The Battlefield 6 Open Beta was a resounding success for EA, at least in terms of player numbers. Over the course of its double Beta weekend, Battlefield 6 managed to achieve a peak player-count of 521,079 on Steam, according to SteamDB. That's an incredibly impressive figure, and it doesn't factor in anyone who played the Battlefield 6 Beta on consoles. But not all of these players are going to stick around for Battlefield 6's full launch.
While Battlefield 6's Open Beta did a great job of proving to many fans that the franchise is back on track following Battlefield 2042's missteps, not all fans were convinced. Some long-time Battlefield fans found some issues with BF6's Beta, criticizing its smaller maps, its frantic gameplay, and suggesting that the team dynamics aren't quite where they needs to be. But these Battlefield fans don't need to stay disappointed. Another FPS is on the horizon, and it's a sequel that might deliver the type of large-scale warfare experience they're looking for.
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam Might Be a Strong Alternative to Battlefield 6
The First Hell Let Loose Captured Much of That Battlefield Spirit
Released in July 2021, Hell Let Loose is a 50v50 World War 2 FPS developed by Expression Games. Over the last few years, Hell Let Loose has gained a bit of a reputation among long-time Battlefield fans for being a great alternative to the last few entries in the EA-owned franchise. Hell Let Loose's general gameplay loop will feel very familiar to Battlefield fans, with gigantic maps being segmented into multiple control points that the two teams of 50 fiercely fight over.
These maps – much like the rest of Hell Let Loose – put historical accuracy above all else, with each one being a faithful depiction of a real-world location like Omaha Beach or Stalingrad, recreated using satellite and aerial imagery. This strive for realism extends into every facet of Hell Let Loose's gamepla y and presentation. Proximity chat, realistic dismemberment and gore, and accurate ballistics and recoil physics give Hell Let Loose an incredibly grounded atmosphere, one that hasn't been felt in the Battlefield franchise for quite some time.
Hell Let Loose gives players 14 roles to choose from, each belonging to one of four primary classes: Infantry, Recon, Armor, and Command. This latter class will give old-school Battlefield fans a gameplay experience they haven't had since Battlefield Hardline. There's also an RTS-inspired meta game in Hell Let Loose, where players gather resources as they battle and use them to call in support or reinforce encampments.
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam Taps Into a Growing Niche
Battlefield Vietnam and Battlefield: Bad Company 2's Vietnam expansion are far from the most renowned entries in the franchise's long history, but they've got a vocal fan-base, one that seems to be growing with each passing year. The Hell Let Loose series is getting ready to give that niche fan-base exactly what it's craving.
Just announced, Hell Let Loose: Vietnam will bring the first game's realistic, large-scale warfare to an all-new setting. Along with six huge maps at launch, Hell Let Loose: Vietnam will add 19 specialized roles, including helicopter-based roles for the US and tunnel-crafting roles for the NVA. Hell Let Loose: Vietnam will also feature a revamped onboarding experience, which will hopefully make it the ideal jumping-on point for new fans.
According to Hell Let Loose: Vietnam's Steam page, it'll also include a drag and revive mechanic, potentially like the one found in Battlefield 6.
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam's Release Window is a Double-Edged Sword
Currently, Hell Let Loose: Vietnam has a general release window of 2026. On the one hand, this is a positive thing for Hell Let Loose: Vietnam, as it will allow the game to come out long after Battlefield 6 and live outside of its looming shadow. On the other hand, though, it does mean that those looking for a Battlefield 6 alternative will need to wait for quite some time.
Battlefield 6
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 90%
- Released
- October 10, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, In-App Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Battlefield Studios
- Publisher(s)
- EA
