Well, that didn't take long. Today marked the first official Battlefield Labs playtest for Battlefield 6, the presumed name of the next installment in EA's blockbuster shooter franchise.
The playtest was contained within a closed test environment with recording, streaming, and discussions reportedly strictly prohibited. That lasted all but a few minutes as gameplay footage from the Battlefield 6 playtest leaked online almost immediately.
Twitch user "anto_merguezz" was actually streaming footage from the playtest and while all clips have been wiped from their Twitch page, recordings and copies have already been made and are currently being posted across the internet. Reddit and X/Twitter are filled with gameplay footage from the Battlefield 6 playtest, providing us with a first-hand look at the explosive action that awaits.
The footage confirms a modern-day setting for Battlefield 6 and shows off a good amount of action-oriented gameplay. The combat is taking place on an urban-inspired map with tall buildings and tight corridors. We also get a taste of the game's destructible environments. There's one clip in particular that shows an entire building collapse as a result of a rocket.
It's quite impressive and fans already seem to be pleased with what they see so far. Following the lackluster reception to the futuristic setting of Battlefield 2042 and the historical setting of both 2018's Battlefield V and 2016's Battlefield 1, fans are excited to return to the modern-day feel, comparing the gameplay to that of much more embraced Battlefield 3 and Battlefield 4.
Some users have pointed out more intricate details, such as in-round perks from Battlefield 4, individual class loadouts, and ammo and health coming from the same pouch.
Unfortunately, we can't post any of the leaked footage here, but a simple search on X/Twitter should show you everything you want to see. It's unclear if EA has lifted the NDA on the playtest or if they simply can't contain the leaks at this point. The fact that the community's positive response to the gameplay is positive may have persuaded EA to allow it to remain posted.
Earlier today, EA confirmed that it would be hosting the first Battlefield Labs playtest for Battlefield 6. While the focus of the playtest was to validate the systems and stability of the servers, it also gave participants their first experience with the revamped gunplay and movement experience of Battlefield 6. The entire post explained some of the changes they've made with the new game, which you can read all about here.
Despite Battlefield 6 still being at least months away, this is a promising look at what awaits fans. We still don't know when the game will be released, although EA has laid out a release window sometime between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026. Current reports point to an October 2025 launch, although that could shift depending on the competition.