Battlefield BR REDSEC criticised for forced cross-game integration

Hannah Marie ZT, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 29/10/2025

Despite the success of Battlefield 6, the adjacent battle royale (BR) game, Battlefield REDSEC, has launched with mixed reviews. 

Only 24 hours after launch, the game holds mostly negative reviews on Steam, particularly due to its forced connections to Battlefield 6’s base game. 

What is REDSEC’s relation to Battlefield 6?

Launched less than a month after Battlefield 6, REDSEC is closely linked to the Battlefield 6 base game. 

Taking place on Battlefield’s biggest map to date, Fort Lyndon, players compete in a lobby of 100 to be the last team standing. The BR aims to maintain the Battlefield franchise’s signature playstyle while transitioning it into new game modes. 

REDSEC also includes Gauntlet, a separate game mode alongside the BR. Eight teams of four players complete round-based missions in a tournament-style format

Progression is shared across both REDSEC and Battlefield 6. This means that Battlefield 6 players participating in REDSEC can gain additional benefits outside of the main game. 

The following are linked between the games: 

• Career Rank 
• Hardware Unlocks (including weapons, gadgets, throwables, and training paths) 
• Hardware Progression (including attachments, vehicle loadout items, camos, and weapon packages)
• Customisation Items (including soldiers, soldier skins, camos, charms, decals, player profile backgrounds, icons, and dog tags) 
• Badges
• Battle Pass Progress 

The launch of REDSEC also coincides with Battlefield 6’s Season 1 launch. 

Controversially, several weekly challenges in the Battlefield 6 Battle Pass are tied to REDSEC rather than the base game, forcing players with a Battle Pass to play both to unlock rewards, whether they want to or not. 

Battlefield REDSEC review-bombed on Steam

One of Battlefield 6’s most significant successes was its distinction from the Call of Duty franchise. Many praised Battlefield 6 for providing a more distinct alternative to CoD’s game structure. Others pitted the games directly against one another —Battlefield 6 vs. Call of Duty —with the question: “Is the FPS genre hitting a new standard?” 

However, the introduction and integration of REDSEC and Battlefield 6’s Season 1 appear to have shifted closer to Call of Duty instead. 

From instant redeem/unlock prompts to unrealistic skins, bad map design, and a lack of solo play, complaints are already flooding in. Accompanying them are jokes comparing the changes in the Battlefield franchise to Call of Duty missteps. 

Nevertheless, the most common complaint is the forced connection between Battlefield 6 and REDSEC.

Steam reviews have heavily emphasised this disappointment. One disgruntled player expressed, “I wouldn’t hate it so much if I wasn’t forced to play it for challenges in the main game. But I am. So I do.” 

Another pleaded, “Please keep battle royale challenges separate from the standard multiplayer.”

Despite significant backlash, not all reviews are critical. 

Some could still identify with the game having a “strong battlefield flair,” while others decided, “It ain’t perfect but it’s honest work.” 

REDSEC will likely have little impact on the popularity of Battlefield 6. However, it is unlikely to have as much impact as EA and Battlefield Studios had hoped. 

Hannah Marie ZT, Senior Editor

Hannah is a journalist specialising in the esports, gaming, and technology sectors. Working for outlets such as Dot Esports, Esports Insider, and of course ENUK, she has developed a love for wider esports, Apex Legends, and advocating for women's esports initiatives. You may have seen her at various esports and gaming events, including ALGS LANs, ESI London, EGX, and watch parties.

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