Here’s how Battlefield 6’s Battle Royale could topple Fortnite

It may have felt unthinkable even a year ago, but Fortnite’s position as the premier battle royale game could be on borrowed time. That will be the hope of EA, which is looking to publish Battlefield 6 to huge success, and to attract 100 million players to the triple-A title. That hope isn’t without merit, and BF6 could be about to silence any doubters.

How? A mix of luck, design, and timing. We’ll look at the key reasons below. And, while it’s worth noting that few things are certain in the gaming industry, all of the best titles have finite spotlight moments. Fortnite clearly isn’t going away, but that doesn’t mean the inhabitants of Battle Royale Island will stay forever. 

Whether you’re a Fortnite player or just pay attention to gaming headlines, you may have noticed Epic Games’ title isn’t quite as popular as it once was. This was exemplified in June when the Fortnite player count dipped to its lowest ‘last 30 days’ number since 2023. The number we spotted then was 994,711, and a clear ‘blip’ at under a million.

But that’s not where the blip ended. In fact, if you check Fortnite player counts, subsequent numbers have looked pretty subdued. Sure, there have been boosts to the average and peak player numbers thanks to Chapter 6 Season 3’s ‘Super’ update. That kicked off on June 2 and ran until August 7, and both dates saw spikes. 

However, as I write, Fortnite’s 30-day average player count is 836,499. That’s more than 150,000 fewer players than June’s low, and around 400,000 players down year on year, according to Fortnite.gg. Fortnite is still wildly popular, and it’s the most-played Battle Royale in the world. But players are trending down at an interesting time. 

While Fortnite is dropping in popularity, Battlefield 6’s Battle Royale mode is slowly emerging. Given it’s a new addition for the Battlefield franchise, it has that shiny wow factor attached to it. But there’s more to it than that: EA is hoping the title can impress Battlefield fans, win over FPS and Warzone players, and even Fortnite stalwarts.

From what we know, BF6’s BR mode looks set to combine traditional BR elements with those that have made classic Battlefield titles so well-loved. While some details are uncertain (the mode is still in testing with Battlefield Labs), it promises a large, varied, and POI-heavy map, squad play, vehicle combat, tactical destruction, and a fast pace. 

The rumours suggest the mode will be available on October 28, approximately 18 days after the BF6 release date. Essentially, if you’ve enjoyed classic Battlefield titles or the BF6 open beta, and you like battle royales, then this could be for you. That’s what EA wants BF6 to be, and it’s believed that the mode will be free for extra accessibility.

Fortnite’s Battle Royale island has been a bit like a canvas since 2017, with fictional and IP-heavy content laid upon it. That’s allowed Epic’s game to stay fresh…apart from the returning themes. But some of the biggest games in history don’t need themes; they just need to deliver a core and captivating title. Step forward, Battlefield 6?

Some people still play Battlefield 3 and 4 and enjoy doing so. Many others have fond memories of playing, starting more than a decade ago. If BF6 as a whole can capture a similar type of energy, then its Battle Royale mode could live long in the memories of players. In the shorter term, it may live long in the RAM of consoles and PCs.  

It may be that BF’s Battle Royale mode hits the sweet spot in age range, but with a boosted demographic bolstering it. The sweet spot for online shooters is 18-35 year olds, and BF6 will certainly want those gamers. But many players like myself are outside the top part of that bracket, and may be tempted to try out a new game mode in a franchise they’re fond of. 

Any game that can capture the prized 18-35 demographic, along with players outside it, likely won’t be doing terribly in the market. Why BF6? For my part, Fortnite has always felt a bit cartoony, and Warzone just doesn’t feel right because I prefer Battlefield. Am I an example of how BF6 could topple Fortnite? No, I’m just saying BF6 has potential for mass adoption. 

We’ve covered Fortnite’s player count and its sit-rep above. I’m not sounding the death knell for it at all, but I do think BF6 hitting over 500,000 players in the open beta without the battle royale was significant. Open betas aren’t for everyone, but as an indicator of the general anticipation, the numbers feel significant ahead of release, and a free BR mode will be tempting.

With Fortnite experiencing a downward trend, the buzz for BF6 feels ready to crescendo. And with Fortnite being on a pedestal for so long, I get the feeling of two different trajectories in sentiment. A portion of players may be ageing out of Fortnite or even becoming tired of it. Whatever; the average million-plus Fortnite player counts seem fewer and farther between. 

Call of Duty’s player count has fallen consistently in 2025. According to Steam Charts, the highest player count in the last year was in October 2024, with more than 300,000 players. On September 22, 2025, the player count was just over 47,000 players. That’s not unexpected for a game that is an annual release, but this time feels different. 

The BF6 open beta drew some admiring glances from the CoD community and large content creators. Additionally, the availability of a true alternative to Warzone feels poignant. Our comparison of Black Ops 7 vs BF6 is worth a look, but with some top comments on official Black Ops 7 videos being favourable to Battlefield, it feels like there’s a shift in sentiment that can help BF6’s BR.

Battlefield 6’s battle royale could be the new market leader, and that would push Fortnite off its pedestal. Can it happen? Yes, and this ambitious Battlefield mode has the benefit of potentially breaking cover at an important time: just as Fortnite is falling in favour, and potentially before a November Black Ops 7 release. 

This writer’s preference aside, there’s no missing the falling player counts for Fortnite, and BF6 may have the perfect answer for Battle Royale fans. If the mode can deliver the franchise’s destructive, engaging, and hugely fun battles with classic BR elements, who knows? We may just see a new IP-crossover-free battle royale capturing imaginations for the coming years.