Battlefield 6 Secure Boot requirement is causing more negative Battlefield 2042 Steam reviews

EA demanding Secure Boot for Battlefield 6 is not surprising, considering Battlefield 2042 has the same requirement. Players learned they would need to enable the security setting in May. While it had an immediate impact on Battlefield 2042 Steam reviews, ratings have dropped further in recent days. Unable to review Battlefield 6 during the open beta, gamers are taking out their frustrations on its predecessor.

Secure Boot operates at the hardware level, unlike anti-cheat software running in the background in Windows. If the setting is already active in a BIOS, Battlefield 2042 and Battlefield 6 players can simply install and play the games. Otherwise, the process to enable it can seem intimidating to cautious PC users.

EA published a lengthy guide to help anxious gamers. Even after finding the keystroke to enter the BIOS, the solution may not be as simple as toggling a setting. Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 is also needed, and the Windows drive must be set to GPT, rather than MBR. EA’s kernel-level Javelin Anti-cheat software can then work in conjunction with Secure Boot to prevent hacks.

Motherboards began supporting Secure Boot as early as 2012, with the release of Windows 8. Still, in rare cases, gamers may encounter hardware or drivers that are incompatible. Less fortunate players are voicing their disapproval through Battlefield 2042 Steam reviews. The negative ratings have accelerated since the Battlefield 6 announcement. Many of the unhappy users mention Secure Boot and demand an alternative.

While the measure can prevent some Windows-based hacks, it hasn’t completely eliminated cheating. Activision Blizzard even acknowledged its limitations in a recent Call of Duty news post. At the same time, companies like Activision and EA are often criticized for not doing enough to address exploits.

The Battlefield 6 release date is set for October 10th, after playtests conclude. By then, players will have a better idea of whether Secure Boot and Javelin Anti-cheat are worth any headaches.