Shacknews Best Comeback of 2025 - Battlefield series

Battlefield Studios has rallied player morale like no one could have seen coming.

It was only a few years ago that players had seemingly abandoned new Battlefield games, opting instead to play titles released almost a decade ago. The series was not in a good spot. One more disappointing release and we might have never had another competitor to the Call of Duty franchise. But something incredible happened. Electronic Arts had gathered the developers, given the right people carte blanch, and created Battlefield Studios. This year saw the release of Battlefield 6, which took the shooter world by storm and, no word of a lie, saved the Battlefield series.

In terms of best comeback this year, it’s hard to argue against the gargantuan success of Battlefield 6. Before the game even released, players were treated to a couple of free betas in order for the developers to stress test the game. Out of all the feedback that BF Studios received and implemented, what stood out most was player response: everyone loved it.

Battlefield 6 appeared all over social media. The gameplay was clippable and shareable, with action-packed moments and hilarious antics popping up online. But the beta was free and the full, premium game is not – would the playerbase see similar numbers?

In its first week, Battlefield 6 had a concurrent player peak of over 740,000 players on Steam with reports indicating the game had sold 7 million units. Suffice it to say, it was a success. The players had shown up to experience the best entry the Battlefield franchise had seen for a long time.

What makes the experience so good is that Battlefield Studios listened to player feedback and went back to the series’ roots. The iconic four classes are back, coordination within your squad and team feels meaningful, the shooting is tight, each piece of equipment has its own use and identity, and the vehicular combat is explosive. Beyond the gameplay, the systems worked well right off the bat. There were minimal server woes at launch, it has a short and punchy campaign, and the multiplayer features series classics like Conquest, Rush, and more. Plus, REDSEC, the game’s battle royale mode, dropped for free – no need to buy the full game.

It’s not every year that players get a new Battlefield game, and even when they do, it used to be a coin toss as to whether or not it would be good. With the creation of Battlefield Studios, Electronic Arts has managed to right the ship. The Battlefield series is back and it’s better than ever before. Out of all the amazing comeback stories this year, the Battlefield series stands tall as deserving of the Shacknews Best Comeback of 2025 award.

Check out more of the Shacknews Awards in our Year of the Games: 2025 article.