Battlefield 4 is experiencing a massive resurgence on Steam in 2025, thanks in large part to the ongoing Battlefield 6 open beta. Despite being more than a decade old, the beloved 2013 shooter has seen a significant increase in its player base as fans look to revisit the series’ golden era before the launch of Battlefield 6 later this year.
Battlefield 4: A Timeless Classic
Upon its release in 2013, Battlefield 4 received largely positive reviews and quickly became a fan favorite for its large-scale battles, destructible environments, and tactical team-based gameplay. Today, it remains one of the most beloved entries in the series, often compared alongside Battlefield 3 as the franchise at its peak.
The Impact of Battlefield 2042’s Failure
The Battlefield series hasn’t always had smooth sailing. After the disastrous launch of Battlefield 2042 in 2021 — plagued by missing features, bugs, and the removal of a single-player campaign — EA and DICE were forced to go back to the drawing board. The poor reception left many fans longing for the traditional Battlefield experience that BF3 and BF4 delivered.
Battlefield 6 Beta Boosts Player Counts Across the Series
With the launch of the Battlefield 6 open beta, every major Battlefield title on Steam has seen an increase in active players, but Battlefield 4 is leading the charge. According to research from TheGamer:
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Battlefield 4 player count has risen by 117.4% in peak players and 50.1% in average players over the last 30 days.
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Battlefield 3 followed with a 43.5% peak increase and a 25.7% average increase.
For a title that’s over a decade old, these numbers are nothing short of remarkable.
Nostalgia Meets Hype for the Future
EA has already confirmed that Battlefield 6 will return to the franchise’s roots, drawing inspiration from Battlefield 3 and Battlefield 4. This connection explains why fans are flocking back to these classics while the beta builds anticipation for the October 10 launch.
With the second Battlefield 6 beta weekend ongoing until August 17, older entries may continue to see player spikes before fans settle back into waiting for the full release. Until then, the Battlefield community seems more alive than it has been in years.