Battlefield 2042’s Steam Player Count Surpasses Call of Duty Ahead of Battlefield 6

In an unexpected twist for the FPS community, Battlefield 2042 has recently surged in popularity on Steam, overtaking Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 in terms of concurrent players. This revival comes as excitement builds for Battlefield 6, with the game’s beta drawing massive numbers and reinvigorating interest in DICE’s 2021 entry.

From Rough Launch to Redemption

When Battlefield 2042 first launched in 2021, it was met with widespread criticism due to technical issues, missing features, and unpolished gameplay. Fans and critics alike expressed disappointment, forcing EA and DICE into a long-term recovery plan. Over the following years, the developers rolled out substantial updates, new seasons, and quality-of-life improvements that slowly repaired the game’s reputation.

Although Battlefield 2042 never completely shook off its rocky start, the turnaround did manage to earn the game a dedicated player base. Now, as the series prepares to transition into its next installment, the shooter is enjoying a surprisingly strong final chapter.

The Battlefield 6 Effect

The renewed interest in Battlefield 2042 is closely tied to the overwhelming success of Battlefield 6’s open beta, which ran across two weekends. The beta set records, drawing more than half a million concurrent players on Steam, surpassing even Call of Duty’s historical peak numbers on the platform.

Even though the beta servers have since been taken offline until Battlefield 6’s official launch in October 2025, the momentum hasn’t slowed. SteamCharts data shows that players are now returning to Battlefield 2042 in large numbers, pushing its concurrent player count beyond Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and even Warzone. At its recent peak, Battlefield 2042 reached 74,000 players, compared to Call of Duty’s 70,000 in the same 24-hour period.

Why Battlefield 2042 Is Spiking Right Now

Several factors have contributed to this sudden spike:

• Farewell Event: Battlefield 2042 is currently hosting its farewell event, where players can unlock Pax Armata-themed skins that will carry over into Battlefield 6.

• Steam Sale: The game was discounted to just $3 on Steam, drawing in new players and veterans who may have skipped it at launch.

• AFK Farming Servers: Some of the inflated numbers can also be attributed to AFK XP farming, with players grinding cosmetics ahead of Battlefield 6’s release.

Even with these factors in play, the surge represents a notable win for EA and DICE, offering Battlefield 2042 a stronger send-off than many would have predicted.

Will the Momentum Last?

While Battlefield 2042 is enjoying this boost, the trend may be short-lived. The $3 Steam promotion ends on September 2, and the game’s final battle pass is set to conclude on October 7 — just three days before the launch of Battlefield 6. Once the new installment arrives on October 10 for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC, most of the player base is expected to migrate.

Still, for a game that began as one of the franchise’s most controversial entries, Battlefield 2042’s late surge is a fitting redemption story — proving that with enough time and effort, even a troubled launch can end on a high note.