Battlefield 6: Few players remain despite new season – here’s why

One of the main complaints since Battlefield 6’s launch has been its map design. Many players argue that the existing battlegrounds are too small, repeatedly funneling matches into the same choke points. The new map, Contaminated, could help alleviate some of that frustration. It features a medium-sized layout with ample space for vehicles, combining open areas with close-quarters combat and noticeable elevation changes.

In a review by the German gaming magazine GameStar, the first impression is surprisingly positive. The balance, in particular, stands out: snipers benefit from elevated hills, infantry can maneuver between trees and rocks with solid cover, and vehicles feel powerful without dominating the match. According to the editors, the map design performs especially well in Conquest and Escalation modes.

Alongside the new map, Season 2 also introduces fresh equipment to the game. The standout addition is the Little Bird, a light combat helicopter armed with a machine gun and rockets, capable of carrying four soldiers. The update also adds three new weapons: the semi-automatic GRT-CS with a high rate of fire and a large magazine, the VR2 assault rifle, designed for close-range combat thanks to its extremely fast fire rate, and the M121 A2 light machine gun, which fires more slowly but delivers heavy damage.

Falling player numbers

Battlefield 6 celebrated a remarkably strong launch in October, reaching up to 747,440 concurrent players on Steam alone. Just one week into the new season, however, the situation looks very different: according to SteamDB, the shooter peaked at 68,491 players in the past 24 hours – a drop of more than 90% compared to release. By comparison, competitor ARC Raiders recorded a 24-hour peak of 250,532 players, with an all-time high of 481,966. While Battlefield 6 was clearly ahead at launch, it has now fallen well behind.

Community reactions paint a clear picture

The tone in the comments under GameStar’s February 19 video leaves little room for doubt. Many fans no longer sound angry, but rather resigned. A large part of the community identifies the live service model as the root of the problem. Players repeatedly cite stretched-out content, pressure from the Battle Pass, and the perception that rewards are tied to constant play. Several users compare this to the earlier premium and DLC model, calling for a return to larger, more substantial content expansions instead of seasonal updates.

Season 2 is also criticized for offering too little new content despite the delay. Furthermore, technical issues continue to dominate the discussion. Players report ongoing problems with netcode and hit registration, audio glitches such as silent tanks or barely audible footsteps, and visibility issues during matches. Several users say they can hardly detect any of the promised fixes.

The new Season does introduce some strong elements – in particular, the new map is seen by many players as a step in the right direction. Yet instead of a fresh start, the update feels to many like a confirmation of long-standing structural issues. If DICE and EA do not execute a turnaround promptly, Battlefield 6 will likely struggle to regain the community’s trust.