October has been the month of Battlefield 6, with Electronic Arts (EA) and Battlefield Studios’ huge new large-scale multiplayer FPS bringing in widespread positive reviews and a strong Metacritic score, a whopping 7 million copies sold in three days, a gargantuan 750K Steam player count at launch, and hundreds of thousands of concurrent players at any given time.
The month is closing out with Battlefield 6 Season 1, which has also introduced one of gaming’s worst kept secrets: Battlefield Redsec, a free-to-play Battlefield 6-based battle royale experience that’s set to directly compete with Call of Duty: Warzone as we head into the holiday season.
While Battlefield Redsec has many mechanics we’ve come to expect from battle royale games — random loot drops scattered across the map, a deadly ring of fire that shrinks and forces players to engage one another, armor plates for extra protection from enemy fire — its more unique aspects are what draw my interest.
Notably, Redsec features Battlefield 6’s class system, and gives you some noteworthy bonuses or unique interactions depending on the class you’re playing as. Assault, for example, gets faster gadget regen and quicker armor recharging, while Support can carry extra gear like ammo and armor plates. Engineer repair tools can even be used to unlock special weapon containers guaranteed to have high-tier loot within.
These benefits, along with several class-specific gadgets such as the Assault Ladder that carried over from the full Battlefield 6 multiplayer, give players more strategic and tactical options to consider compared to most battle royale titles. And as someone who’s always been more of a smart player than a mechanically gifted one, that’s exciting.
While Battlefield Redsec has many mechanics we’ve come to expect from battle royale games, its more unique aspects are what draw my interest.
The presence of Battlefield’s vehicles, too, spice up the usual infantry-on-infantry encounters, giving players that find them (either out in the open or in special containers unlocked with looted keys) a powerful source of firepower and mobility that’s balanced by the fact using one makes you an easily-spotted target for anyone that happened to find an RPG.
And then there’s the destruction, with the vast majority of Battlefield Redsec’s gigantic Fort Lyndon map — an expansive military blacksite hidden within the beaches and suburbs of southern California — able to be reduced to rubble by sledgehammers, gunfire, explosives, and tank shells.
Destruction has always been a key part of the Battlefield experience, allowing players to reshape the environment to open up flanking routes or set up creative firing positions. It will be no different in Redsec, and I have no doubt the ability to smash through walls Rainbow Six Siege-style will lead to some very interesting gameplay dynamics in close-quarters engagements at the end of matches in particular.
All in all, Battlefield Redsec looks like a great time if you enjoy battle royale games, and it might end up being the first one to actually win me over since I dabbled in PUBG ages ago. But one thing about it that’s quite frustrating is the fact that it only has options for duos and squads in its 100-player matches (50 of the former and 25 of the latter).
There is no solos playlist available, and while you can queue for a match on your own, you’ll just be put in a team with other random solo players in a lobby that likely has actual pre-made squads, setting you up for a rough time.
Now, it’s certainly true that teamwork has always been at the core of Battlefield, and the ability to play as a class and use class-specific gadgets and bonuses in Redsec is indicative of the fact that Battlefield Studios is promoting coordination and cooperation in the battle royale, too.
One thing about Battlefield Redsec that’s quite frustrating is the fact that it only has options for duos and squads in its 100-player matches.
But for people like me that don’t have any friends that are battle royale fans, and don’t particularly enjoy trying to get a small group of randoms to execute careful squad tactics, I’d really like to at least have the option of playing by myself. That way I could take each match at my own pace, and get a feel for the experience without having to worry about what my teammates are doing.
In the end, Battlefield Redsec does pique my interest quite a bit, and I’ll definitely be checking it out — especially since it’s free-to-play, and thus has no barrier to entry. But the lack of an option for a true solo experience is a big disappointment, and I hope it’s one Battlefield Studios eventually rectifies.
In all likelihood, I’ll soon find myself back in the full Battlefield 6 experience, which just got bolstered by Season 1 content like the new map Blackwell Fields, a new armored transport vehicle with a powerful machine gun and plenty of health, and new weapons to take into the fight, along with a battle pass and plenty of cosmetic skins to earn.
The full game is typically $69.99 across Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5, though the Xbox version is $61.19 at Loaded right now.
FAQ
Is Battlefield Redsec free to play?
Yes, Battlefield Redsec is free to play and does not require you to purchase a copy of Battlefield 6.
What platforms is Battlefield Redsec available on?
As well as PC platforms like Steam and the EA app, Battlefield Redsec is also available on Xbox Series X|S and PS5.
Does Battlefield Redsec feature a new map?
Yes, Battlefield Redsec will feature an entirely new map built specifically around the battle royale mode.
What makes Battlefield Redsec unique?
Unlike competing battle royale modes such as Call of Duty’s Warzone, Battlefield RedSec’s closing zone is far more unforgiving. Redsec also gives players one free respawn, keeping the action fast and intense from start to finish. On top of that, it sports many of Battlefield 6’s mechanics, such as classes and class-specific gadgets to give you an edge in the fight.
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