Battlefield games release dates in order: every mainline game from 1942 to Battlefield 6

Battlefield games release dates at a glance

Here are the Battlefield games release dates in order: Battlefield 1942 (10 September 2002), Battlefield Vietnam (15 March 2004), Battlefield 2 (21 June 2005), Battlefield 2142 (17 October 2006), Battlefield: Bad Company (23 June 2008), Battlefield 1943 (8 July 2009), Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (2 March 2010), Battlefield 3 (25 October 2011), Battlefield 4 (29 October 2013), Battlefield Hardline (17 March 2015), Battlefield 1 (21 October 2016), Battlefield V (20 November 2018), Battlefield 2042 (19 November 2021) and Battlefield 6 (10 October 2025).

Those are first North American release dates drawn from Wikipedia's release data and checked against Steam where a PC listing exists. Regional dates in Europe and Australia usually land a few days later, and the series has several free-to-play and console spin-offs that sit outside the main line, which we cover below.

The PC era: 1942, Vietnam, Battlefield 2 and 2142 (2002 to 2006)

Battlefield 1942 arrived on 10 September 2002 in North America, with Australia on 14 September and Europe on 20 September. Digital Illusions CE, the studio now known as DICE, built it, and a Mac OS X version followed on 28 June 2004. It set the template: big maps, vehicles and a flag-capture structure that still anchors the series.

Battlefield Vietnam followed on 15 March 2004 in North America and 19 March in Europe, developed by Digital Illusions Canada. Battlefield 2 came out on 21 June 2005, with Australia a day later and Europe on 24 June. Battlefield 2142 arrived on 17 October 2006 from DICE, with Australia on 19 October and Europe on 20 October, and added a Northern Strike expansion on 8 March 2007. Together they form the PC-first era.

Bad Company and the console shift (2005 to 2010)

Consoles got their first Battlefield with Battlefield 2: Modern Combat, released on PS2 and Xbox in North America on 25 October 2005 and in Europe on 18 November 2005, with an Xbox 360 version on 11 April 2006. DICE developed it. The bigger turn came with Battlefield: Bad Company, released on 23 June 2008 in North America, 26 June in Europe and Australia, and 27 June in the UK.

Battlefield 1943 reached Xbox 360 worldwide on 8 July 2009 and PS3 on 9 July, and Wikipedia notes a planned PC version was never released. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 landed on 2 March 2010 in North America, 4 March in Australia and 5 March in Europe. All three of those console-led games were developed by DICE.

Battlefield 3, 4 and Hardline (2011 to 2015)

Battlefield 3 launched on 25 October 2011 in North America, 27 October in Australia and 28 October in Europe. DICE led development, with additional work on its End Game expansion from Visceral Games. Battlefield 4 followed on 29 October 2013 for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360, with Europe and New Zealand on 1 November.

The PS4 version of Battlefield 4 arrived in North America on 15 November 2013 and in Europe on 29 November, and the Xbox One version worldwide on 22 November. That staggered rollout matters if you are checking a console date. Battlefield Hardline, released on 17 March 2015 in North America and 19 March in most of Europe, was developed by Visceral Games with additional work from DICE, a rare mainline entry not led by DICE.

Battlefield 1 and Battlefield V (2016 to 2018)

Battlefield 1 shipped on 21 October 2016 from DICE, with additional work by Criterion Games and DICE Los Angeles. Battlefield V followed on 20 November 2018, again from DICE with additional work from Criterion and DICE Los Angeles. Those two years are a useful reminder of the spacing: Battlefield 4 to Battlefield 1 was just under three years, and Battlefield 1 to Battlefield V a little over two.

On PC, Steam lists Battlefield 1 and Battlefield 3 with a release date of 11 June 2020 and Battlefield V with 22 October 2020, which are the dates the games arrived on that storefront, not their original launches. If you are building a back-catalogue playthrough, that Steam listing is the practical way to buy them on PC.

Battlefield 2042 release date: November 19, 2021

Battlefield 2042 launched on 19 November 2021. Wikipedia notes that the Gold and Ultimate editions were released a week earlier, on 12 November, while the standard edition came on 19 November. Steam lists the game at $59.99. DICE developed it with additional work from Ripple Effect Studios, EA Gothenburg and others, and the Portal mode came from Ripple Effect.

Wikipedia reports that after 2042 received critical derision from both critics and players, a new Battlefield began development under Vince Zampella, with an estimated budget exceeding $400 million. That is the direct line from this entry to the current game.

Battlefield 6, REDSEC and the free-to-play spin-offs

Battlefield 6 launched on 10 October 2025 on Windows, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Its maker is Battlefield Studios, a collaboration between DICE, Ripple Effect, Criterion and Motive, and Steam lists it at $69.99. The gap since 2042 was just under four years, the longest between releases on this list.

Wikipedia reports that REDSEC, a free-to-play battle royale mode, arrived on 28 October 2025 alongside the first season, with a Gauntlet elimination mode and Portal support. It can be played without owning Battlefield 6. Season 5 begins on 13 October 2026, according to KeenGamer, and EA's own posts describe it as the start of Year 2.

Two free-to-play games sit outside the main line. Battlefield Heroes was released on 25 June 2009, with DICE and Easy Studios listed as developers, and Battlefield Play4Free began its open beta on 4 April 2011 from Easy Studios. We have not checked whether either is still playable, so treat them as history rather than recommendations.

They are a reminder that EA tried the free model before REDSEC, and that the numbered games have always been the heart of the series.

Gaps between games, and how to read regional dates

The early series moved fast. From the dates above, Battlefield 1942 to Vietnam took about a year and a half, Vietnam to Battlefield 2 about fifteen months, and Battlefield 2 to 2142 about sixteen months. Bad Company 2 followed 1943 by under a year, and the console-led games of 2008 to 2010 arrived at a pace the series has not matched since.

Then the gaps widen. Battlefield 3 to Battlefield 4 was two years, Battlefield 1 to Battlefield V just over two, Battlefield V to 2042 three, and 2042 to Battlefield 6 just under four. Hardline, at 17 March 2015, filled the slot between Battlefield 4 and Battlefield 1. The longer waits are one reason the live-service model of seasons, such as the one starting on 13 October 2026, now carries the game between releases.

Every date above is the first North American release, and several games had staggered rollouts. Battlefield 1942 reached Australia four days after North America and Europe ten days after. Battlefield 3 reached Australia two days later and Europe three days later. Battlefield 4 split by console generation, with PS4 and Xbox One versions arriving weeks after the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 launch.

Editions matter too. Battlefield 2042's Gold and Ultimate editions started a week before the standard release, and Steam listing dates for Battlefield 1, 3 and V reflect when those games reached Steam, not when they first shipped. If a date matters to you, say for a trivia answer or a regional pre-load, check the storefront for your platform and country.

What the release dates tell you, and where to start

The pattern is autumn. Eight of the 14 games here launched between September and November, including Battlefield 2142, 3, 4, 1, V, 2042 and 6. The spring and summer releases were mostly the console-led and smaller games: Vietnam, Battlefield 2, Bad Company, 1943, Bad Company 2 and Hardline.

If you want the current game, start with Battlefield 6 and the free REDSEC. If you want a back-catalogue run on PC, Battlefield 3, 1 and V are on Steam, and 2042 is there at $59.99. We have not verified which older titles are still on sale, so check the store before you plan around one. For the live game, our Battlefield 6 Season 5 coverage lists what changes on 13 October.