Battlefield launches $1 million REDSEC esports circuit

Electronic Arts has formally moved Battlefield 6 into the competitive ring by announcing a $1,000,000 circuit for the game’s battle royale component, Battlefield REDSEC. The publisher revealed the Battlefield REDSEC Elite Series and the Battlefield REDSEC Open Series on November 20, 2025, with the first matches kicking off in early December, according to EA’s announcement.

The Elite Series is built around 50 team captains split across Americas, EMEA, and APAC. Captains draft four-player squads, then compete in a mix of Battle Royale and Gauntlet matches. Qualification for the region finals is decided in Battle Royale play, and the Gauntlet then crowns the winners. Teams accumulate Elite Series Points from in-game results across three Qualifying Match Days, with the top 25 teams in each region advancing to that region’s season finals. All stages will be played online.

Prize distribution is weighted toward the Americas, where each Qualifying Match Day carries a $50,000 prize, and the Gauntlet awards $500,000 across participating squads. EMEA and APAC Qualifying Match Days feature $20,000 each and a $285,000 Gauntlet pool per region. The first Elite Series match day is scheduled for December 10, with regional finals on December 18.

The Open Series opens the circuit to all players in the three regions. Teams earn a cumulative score across ten Battle Royale matches and ten Gauntlet matches spread over three days. The top 250 teams by score in each region secure a place in the season finals set for January 17, 2026. Each region’s Open Series finals will carry a $10,000 prize pool. The Open Series begins with a Match Day on December 12.

Battlefield has long been tricky to convert into a traditional esports format because large-scale maps and vehicle warfare resist tight broadcast-friendly competition. REDSEC’s battle royale structure gives EA a simpler scoreboard and more predictable event windows. The Elite/Open split also mirrors recent thriving ecosystems by pairing a captain-driven invitational tier with open pathways for grassroots teams.

REDSEC’s Gauntlet format will be decisive in the finals, so teams that can perform in both survival-style Battle Royale and the Gauntlet will have an edge. For readers who want a refresher on REDSEC’s modes, there is a play guide and breakdown of Gauntlet rules in our Gauntlet mode explainer, and a primer on REDSEC’s free-to-play launch at REDSEC’s release coverage.

EA has already dipped a toe into competitive REDSEC with a celebrity event featuring Jack ‘CouRage’ Dunlop, where Michael ‘Shroud’ Grzesiek and Timothy ‘iiTzTimmy’ An took the trophy. The developer says it will work with the community to trial formats that might carry over into a wider Battlefield multiplayer circuit. That suggests EA is treating REDSEC as a testbed, and that the scene could evolve quickly based on player feedback and viewership data.

From a business angle, the split prize pools and rapid timetable feel like an attempt to build momentum fast during REDSEC’s post-launch window. Regional online play keeps costs down and lets EA measure competitive interest without committing to large LAN events yet.

Players and orgs aiming to compete should note the tight December schedule and mixed mode demands. Teams that can draft smartly and adapt across both match types will likely be the early frontrunners.

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Now entering REDSEC, a free-to-play destination built on Battlefield’s iconic DNA. Drop into Fort Lyndon for a Battle Royale only Battlefield can deliver, featuring massive-scale destruction, fast-paced squad play, and the deadliest ring in BR. Survive and advance in Gauntlet: an all-new cutthroat, knockout-style elimination mode where squads race to complete missions. Then redraw the lines of battle with Portal.