GameTimeline

Release & story order

Battlefield timeline

Battlefield from Battlefield 1942 (2002) through Battlefield 6 (October 2025)—US release dates, war-era setting order, Bad Company continuity, and FAQ for Heroes, Portal, REDSEC, and which titles still have campaigns.

Updated August 2026

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Release order Story order

Release order

When DICE / EA shipped each major Battlefield in the US—Battlefield 1942 (2002) through Battlefield 6 (2025), including Bad Company, Hardline, and 2042. Heroes, 1943, Play4Free, and mobile titles are optional.

  • Multiplayer history → Release tab from 1942 through Battlefield 6
  • Campaign nights → Bad Company → Bad Company 2 → BF3 → BF4 → Hardline → BF1 → BFV → BF6
  • Play today (2026) → Battlefield 6 for the current live service
  • Skip Heroes / 1943 / Play4Free unless collecting every experiment
Story order tips

There is no single continuous canon across every Battlefield. Story order here is setting chronology (WWI → WWII → Vietnam → modern → near-future → 2142), plus the linked Bad Company pair. Most players still use Release order for multiplayer history.

  • Era path: BF1 → BFV → 1942 → Vietnam → Bad Company → BC2 → BF3 → BF4 → Hardline → BF6 → 2042 → 2142
  • Only Bad Company → Bad Company 2 share a direct squad story
  • 2042 is near-future; BF6 returns to grounded modern before that year
  • On Story order, later entries may be hidden—reveal when ready or use Show all spoilers

Timeline

When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

Release order

  1. Battlefield 1942

    Battlefield 1942

    PCFPSMainlineWWII

    Battlefield 1942 invents the franchise formula—64-player WWII conquest with planes, tanks, and ships on sprawling maps.

    Overview
    Conquest ticket warfare and combined-arms vehicles defined EA DICE’s multiplayer identity before Frostbite spectacle.
    In-game setting
    Axis vs Allies theaters. On Story it sits after WWI Battlefield 1 / V eras as a multiplayer WWII marker.
    Should you play it?
    Historical foundation. Play for multiplayer archaeology, not a modern campaign path. Compare scale with Call of Duty for FPS contrast.
    Release date
    US PC launch September 10, 2002. Classic servers are community-dependent; no official modern remaster.
  2. Battlefield Vietnam

    Battlefield Vietnam

    PCFPSMainlineVietnam

    Battlefield Vietnam ports the conquest fantasy to helicopters, jungles, and period rock radio—still multiplayer-first.

    Overview
    Era shift with transport helicopters and dense foliage maps on the 1942 engine lineage.
    In-game setting
    Standalone Vietnam setting between WWII classics and modern kits. Story marker only for era, not a linked campaign.
    Should you play it?
    Optional collector entry. Not required before modern Battlefield 3/4 paths. Multiplayer sandboxes matter more than campaign continuity across most Battlefield entries.
    Release date
    US PC March 14, 2004. Legacy title—expect community servers if anything.
  3. Battlefield 2

    Battlefield 2

    PCFPSMainlineModern

    Battlefield 2 is the modern-warfare breakthrough—commander mode, kits, and 64-player PC scale that shaped BF3/BF4 expectations.

    Overview
    Commander map abilities, UAV/artillery meta, and faction kits that later numbered games keep remixing.
    In-game setting
    Multiplayer-first modern era—campaign not the focus. Spiritual ancestor to Battlefield 3’s spectacle years.
    Should you play it?
    Landmark PC shooter for history. Skip if you only want current-gen destruction; play if you care how the modern lane began. Multiplayer sandboxes matter more than campaign continuity across most Battlefield entries.
    Release date
    US PC June 21, 2005. Special Forces and booster packs expanded maps; modern play is unofficial.
  4. Battlefield 2142

    Battlefield 2142

    PCFPSMainlineFuture

    Battlefield 2142 jumps to Titan mode and frostbitten future war—cult classic sandbox before Bad Company’s console push.

    Overview
    Titan assault objectives and walker combat push conquest into sci-fi verticality unusual for mid-2000s shooters. Large-map conquest and destruction fantasy remain the series’ calling card versus tighter lobby shooters.
    In-game setting
    EU vs PAC future war. Story endpoint for speculative settings after 2042.
    Should you play it?
    Optional after the modern path. Latest fiction year on Story (~2142). Multiplayer sandboxes matter more than campaign continuity across most Battlefield entries.
    Release date
    US PC October 17, 2006. Northern Strike expansion added content; servers are legacy.
  5. Battlefield: Bad Company

    Battlefield: Bad Company

    Xbox 360PS3FPSCampaignBad Company

    Battlefield: Bad Company brings a gold-heist squad campaign to consoles—Frostbite destruction as the star.

