Every Battlefield 6 Multiplayer Mode You’ll Get on Day One, Explained

Countdown time: Battlefield 6 lands October 10, and if you mostly live in multiplayer, there are eight day-one modes spread across a bunch of maps. Most of the classics are back, one brand-new mode is trying something spicy, and the rules are clearer than the trailers. Here’s the quick tour, minus the fluff.

Release basics

Release date: October 10, 2025

Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro, Xbox Series X|S, PC

Developer: Battlefield Studios

The day-one multiplayer lineup

1. Conquest

   The series staple returns exactly how you expect, only prettier. Two teams, up to 32 players each (64 total), start on opposite ends of the map and go after six flags (A–F). Stand in a capture zone for a few seconds to take it, then keep it locked down to rack up points.

   Both teams start with 1,000 points. If you let flags slip, your team’s meter bleeds. Hit zero and you lose. Expect big vehicle play out of the gate — SUVs, tanks, helicopters — and respawns a few seconds after death at any controlled flag or on your squad. A single match can stretch to around 30 minutes.

2. Breakthrough

   Attackers push through a chain of objectives all the way to the enemy base; Defenders try to stop that from ever happening. Teams are large (north of 30 players per side), the fronts are loud, and teamwork actually matters here.

   If Attackers clear every objective and cap the base, they win. If Defenders hold the line long enough, they do. These can run 40 minutes or more if both sides are stubborn.

3. Domination

   Think 'Conquest, but on fast-forward.' Three flags (A, B, C), smaller play spaces, and no vehicles. Two eight-player teams usually spawn near A and C and race to control B while trying to flip the other team’s home flag.

   Hold two or all three to build your score; first to 200 points wins. You respawn instantly in random nearby spots, which keeps it frantic. Matches wrap in about 10–15 minutes.

4. King of the Hill

   One hardpoint, rotating every minute. Two teams of eight sprint to the zone, stand inside it to earn one point per second, and try to keep the enemy from contesting (contests pause scoring until somebody owns it).

   The hill rotates six times before returning to the original spot. It’s compact, it’s scrappy, and it’s built for 10-minute bursts.

5. Rush

   Classic attack/defend with a twist: roles swap every round. It’s 12v12 on larger maps, Attackers blowing up objectives while Defenders do everything they can to stop them.

   Win more rounds than the other team and you take the match. Plan on 30–40 minutes, with momentum swings built in thanks to the role swap.

6. Escalation (new mode)

   This is the fresh one, and it’s a clever remix of Conquest. Two teams of up to 32 players (in squads of four) fight over seven capture points. You only score when your team holds the majority — that fills your meter and earns you a point.

   First to three points wins, but here’s the kicker: after each point is scored, one capture point disappears from the map permanently. The battlefield literally shrinks, funneling everyone into nastier late-game fights. You respawn after a short delay at active capture zones or on your squad, and vehicles (tanks, off-road SUVs, helicopters, etc.) are in play. Matches generally run 20–40 minutes.

7. Squad Deathmatch

   Small-scale, no vehicles, tight maps. Sixteen players split into four squads, first squad to 50 kills wins. Immediate respawns keep you glued to the action.

   Pick your role — Assault, Recon, Engineer, or Support — and get to work. These are quick hitters at about 5–10 minutes.

8. Team Deathmatch

   Same vibe as Squad DM, different team layout. Sixteen players split into two teams of eight, racing to 100 kills. No vehicles, instant respawns, and the same four classes to choose from.

   Figure on roughly 10 minutes per match.

Also at launch (and after)

Portal Mode is back at launch and getting an upgrade. Details are light, but the gist is 'better than before,' which is what you want from a sandbox that lets you remix Battlefield rules and eras.

There’s also a free-to-play battle royale in the works. It’s rumored to land sometime after the global launch on October 10, but there’s no official date yet. File that under 'soon-ish' until EA pins it down.

That’s the lineup. Which mode are you diving into first?