Rumors that EA’s Battlefield 6 could launch with an $80 price tag have set off a firestorm online. The leak was originally reported by dataminer billbil-kun, who has a history of being extremely accurate.
Allegedly, the standard edition will cost €79.99 in Europe for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. That translates to about $80 USD.
For many players, the number itself is only half the issue. It comes at a time when more gamers are already asking hard questions about how much video games are really worth. Especially when you don’t even own the game you’re buying.
Not the First to Try This or Get Backlash
The rumor comes on the heels of two high-profile retreats. Microsoft and Take-Two Interactive both backed away from plans to sell The Outer Worlds 2 and Borderlands 4, respectively, at higher-than-usual prices following public outcry. If EA is seriously considering an $80 launch, they’re doing it in an environment that rejects the practice.
The response online has been overwhelmingly critical. Even loyal Battlefield fans are calling it a “hard pass” at that price. $80 is too much, especially when you have to worry about microtransactions, and DLCs that hide content behind additional paywalls.
What Are Players Actually Worried About?
It Contradicts What EA Previously Said
EA had previously claimed they weren’t planning to raise prices for their games. If the gamers can’t trust EA to keep their word, then what’s the point in supporting them and buying their games?
The Price Could Hurt the Game’s Reach
Reportedly, EA wants to reach 100 million players with Battlefield 6. That’s going to be impossible if the base game is locked behind an $80 price tag. With free-to-play competitors like Call of Duty: Warzone and Apex Legends, and other FPS dropping on Game Pass, Battlefield 6 feels out of step with where shooters are headed.
The $80 Price Isn’t Standard…Yet
While $70 has become the new normal for AAA games, $80 isn’t. Fans were quick to note that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is priced at €79.99 in the EU but still $70 in the U.S. There’s still hope that EA follows that trend, but even that slight uncertainty is enough to spark concern. Regional pricing has always been messy, but players are more aware now and more vocal.
What Justifies the Extra $10?
That’s a good question. Fans want to know what they’re getting for the higher price. Will Battlefield 6 launch with a massive amount of content? Will it avoid the pitfalls of Battlefield 2042, which was criticized for launching incomplete? So far, there are no details on what the $80 standard edition includes or if it’s just the bare minimum. If the base game doesn’t offer something extra, expect hesitation from day-one buyers.
What Does This Say About the Industry?
At the core of this backlash is a growing frustration with how the industry prices their games. More players are reassessing the value they’re actually getting. An $80 price tag feels like a step in the wrong direction, especially if it doesn’t include anything extra.
Also, the timing couldn’t be worse. With studios laying off employees and games launching unfinished or loaded with microtransactions, there’s less patience for price hikes.
Whether Battlefield 6 actually launches at $80 in the U.S. remains to be seen. The reaction to the rumor should serve as a wake-up call for publishers across the board. Gamers aren’t just looking at the price. They’re weighing the whole package: content, ownership, transparency, and trust.
If EA wants Battlefield 6 to hit that ambitious number of having 100 million players, they need to reconsider how much the game really costs.