    Overview
    Console-focused story with fully destructible environments selling Frostbite’s marketing promise.
    In-game setting
    B Company in Serdaristan. Starts the Bad Company narrative continued in the 2010 sequel.
    Should you play it?
    Best entry if you want character-led Battlefield campaign first. Continue into Bad Company 2. Multiplayer sandboxes matter more than campaign continuity across most Battlefield entries.
    Release date
    US Xbox 360 / PS3 June 23, 2008. PC later via related releases; check storefront availability.
  6. Battlefield: Bad Company 2

    Battlefield: Bad Company 2

    Xbox 360PS3PCFPSCampaignBad Company

    Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is often cited as peak campaign-plus-multiplayer balance, with a later Vietnam multiplayer expansion.

    Overview
    Frostbite destruction in multiplayer plus a complete squad sequel campaign that fans still recommend.
    In-game setting
    Direct sequel to Bad Company—South America conspiracy arc. Multiplayer Rush mode became a series staple.
    Should you play it?
    Play after Bad Company. Strong alternative entry beside BF3 for destruction fantasy. Multiplayer sandboxes matter more than campaign continuity across most Battlefield entries.
    Release date
    US launch March 2, 2010 on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC. Vietnam expansion followed as DLC.
  7. Battlefield 3

    Battlefield 3

    Xbox 360PS3PCFPSMainlineModern

    Battlefield 3 is the modern blockbuster peak—Frostbite 2 spectacle, co-op moments, and multiplayer that defined early 2010s PC/console FPS rivalry.

    Overview
    Jet dogfights, destruction, and cinematic campaign set pieces that Battlefield 6 later chased in spirit.
    In-game setting
    Recker-adjacent modern ops. On Story it sits in the ~2014 modern lane before BF4.
    Should you play it?
    Essential modern classic for multiplayer fans. Campaign is Hollywood war film—not Bad Company continuity. Multiplayer sandboxes matter more than campaign continuity across most Battlefield entries.
    Release date
    US October 25, 2011 on Xbox 360, PS3, PC. Premium DLC maps defined the live season.
  8. Battlefield 4

    Battlefield 4

    Xbox 360PS3Xbox OnePS4PCFPSMainlineModern

    Battlefield 4 adds naval warfare and levee events—troubled launch, then a long-lived multiplayer lifespan.

    Overview
    Commander return, large-scale map events, and watercraft combat expand conquest vertically and horizontally. Large-map conquest and destruction fantasy remain the series’ calling card versus tighter lobby shooters.
    In-game setting
    Campaign follows Recker after BF3’s era—loose modern continuity, not a novelistic saga.
    Should you play it?
    Still a common “classic BF” pick beside BF3 and BF1. Expect community guidance for servers. Multiplayer sandboxes matter more than campaign continuity across most Battlefield entries.
    Release date
    US October 29, 2013 across last-gen and then-current consoles plus PC.
  9. Battlefield Hardline
    Optional

    Battlefield Hardline

    Xbox 360PS3Xbox OnePS4PCFPSCampaignOptional

    Battlefield Hardline flips to cops-vs-criminals—Visceral’s campaign and Hotwire mode. Divisive, optional canon.

    Overview
    Crime sandbox twist on Battlefield multiplayer with heist fantasy instead of military factions. Large-map conquest and destruction fantasy remain the series’ calling card versus tighter lobby shooters.
    In-game setting
    Standalone modern crime story. Story tab keeps it in the contemporary lane without military continuity demands.
    Should you play it?
    Optional after BF4. Play for novelty, not required before BF1’s WWI reset. Multiplayer sandboxes matter more than campaign continuity across most Battlefield entries.
    Release date
    US March 17, 2015 on then-current and last-gen consoles plus PC.
  10. Battlefield 1

    Battlefield 1

    Xbox OnePS4PCFPSMainlineWWI

    Battlefield 1 rewinds to World War I—War Stories anthology campaign and Operations multiplayer that many call a series artistic peak.

