The Battlefield 6 Battle Royale is real, and it’s available right now. EA’s shadow drop of Battlefield Redsec, a standalone free-to-play BR, is a monstrous one-two punch ahead of Activision’s Black Ops 7.
Call of Duty has been in dire need of competition. For years, it has largely gone unchallenged and in the view of some fans, this has resulted in stagnation.
Now, Battlefield is back to contend for the throne. Call of Duty has its first legitimate opposition this generation, and we’re already seeing the implications. Activision has announced fundamental gameplay changes, largely in light of BF6’s pressure. Devs have addressed longstanding community issues for the first time, as millions flock to the rival shooter.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The launch of Battlefield 6 was only the first phase of the plan. Loading up a second haymaker, EA is looking to deliver a knockout blow with the surprise release of a new battle royale experience, Battlefield Redsec.
Shadow dropping the Battlefield 6 Battle Royale
While it may not have been the best-kept secret, Battlefield Redsec shadow dropped on October 29. Alongside the launch of Season 1, bringing a slate of new multiplayer-focused content, Redsec serves as a separate experience – one fans have been anticipating long before BF6 arrived.
Redsec gives up to 100 players the biggest map in franchise history to run amok in. Squads of four or duos can drop in, loot up, and fight to be the last team standing.
We all know how BRs work, and we all know how popular they can be if done well. For Battlefield to now have its own free-to-play BR, it’s in a prime position to capture an even bigger chunk of the FPS market.
In just three days, Battlefield 6 sold over seven million copies. Now with a free component, it’s safe to expect far more than seven million players will be at least interested in checking out Redsec.
Not to mention, Warzone and Apex Legends both found immense success by shadow-dropping.
It’s all available right away, and the best way to learn about it is to jump in for yourself. With no monetary commitment, there’s no risk involved.
Having a battle royale ready to go is one thing, but paired with impeccable timing ahead of the competition, EA is bloodying Activision before this year’s CoD is out.
Call of Duty is already feeling Battlefield’s pressure
Battlefield 6 arrived on October 10. Black Ops 7 is set to release on November 14. Just 35 days separate them, and we’re already seeing the rivalry play out.
Shortly after the reveal of BF6, we saw the first domino fall. EA’s focus on more authentic milsim designs prompted Activision to pivot away from its quirkier approach to cosmetics. Some of the wackiest skins like Beavis and Butthead won’t be ‘carried forward’ into Black Ops 7, and devs have pledged to be more considerate of collabs in the future. For the most part, we can credit that shift to the pressure from the new Battlefield.
Weeks later, CoD devs addressed the most contentious subject of the past few years: Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM).
During the Black Ops 7 Beta, they provided an optional playlist with SBMM disabled. At launch, the influence of SBMM will be toned down significantly. In years prior, devs remained painfully silent on this topic. Only now, with their rival looming large, have these changes been made.
We’re also seeing far more timely communication, with the CoD team addressing pertinent issues like aim assist well ahead of launch. This is night and day from what we’ve dealt with since CoD last faced a real challenge.
Battlefield 6 is forcing Black Ops 7 to do better and to be better, and with the arrival of a BR, Redsec could force Warzone to follow suit.
Healthy competition has been long overdue, and we’re all benefiting. This has undoubtedly been planned from the start, with multiple studios creating a full suite of Battlefield experiences to offer the best possible chance of taking down the boss of FPS.
Years ago, it may have been a lofty ambition on a whiteboard somewhere in EA offices. Today, the one-two punch serves as a considerable blow to Call of Duty’s reign.
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