Electronic Arts has announced the launch of the Battlefield REDSEC Elite Series and Open Series this December, marking a strategic shift toward structured, high-skill competition, one that could reintroduce Battlefield as a serious contender in the global FPS esports landscape.
This new competitive ecosystem is built to showcase the moments that have always defined Battlefield, such as tightly coordinated squad plays, ingenuity under pressure, and explosive encounters that push players to their limits.
EA describes its goal as creating an ecosystem that celebrates unforgettable squad gameplay, offering a thrilling, competitive environment for players to experience, and for fans to watch.
That journey begins with the Elite Series, launching on December 10, 2025, alongside the Open Series on December 12, giving players of all skill levels a chance to enter the competitive spotlight.
The Elite Series is designed as a weekly global competition across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions, featuring more than $1 million USD in total prizing for its inaugural season and with 50 pre-vetted captains from each region, 150 total, to assemble four-player squads, forming a field of 600 elite competitors.
Each match day will feature six REDSEC Battle Royale matches followed by an intense Gauntlet elimination showdown, after three qualifying days, the top 25 teams in each region advance to the Season Finals, with all matches held online and streamed directly by competitors.
EA will still be hosting the official broadcast for the Finals, and to ensure competitive integrity, the publisher has implemented high-performance dedicated servers and the Javelin anti-cheat system across all events.
Prize pools vary by region, with the Americas receiving $50,000 per qualifying day and $500,000 for the Finals, while EMEA and APAC receive $20,000 per qualifier and $285,000 for the Finals. In addition to Twitch Drops will also be rewarded for viewers throughout the season.
Alongside the Elite Series, EA is opening the door to the wider community through the Open Series, which begins on December 12 and offers every squad a path to compete for a spot among the elite, in which players can register through Repeat.gg, enter daily tournament codes, and compete across three match days.
Squads will be ranked on their best 10 Battle Royale and 10 Gauntlet matches. The top 250 teams in each region will advance to the Open Series Season Finals on January 17, 2026, where the top eight squads will earn promotion into the next Elite Series season.
While the prize pool for the Open Series is more modest, $30,000 USD total across all regions, the structure establishes a clear talent pipeline from community play to top-tier competition. Like the Elite Series, all Open Series matches will use Javelin anti-cheat and undergo winner verification to maintain fairness.
EA emphasises that both series represent a foundational step toward the future of competitive Battlefield. The publisher acknowledges that grassroots communities have long pushed the franchise toward competitive play, from tight 4v4 matches to massive 32v32 showdowns.
Recognising that these communities require proper tools, such as spectator modes, custom lobbies, and advanced server controls, EA plans to use Battlefield Labs, its community feedback hub, to test and refine new competitive formats.
The company expects both the Elite and Open Series to continue into 2026, with adjustments shaped by player and viewer feedback. This hands-on approach signals EA’s intention to build a long-term competitive ecosystem for REDSEC and beyond.
Beyond the competitive format, this move marks a significant strategic pivot for EA. For years, Battlefield has shone as a cinematic sandbox, but the modern shooter landscape has shifted decisively toward structured esports play, high-skill matchmaking, and creator-driven competitive moments.
By launching REDSEC’s dual-track competitive system, EA is reshaping the franchise’s identity to align with the expectations of today’s FPS players, which is particularly important as competitors such as Call of Duty, Apex Legends, Valorant, PUBG, and Rainbow Six Siege maintain strong footholds in the esports arena.
Battlefield, despite its heritage and scale, has often lacked an official competitive footprint. REDSEC’s new structure anchors the franchise within this competitive ecosystem and positions it as a legitimate player in the global FPS conversation.
Also, the impact on player engagement could be transformative, as modern live-service games thrive on competitive cycles, progression paths, and the excitement of watching top players perform, with regular match days, transparent rankings, and the opportunity for any squad to climb from the Open Series to the Elite Series, REDSEC creates a sustained engagement loop that encourages ongoing participation.
The reliance on player-driven streaming amplifies this effect, generating organic visibility across hundreds of creator channels and widening Battlefield’s audience without traditional marketing overhead. This creator-driven amplification is essential in an era where competitive shooters live or die based on their presence in the streaming ecosystem.
By establishing a clear path from casual play to professional competition, EA is future proofing Battlefield REDSEC as a long-term competitive platform, with the systems introduced this season, laying the groundwork for future expansions into other Battlefield modes, collaborations with major esports organisations, and even potential offline events in 2026 and beyond.
As December 10 and 12 draw near, all eyes will be on the first Elite and Open Series matches. For EA, this is more than a seasonal event, but a chance to redefine what Battlefield can be in the modern gaming landscape, and perhaps usher in a new era of competitive squad warfare for one of gaming’s most iconic franchises.
