Summary
- Battlefield 6 beta reignites faith in DICE and positions Battlefield 6 as a standout 2025 release.
- Historic betas—Minecraft, Overwatch, Halo—generated huge hype and built launch confidence.
- Some betas became enduring successes or live services, e.g., Warframe, WoW.
Battlefield 6 is shaping up to be one of 2025's biggest releases, if the beta is anything to go by. EA has big expectations for this title, and the universally positive reception to the beta makes it clear that the final release is pushing to be something special.
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This isn't the first time that a video game beta has made major waves in the industry, and it won't be the last. Some of the best video games around enjoyed successful betas that generated a ton of hype for their 1.0 releases.
Battlefield 6
Made Major Waves With Its Beta
Battlefield 6
- Released
- October 10, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
When fans heard about EA's lofty expectations for DICE and Battlefield 6, they felt like the series would face even greater adversity, especially after the bungled launch of Battlefield 2042. However, the game's incredible beta hooked players in no time and had a domino effect that renewed the faith people had in this series.
The fact that Battlefield 2042's player base is spiking speaks volumes when it comes to how successful the BF6 beta was. Sure, it may still not overtake Call of Duty in sales, but DICE proved once again with this beta why they should never be discounted as the developers of one of the best multiplayer FPS series of all time.
Overwatch
The Beta Convinced People That The Finished Product Would Be Worth It
Overwatch
- Released
- May 24, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Use of Tobacco, Violence (online interactions not rated)
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter
Seeing the state that the Overwatch franchise is in right now is a downright shame, especially for fans who got into the game's incredible beta. It seemed like Blizzard could do no wrong at this point, with this hero shooter paving the way for the genre with some of the best and freshest shooting action fans had enjoyed in a long time.
Overwatch's beta was something special, allowing fans to experience a piece of video game history before this title even launched. The full release of this game was celebrated, although Blizzard's insistence on catering to the eSports market, coupled with a frustrating lack of support, led to the franchise eventually losing the player base that was so passionate about Overwatch and its hero reveals at one point.
Minecraft
The Beta Ran For A Long Time And Was Incredible
Minecraft
- Released
- November 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox, Survival
Before Minecraft became so popular that hating on it was the new "cool" thing, Notch was wowing players with the beta for this incredible survival experience. The voxel-style graphics and scintillating survival gameplay were off the charts, ensuring that fans would get into this creative sandbox in no time.
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Witnessing this game transform from its beta stage into what is arguably the most popular indie game of all time has been a treat for fans. Minecraft players love this title to bits, despite Notch's controversy and Microsoft's shaky updates for the game, which fans either love or hate.
Halo: Reach
The Invasion Mode Alone Justified This Multiplayer Beta
Halo: Reach
- Released
- September 14, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- FPS
Almost every Bungie Halo game has enjoyed a great multiplayer beta, and Halo: Reach is no exception. The new Invasion mode itself was so alluring that fans could lose themselves in this beta for hours.
It's easy to see why this would culminate in the release of yet another homerun for Bungie, with the Noble Six squad singlehandedly turning Reach into one of the greatest Halo games ever made. The multiplayer was obviously a hit, which fans of the beta quickly noticed.
Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord
The Beta Slowly But Surely Improved Until Fans Were Spellbound By The Experience
Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord
- Released
- October 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Strategy
Mount & Blade is one of the best games for fans who enjoy titles that never end and feature intricate gameplay loops that let them do anything they set their minds to. So, when a proper sequel for Warband was announced, long-time fans couldn't wait to jump into Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord's beta and see what the studio was cooking.
People who expected Warband 1.5 were disappointed at first, but it was clear that Bannerlord was carving out an identity of its own with every update. Eventually, it won over even the most stubborn fans, resulting in Bannerlord's final release being a major success.
Warframe
In A State Of Perpetual Beta, And Is All The Better For It
Warframe
- Released
- March 25, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
Warframe is one of the few titles that owns its status as a perpetual beta game. It took a while to win over players and even to find its own identity, but Warframe's wealth of content and engaging gameplay ensured that fans would continue to come back for more.
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These popular games not only defined what third-person shooters are, but they also showed how it could grow and evolve over time.
Digital Extremes soon realized that they needed a way to update this game constantly without committing to a 1.0 release. This led to the title becoming the most famous example of a game in a perpetual beta state, and it is still widely beloved by fans even without a official launch.
Kerbal Space Program
The Beta Was The Start Of Something Promising
Kerbal Space Program
- Released
- April 27, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
Kerbal Space Program is ideal for players who dream of designing and building spaceships, with the ultimate goal of achieving successful outcomes in space exploration. As technical and complex as this may seem, there's a reason why fans love the game's intricate gameplay after coming to grips with how it works.
It's easy to see why this game required a beta stage, given the depth of its gameplay. Fans fell in love with the tight gameplay loop and appreciated how the developer integrated their feedback, leading to the widely successful and celebrated 1.0 release of Kerbal Space Program.
World Of Warcraft
The Beta For What Would Become An MMORPG Phenomenon
World of Warcraft
- Released
- November 23, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence (online interactions not rated)
- Genre(s)
- MMORPG
World of Warcraft is one of the greatest MMORPGs of all time, even if Final Fantasy 14 may have unseated it from its throne after a long, long time. From the very moment Blizzard released this game's beta, fans knew they were in for something truly special.
Players were invested in this MMO's gameplay loop from the get-go, with Blizzard using the beta feedback to polish its edges and craft a genuinely welcoming and addicting experiencce. The rest is history, with World of Warcraft capturing the interest of players all over the world with its MMORPG goodness.
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Gamescom 2025 was loaded with game reveals, and while Soulslikes seemingly stole the show, these open-world games made a big impression.