Twitch](https://www.techloy.com/tag/twitch/) with more than 870,000 viewers watching live, over twice the viewership peak of the previous *Battlefield* game, which topped out around 350,000\. In other words, even the people not playing the game are turning up in droves to see what the fuss is about. ## **Battlefield 6 Open Beta Becomes the Biggest of Any Battlefield Game on Steam** Beyond besting *Call of Duty*, *Battlefield 6's* open beta 500k+ concurrent player record becomes the highest the franchise has ever seen on Steam. The franchise's previous record holder, *Battlefield 2042* open beta, drew about one-third as many players, peaking at just over 156,000 concurrent users in late 2021\. After release, that game hit a peak of 107,376 players on Steam, roughly 31% below its beta figure. *Battlefield V* topped out around 116,000, and *Battlefield 1*, despite its strong reception, reached roughly 50,000\. Hype for the latest *Battlefield* entry is undeniably strong, but the road hasn’t been without bumps. Some fans showed frustration when [EA](https://www.techloy.com/tag/ea-sports/) confirmed bots to be part of the game’s multiplayer. The company later clarified that, in the open beta, bots only appear in a single playlist and can be avoided altogether. Nonetheless, pulling in that kind of crowd during a test phase suggests that this year’s entry is resonating with both longtime fans and players who may have skipped recent instalments. *Battlefield 6* still has time to keep setting series records, as the next round of the open beta begins on August 14 and will run until August 17\. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c1/a6/c1a6d111-d951-41ad-a392-c1e841210b93/content/images/2025/08/Player-Peak-Comparison-of-All-Battlefield-Games-on-Steam_Techloy-infographic_2025.png) ## **Is the Battlefield Franchise Back?** The boring truth is that it’s too early to call. Plenty of games stumble between their flashy beta and the actual launch. Just look at *Battlefield 2042*, which pulled in over 150,000 beta players but dropped to just above 100,000 at release. The difference this time is that *Battlefield 6* arrives at a moment when its biggest rival, *Call of Duty*, is struggling with a bruised reputation. That timing could work heavily in its favour. The full release of the game lands on October 10\. And while it won’t be part of [Xbox](https://www.techloy.com/tag/microsoft-xbox/) Game Pass on day one, like *Call of Duty: Black Ops 6* and the upcoming *Black Ops 7*, it at least avoids the dreaded $80 price tag, coming in at $70. [Battlefield 6 won’t be coming to Xbox Game PassBut, you may be able to try the game on the release date.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c1/a6/c1a6d111-d951-41ad-a392-c1e841210b93/content/images/icon/techloy-avatar-1-3062.png)TechloyOluwaseun Bamisile![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c1/a6/c1a6d111-d951-41ad-a392-c1e841210b93/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1704898372103-1b9a0065466d)](https://www.techloy.com/battlefield-6-wont-be-coming-to-xbox-game-pass/)