Battlefield 6 begins invite-only royale tests in Battlefield Labs

Battlefield Studios and publisher Electronic Arts are beginning community tests this week for a new battle royale mode for Battlefield 6 as the full game prepares to launch on October 10 across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC. The mode will enter Battlefield Labs, the invite only playtest environment the developer has used for months, where players on PC will be asked to help shape a bespoke map, match systems and balance before wider release, EA said.

EA and the developers described the mode as Battlefield's twist on the battle royale formula, combining large scale destruction, vehicle combat and class based squadplay. Matches in the initial test will host up to 100 players divided into 25 four player squads. Players will choose a class at the start and keep it for the match, starting with two class gadgets and earning in match experience to unlock new traits, according to developer posts. The mode will feature ground loot across five rarity tiers, attachments, strike packages and custom weapon drops, while respawn mechanics and intel cases that grant squad wide XP bonuses are intended to keep fights dynamic.

One mechanic intended to raise stakes is an instant kill...