Battlefield 6 smashes franchise record, but GTA VI’s launch could dwarf it

Darragh Harbinson, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 20/10/2025

Battlefield 6 has become the biggest launch in the franchise’s history, with over 7m sales since its October 10 launch.

However, new data from Uswitch broadband outlines that UK gamers searched for GTA VI over seven times as often over the last year.

The data is yet more proof that the next game of Rockstar’s defining franchise may be the biggest release in gaming history.

EA celebrate record-breaking Battlefield launch

In a statement on their website, EA outlined the launch’s success, stating, “Battlefield 6 now has the biggest opening ever in the storied Battlefield franchise. Battlefield 6 hit all-time highs for franchise sales during the first three days of launch, selling over 7 million copies and counting.

“Thanks to the series’ passionate community, the game had over 172 million matches played online and accumulated over 15 million hours watched on streaming services during the 3-day weekend, as well as earning the most concurrent players for Battlefield ever.”

SteamDB reveals that Battlefield 6 peaked at 747,440 players shortly after its launch, strongly maintaining its player-base so far, with the most recent 24-hour peak showing 493,688 players.

The success is a much-needed boost for Battlefield, which suffered an infamously poor launch for Battlefield 2042, the previous iteration to BF6.

Battlefield 2042 reached a player peak of only 107,376 in its lifetime, with the game sitting at a 24-hour peak of around 10,000 for much of its lifetime.

Upon release, the game was widely criticised by players and critics, with the lack of content and performance being key talking points holding an average 2.4 rating from players on Metacritic to this day.

Therefore Battlefield 6’s smooth open beta, and launch will be a welcome sight for EA Dice, as they now look forward to BF6’s Season 1, starting October 28.

Data indicates that GTA VI will be one of the biggest launches in gaming history

The data indicates that GTA VI’s launch may be one of the biggest launches in gaming history, as interesting the game far outweighs any other franchise with an upcoming release.

It is no surprise as GTA V’s much-anticipated release also broke records, bagging over $800,000,000 in the first 24 hours after approximately 11m sales.

New research from Uswitch broadband used Google search data to track UK interest over the past year.

It revealed that GTA VI dominated upcoming video game release searches, with over 6.4 million searches in the last year from September 2025 to August 2025.

The game’s searches got more than the other top 10 titles combined, with Battlefield 6 second and Bordlands 4, Ghost of Yotei, and Pokemon Legends: Z-A all appearing in the top 10.

Below is a segment of the report:

“1. GTA VI – 6.4 million annual searches: Analysis of UK search trends reveals Grand Theft Auto VI as the clear frontrunner, with over six million searches in the past year^[1]. Interest is particularly focused on the game’s release date, which alone has generated 2,176,000 searches^[1]. As the next instalment in Rockstar Games’ hugely successful open‑world franchise, GTA VI promises a sprawling, story‑driven experience set in a richly detailed world, with innovative gameplay mechanics and a return to fan‑favourite locations.

2. Battlefield 6 – 902,600 annual searches: Battlefield 6 takes second place, attracting more than 900,000 searches ahead of its October 2025 release. The latest in the long‑running military shooter series, Battlefield 6 is set to deliver large‑scale multiplayer warfare, immersive environments and an updated campaign mode, aiming to provide a new standard for tactical combat.

3. Borderlands 4 – 644,190 annual searches: In third place, Borderlands 4 has generated over 640,000 searches, reflecting excitement for the continuation of the beloved looter‑shooter series. Known for its distinctive 3D art style, over‑the‑top humour and addictive loot system, the game promises fresh worlds to explore, new characters, and expanded co‑op play.”

Table 1: The most anticipated video game releases in the UK

Source: Uswitch broadband

Darragh Harbinson, Senior Editor

Darragh Harbinson is an esports writer specialising in Counter-Strike. He has written for Esports News UK, Esports Insider, UKCSGO, Dexerto, and Rush B Media.

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