    Overview
    Anthology War Stories instead of one continuous cast; Operations map progress sells attrition fantasy.
    In-game setting
    WWI Europe and Middle East vignettes. Story order opens here before WWII and modern entries.
    Should you play it?
    Strong single-player anthology plus acclaimed multiplayer. Earliest Story setting among mainline entries. Multiplayer sandboxes matter more than campaign continuity across most Battlefield entries.
    Release date
    US October 21, 2016 on Xbox One, PS4, PC. Apocalypse and other DLC expanded theaters.
  11. Battlefield V

    Battlefield V

    Xbox OnePS4PCFPSMainlineWWII

    Battlefield V returns to WWII with Grand Operations and a rocky live-service era—still the mid-century Story bridge after BF1.

    Overview
    Fortifications, attritional Grand Operations, and War Stories chapters spanning multiple WWII fronts.
    In-game setting
    WWII War Stories across Europe and beyond. Story sits between WWI BF1 and classic 1942 multiplayer era markers.
    Should you play it?
    Play after BF1 if you want chronological settings. Mixed reception—judge multiplayer for yourself. Multiplayer sandboxes matter more than campaign continuity across most Battlefield entries.
    Release date
    US November 20, 2018 on Xbox One, PS4, PC. Tides of War updates defined post-launch content.
  12. Battlefield 2042

    Battlefield 2042

    Xbox Series X|SPS5PCXbox OnePS4FPSMainlineNear-future

    Battlefield 2042 launches into near-future specialist chaos—rough debut, later Course Correct updates, and Portal nostalgia tools.

    Overview
    Specialists, 128-player claims on PC, and Portal mode remixing classic maps inside one client.
    In-game setting
    2042 seasonal world. Story placement is near-future after modern BF6 campaign markers on this page’s chronology.
    Should you play it?
    Current-gen entry before Battlefield 6. Expect a post-launch game that differs from day-one reviews. Multiplayer sandboxes matter more than campaign continuity across most Battlefield entries.
    Release date
    US November 19, 2021 on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PC, plus last-gen versions.
  13. Battlefield 6

    Battlefield 6

    Xbox Series X|SPS5PCFPSMainlineModern

    Battlefield 6 (2025) resets toward modern combined-arms fantasy after 2042—treat launch details as current-gen multiplayer first.

    Overview
    Post-2042 course correction toward classic class fantasy and large-map destruction on current hardware.
    In-game setting
    Modern global campaign/multiplayer package. Story tab parks it in contemporary fiction before 2042’s later calendar year.
    Should you play it?
    Newest Release endpoint. Compare with annual Call of Duty if you are choosing one multiplayer habit.
    Release date
    US October 10, 2025 on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC—verify edition and server status at purchase time.

FAQ

Release vs setting order, Bad Company path, campaigns vs multiplayer-only, Battlefield 6, and optional free-to-play titles.

Release order

Release order is when each major Battlefield launched in the US (2002–2025). Story order on this page is setting chronology (WWI → WWII → Vietnam → modern → Battlefield 6 → 2042 → 2142)—not one official EA canon chart. Only Bad Company → Bad Company 2 is a true narrative sequel pair. Heroes, 1943, and free-to-play experiments are optional.

Multiplayer today: Battlefield 6 (live seasons / REDSEC). Campaign path: Bad Company → Bad Company 2 → Battlefield 3 → Battlefield 4 → optional Hardline → Battlefield 1 → Battlefield V → Battlefield 6. History nerds: Release order from 1942 forward. You do not need 2042 before Battlefield 6 unless you want Portal / near-future context.

Settings & campaigns

Battlefield: Bad Company (2008) and Bad Company 2 (2010) follow B Company in a gold-heist / special-forces story. Play them back-to-back. They are separate from Battlefield 1 / V War Stories and from the BF3/BF4 Hollywood campaigns.

Campaigns / War Stories: Bad Company, Bad Company 2, Battlefield 3, Battlefield 4, Hardline, Battlefield 1, Battlefield V, and Battlefield 6. Multiplayer-first classics like 1942, Vietnam, BF2, and 2142 are setting entries without modern single-player. Battlefield 2042 launched without a traditional campaign—fiction lived in multiplayer and seasons.

Modes & editions

Battlefield 6 launched October 10, 2025 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. It is the current all-out warfare mainline with a returned single-player campaign and ongoing seasons (including REDSEC). On Release order it is last; on Story order it sits in the grounded modern era after Hardline and before the near-future year of Battlefield 2042.

Optional & related

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.