Battlefield 6 freebies send 2042 Steam players soaring during mega sale

Battlefield was once a bastion of the FPS genre. Its gritty miltary action and great gunplay put it head and shoulders above most of the competition. However, that fortune has fallen in recent years. Battlefield 2042 in particular felt like the series' nadir, as it launched light on content and heavy on frustrations. However, the recent Battlefield 6 open beta has drawn players back in. It's more reminiscent of the classic games, a return to form of sorts. And it's even had the knock-on effect of getting folks back on board with Battlefield 2042.

If we discount its free weekends, Battlefield 2042 is currently enjoying its highest player numbers on Steam since launch. And discount is the operative word, because it's currently 95% off, setting you back just $3 if you haven't taken the plunge before.

It would be a stretch to call it one of the best FPS games, but it's certainly a fun time with friends, especially when it costs less than a cup of coffee. But there's another reason players are flocking to the game: Battlefield 6.

Yes, players are excited after the open beta, but a new free battle pass in 2042 offers unique cosmetics that will unlock in Battlefield 6 when it releases later this year. There are six cosmetic packs that are currently confirmed to house Battlefield 6 skins, which are unlocked at tiers eight, 19, 30, 40, 49, and 60.

These include skins for the Western Front pistol, the Aurora tank, and a gas-masked Commander, among others. This combination of excitement and potential unlockables has resulted in a peak of 46,926 players jumping into the game on Steam, the most since the game released in 2021 (barring free weekends, because that's cheating).

Battlefield 2042 is currently on sale for $2.99 / £2.49. You can buy it on Steam here.

Interested in more updates ahead of the Battlefield 6 release date? Check out our Battlefield 6 preview for our thoughts on everything it has to offer.

If you're just so excited about Battlefield that you must tell anyone and everyone your thoughts on the open beta, that's exactly what we love doing in our community Discord server, where staff and readers alike geek out about our favorite games.