Home
100-Player

Battlefield 6 Battle Royale Leaks: What Happened with BF2042?

Last Updated: October 12, 2025

Battlefield 2042 battle royale concept art showing intense 100-player combat with vehicles and destruction, based on Battlefield 6 leaks.

Before its official reveal as Battlefield 2042, the next installment in the iconic shooter franchise, then widely known as "Battlefield 6," was the subject of intense speculation and numerous leaks. Among the most tantalizing rumors were those surrounding a highly anticipated battle royale mode. Unofficial gameplay footage, reportedly captured during closed testing sessions for "Battlefield Labs," surfaced online, offering a glimpse into what many believed would be the game's take on the popular genre. These leaked videos showcased intense 100-player matches, featuring the series' signature destruction, various vehicles, and unique combat mechanics, generating significant buzz among fans.

The leaked gameplay details painted a vivid picture of a chaotic, large-scale experience. Videos showcased dynamic vehicle combat, utilizing everything from boats to tanks, alongside intense on-foot firefights that highlighted the trademark environmental destruction synonymous with the Battlefield franchise. Another clip focused on the drop-in sequence, giving viewers a better understanding of the pre-game experience before the battle commenced. A particularly notable feature highlighted in these early leaks was the inclusion of a unique, "deadly ring" mechanic. This ring, unlike typical shrinking circles in other battle royale titles, was described as instantly eliminating any player who came into contact with it, adding a high-stakes, unforgiving element to the late-game circle collapse.

Initial reactions to this leaked footage were overwhelmingly positive. Many players expressed excitement over the fast-paced action, the promise of Battlefield's signature destruction on a battle royale scale, and the innovative ring mechanic. The leaks seemed to confirm that the rumored battle royale mode would maintain the core Battlefield experience while adapting it to the popular format, fueling high expectations for the game's launch.

However, as the game officially launched in November 2021 under the title Battlefield 2042, the reality of its offerings diverged significantly from these early battle royale leaks. While Battlefield 2042 did indeed support large-scale 128-player battles (on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S), it did not feature a traditional 100-player battle royale mode with the "deadly ring" mechanic as seen in the leaks.

Battlefield 2042's Actual Offerings

Instead, Battlefield 2042 introduced two distinct multiplayer experiences alongside its All-Out Warfare mode:

  1. Hazard Zone: This was a squad-based extraction shooter, where teams competed to collect data drives from crashed satellites and extract them before being eliminated or running out of time. While it shared some elements of high-stakes survival and a shrinking play area, it was fundamentally different from a traditional battle royale, focusing on smaller teams and an objective-based extraction rather than last-squad-standing. The "deadly ring" mechanic was not present in this mode.
  2. Battlefield Portal: This innovative platform allowed players to create and discover custom experiences using maps, weapons, and vehicles from classic Battlefield titles (1942, Bad Company 2, 3) alongside 2042 content. While players could theoretically craft battle royale-like experiences within Portal, there was no dedicated, officially supported 100-player battle royale mode provided by DICE at launch.

The "signature destruction" that was a hallmark of the leaked footage did make it into Battlefield 2042, though its implementation and scope received mixed reviews from the community compared to previous titles. Many felt the environmental destruction was less dynamic and impactful than anticipated, especially when compared to the expectations set by the early leaks.

The journey from "Battlefield 6" leaks to the launch of Battlefield 2042 serves as a fascinating case study in game development and pre-release hype. What was initially perceived as an upcoming, traditional battle royale mode based on compelling leaked footage ultimately evolved into different, albeit still large-scale, multiplayer experiences. The positive initial reactions to the leaked battle royale concept highlighted a strong community desire for such a mode within the Battlefield universe. While Battlefield 2042 explored new directions with Hazard Zone and Portal, the fabled 100-player battle royale with its unique deadly ring remained a concept that captivated fans but never fully materialized in the final released game.