2025 is shaping up to be a blockbuster year for AAA video games. The upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 and its exclusive titles will undoubtedly make a splash, but the real heavy hitters are slated for later in the year: Borderlands 4, Mafia: The Old Country, Ghost of Yōtei, and the inevitable new Call of Duty title from Activision (likely October/November).
However, the biggest game of the year is arguably Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto 6, currently scheduled for a Fall 2025 release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. While Take-Two Interactive (Rockstar's parent company) maintains the Fall 2025 window, the uncertainty surrounding its release, coupled with the already crowded shooter market, presents a significant challenge for EA's upcoming Battlefield installment.
EA plans to launch the next Battlefield within its 2026 fiscal year (before April 2026), a timeframe that directly overlaps with the potential release windows of GTA 6, Call of Duty, and Borderlands 4. This competitive landscape has prompted EA CEO Andrew Wilson to acknowledge the need for strategic release date consideration.
Wilson stated that EA has invested more in this Battlefield title than any previous iteration, utilizing four studios and significant development time. The goal is to deliver a "biggest Battlefield ever" and launch it at a time that maximizes its potential for community growth. He explicitly mentioned that the competitive landscape in 2025 might necessitate a revised launch plan. While targeting an FY26 launch, EA is prepared to adjust the release date if necessary to ensure optimal market positioning.
99 Details in the GTA 6 Trailer - Slideshow
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A November 2025 release for Battlefield (mirroring the launch dates of Battlefield 2042 and Battlefield 5) would put it in direct competition with a potentially November-released GTA 6. This scenario could lead EA to postpone Battlefield to Q1 2026, remaining within its fiscal year. Conversely, a potential GTA 6 delay to Q1 2026 could prompt EA to either advance Battlefield's release or push it into the following fiscal year – a significant decision, but one Wilson suggests EA is prepared to make.
The industry is keenly awaiting Rockstar's official GTA 6 release date announcement. This announcement, whether confirming the Fall 2025 release or revealing a delay, will significantly impact the release strategies of numerous other AAA titles.
