Prior Expectations
Before the recent layoffs, Battlefield 6 was celebrated as a commercial success, selling 7 million copies within three days of its launch on October 10, 2025. It quickly became the best-selling game of 2025 in the US, with total sales reaching around 20 million copies by the end of the year. The game also achieved a peak concurrent player count of 747,440 at launch, showcasing strong initial engagement.
Decisive Changes
However, this success has not translated into sustained player engagement, as evidenced by a current 24-hour peak player count of just 50,306, marking a significant 93.3% decrease from its launch peak. In light of these challenges, EA has confirmed layoffs across its Battlefield Studios, including Criterion, DICE, Ripple Effect, and Motive Studios. This marks the second round of layoffs at EA in as many months.
Direct Effects
The layoffs are part of a broader reorganization within the Battlefield division, aimed at better aligning teams with community priorities. An EA spokesperson stated, “We’ve made select changes within our Battlefield organization to better align our teams around what matters most to our community.” Despite the layoffs, EA maintains that Battlefield remains one of their biggest priorities, emphasizing continued investment in the franchise guided by player feedback.
Expert Perspective
Industry experts note that while Battlefield 6 shattered records at launch, the subsequent drop in player engagement highlights the challenges facing the franchise. The news of layoffs comes just four months after EA touted Battlefield 6 as delivering the ‘biggest launch in franchise history.’ As the company navigates these changes, the exact number of employees impacted remains undisclosed, and specific departments affected by the layoffs are not clearly defined. Details remain unconfirmed.