The least-popular Battlefield game is now bigger than Call of Duty on Steam

The Battlefield resurgence is well and truly in flow. The Battlefield 6 beta smashed player records as series vets and new recruits flocked to check out EA's big, shiny upcomer, and it looks like the sheen has rubbed off on series ugly duckling, Battlefield 2042. Right now, EA's futuristic shooter is currently outperforming Call of Duty on Steam. No, I'm not joking.

Now, before I get into the meat of the story, I am going to preface a few things. Yes, I know Black Ops 6 is available for free on Game Pass. Yes, I know we're at the tail end of the current cycle for one of the best FPS games out there. And, yes, I know EA is sweetening the deal with a host of Battlefield 6 freebies, including cosmetics for some of the best Battlefield 6 weapons, if you blitz through Battlefield 2042's new, free battle pass. But, this comparison isn't about punching down on CoD, it's about illuminating the fact that, after years of iterative updates, players are finally giving 2042 the chance it has more than earned itself following its disastrous launch.

As I've said before, Battlefield 2042 is the perfect example of a studio chasing leprechauns when it already had the crock of gold. It's a game that tried to appeal too-broadly with cookie-cutter design, alienating its core playerbase while failing to appeal to newcomers. Much of this was down to the unpopular addition of Specialists, a hero-shooter-lite approach to classes that ultimately lacked the personality to make an impact. Conflated with questionable map design, a litany of bugs, and wanky servers, 2042 was doomed from the start.

Since then, the Battlefield team has put in a shift to get it into a respectable state. The launch maps received reworks, while Specialists were tweaked to more-closely resemble the series' traditional class system. Weapon feel has also been greatly improved. Considering it's now only a few bucks to buy, it's a much more convincing package. It may not be one of the best Battlefield games, but it's still a great bang-for-buck shooter.

The rise of Battlefield 2042 on Steam began as the record-breaking BF6 beta came to an end. According to SteamDB, over the past week, 2042's concurrent player peak has rocketed from sub-10,000 to a very healthy 74,591; it hasn't been this high since October 2023's free weekend, which coincided with the launch of Season 6. While CoD's traditionally outstripped Battlefield on Steam by a large margin, the tables have, for now at least, turned.

The big test for EA, now, will come when the FPS titans lock horns with their latest and greatest iterations. The Battlefield 6 release date arrives this October, a month ahead of the Black Ops 7 release date. It's a double-edged sword. Put in a promising month-one performance, and suddenly the CoD faithful are praying at a different altar of lead. But, if BF6 falls flat, it could ring the death knell for the once-great series. It's a tantalizing time for shooter enjoyers, and I can't wait to see how both games land.

Ahead of those big launches, check out more of the best multiplayer games you can get your reps in with right now. If you've not checked the launch calendar recently, then peep our list of the upcoming PC games that'll also be competing for your gaming hours this holiday season.

If you've jumped into Battlefield 2042 after the BF6 beta ended, let us know how you're getting on with it over in our community Discord server.