Battlefield 6 Closed Beta to Start Testing Server Browser and 'Player-Owned' Servers

A server browser will be available in Battlefield 6 via Battlefield Portal, Battlefield Studios has announced.

As the Battlefield studios get ready to "resume testing the latest updates and content" with the Battlefield Labs closed player tests, the team has revealed players will not only get to try out new maps not previously available in either closed or open betas, but they'll also get "a first look at the Server Browser."

As EA explains it, Battlefield Labs is an experimental environment where "the latest changes and work-in-progress ideas are tested with players in a closed and private space." The content available will be in various stages of production, including items in alpha state, which may result in less polished and/or unstable builds. This allows the development team to balance and make adjustments much faster as it "shapes the future of the game with the community to shape the future of the game."

This next collection of play sessions will focus primarily on hosting, where the team will "concentrate on the ease of setting up player-owned servers with predefined shortcodes, altering descriptions, selecting tags, and joining those experiences." And as part of this, we've been given our first look at the Battlefield Portal user interface.

"Some of the most frequent questions from the community have been about Server Browser availability and functionality," the team explained in a community blog. "In an upcoming Battlefield Labs play session, we will enable an early implementation of this Portal functionality within the Community tab. At this stage, our main goal is to observe how it works in practice, with initial feedback focusing on accessibility and UI clarity."

Players will be able to use the experience library to find a verified Conquest experience using a shortcode, after which players can then choose from a pre-filtered list of active servers, or host their own, where they'll be able to alter descriptions, rotations, tags, and so on. Of course, this should still be treated as a work-in-progress for now, and the Battlefield Studios would like feedback from Battlefield Labs participants as they play.

The next batch of closed tests will also usher in new maps, Operation Firestorm and Mirak Valley, which are designed for combined arms combat and vehicles, including quad bikes, tanks, and aircraft.

We're having a great time with what we've played so far, writing in our Battlefield 6 review-in-progress: "Right now, even in beta form, Battlefield 6 might be the most fun shooter I’ve played this year."

Don't forget that from now until October 7 — Battlefield 6's launch day — EA has a "wave of content" planned for Battlefield 2042, including a free new pass "celebrating the legacy of Battlefield," new hardware, and a reimagining of the fan favorite Iwo Jima map. As you progress through the 'Road to Battlefield 6' pass, you can expect 50 exclusive cross-rewards, including 20 for Battlefield 6 that will be ready for you on launch day, on which you can also expect big changes to player movement, maps, modes, and player counts.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.