The anticipation builds further for the pre-beta launch of Battlefield 6, and already it’s clear that this title has the means to be a gigantic comeback for the series. With initial playtesting via BF Labs met with excitement, and ongoing campaign and multiplayer reveals building momentum further, Battlefield 6 is well-positioned to unleash one of the series’ finest yet. And already, well in advance of early access even going live, the game is already on record player action—spurring hype and worry over how well its servers will be able to handle.
Player Frenzy Before Early Access Goes Live
Although the official open beta of Battlefield 6 begins on August 9, early access springs to life sometime between August 7 and August 8 for those who have received it through Twitch drops, EA Play Pro, or Battlefield Labs. Though restricted to a smaller base of players, even this initial time frame already saw hundreds of thousands of players scoop up the game, with Steam recording a concurrent player base of more than 300,000—before there had even been any official matchmaking or game sessions.
This initial surge has already brought colossal queue issues on all platforms. Queues have reached as much as 250,000 players, and this has raised suspicions about the readiness of the game’s servers. It is not very rare for major-games to have such issues in their early days, but DICE needs to be cautious about these warnings. With full beta weekends still on the horizon, player traffic will continue to increase.
What Server Queues Portend for Launch
Giant queues this early even before early access begins tell one thing: Battlefield 6 is receiving a whole lot of hype. With this, however, comes peril. If server troubles will persist on through open beta, then launch hype will destroy the buzz that has been circulating on since the initial presentation of the game. The Battlefield franchise is at the moment enjoying a bit of halcyon moment of goodwill, following a patchy reception to the series over several years, particularly following Battlefield 2042.
There is a possibility that DICE has been preparing for a server rush in open beta and can have infrastructure changes ready to support it. But the degree of engagement available right now—during basically a warm-up period—could be beyond what is anticipated. With Twitch drops ongoing and fan excitement reaching new levels, DICE will need to come through in having the real beta launch deploy without issues.
The Importance of a Seamless Beta Release
DICE has also had a strained relationship with its community in recent years, and core fans of the series have wondered whether or not the series was continuing. Battlefield 6 can begin anew and rebuild the trust of the community on the foundation of more realistic game design and more community-oriented development. But if goodwill is squandered on problems of terrible matchmaking or unresponsive servers, the harm could be hard to repair.
This is especially important in light of the competitive market. Battlefield 6 is releasing on the same day as Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, so good first impressions will be necessary to put Battlefield back on the map. A good, widely accessible beta will be the determining factor in getting both current gamers and new gamers to think that the series is back to play at its best.
Server Load Must Be Taken Seriously by DICE
With Battlefield 6 on the brink of final beta release, early signs are massively promising in terms of player interest. Those queuing issues that persist are an early sign for DICE, however. With hype levels this high as they have ever been, it is crucial that server capacity is ramped up correspondingly, not just to enable stress-free entry, but also to ensure the long-term well-being of the franchise.
If executed properly, Battlefield 6 can be a back-to-the-fold affair. But it starts with ensuring that players can simply play the game.
