Battlefield 6 Season 2 arrives on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 4:00 AM PT / 12:00 PM UTC simultaneously on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The season was originally expected earlier, but was pushed back after EA extended Season 1 in January to give Battlefield Studios more time to refine the incoming content.
Quick answer: Season 2 goes live February 17 at 4:00 AM PT (12:00 PM UTC). You can pre-download the update three hours early, starting at 1:00 AM PT (9:00 AM UTC).
Release time: February 17, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC
Battlefield 6 Season 2 start times by region
The update drops at the same moment worldwide. The Season 1 Battle Pass expires the instant Season 2 begins, so finish any remaining tiers before the clock hits zero.
| Time Zone | Date | Start Time |
|---|---|---|
| PT (Pacific) | February 17 | 4:00 AM |
| MT (Mountain) | February 17 | 5:00 AM |
| CT (Central) | February 17 | 6:00 AM |
| ET (Eastern) | February 17 | 7:00 AM |
| BRT (Brasília) | February 17 | 9:00 AM |
| GMT / UTC | February 17 | 12:00 PM |
| CET (Central Europe) | February 17 | 1:00 PM |
| IST (India) | February 17 | 5:30 PM |
| CST (China) | February 17 | 8:00 PM |
| KST / JST (Korea / Japan) | February 17 | 9:00 PM |
| AEDT (Sydney) | February 17 | 11:00 PM |
| NZDT (New Zealand) | February 18 | 1:00 AM |
Pre-download timing
The Season 2 client patch becomes available for download three hours before the servers open. That means you can start pulling the update at 1:00 AM PT / 9:00 AM UTC on February 17. Once the pre-download finishes and the season officially flips, you'll also gain immediate access to the new Season 2 challenge tracks.
Season 2 content roadmap — Three phases through April 14
Rather than dropping everything at once, Season 2 splits its content across three monthly phases: Extreme Measures (February 17), Nightfall (March 17), and Hunter/Prey (April 14). Each phase introduces its own map, limited-time modes, and unlockable gear.
Phase 1: Extreme Measures (February 17)
The headline addition is Contaminated, a large-scale map set in a German airbase nestled in mountainous terrain. It supports all squad sizes and allows land vehicles and helicopters, though jets are not available. The map's defining mechanic is VL-7 psychoactive smoke — green gas zones that distort visibility and cause hallucinations if you linger without protection. Gas masks and filters scattered around the map counter the effect.
A dedicated VL-7 Strike LTM playlist runs on Contaminated, layering the gas mechanic across multiple game modes. On the RedSec side, two limited-time modes arrive as well. Altered State Gauntlet follows standard Gauntlet rules but adds the hallucinogenic gas, forcing squads to scavenge protective gear while completing objectives. Battle Royale Synthesis merges classic RedSec Battle Royale with the same gas zones, placing higher-rarity loot inside contaminated areas and adding a VL-7 Strike Package to the loot pool so players can deploy gas offensively.
Three new weapons unlock through the Season 2 Battle Pass at launch: the GRT-CPS Marksman Rifle, the VCR-2 Assault Rifle, and the M121 A2 LMG. Engineers get the 9K38 IGLA Launcher, a lock-on anti-air weapon that can reacquire a target if you keep tracking it after losing lock. Recon players receive the HTI-MK2, a gadget-countering tool. The iconic AH-6 Little Bird scout helicopter also returns, usable on any map that supports helicopter spawns in both Battlefield 6 and RedSec.
Two additional features round out the launch window. Catchup Challenges let you earn weapons you missed from the Season 1 Battle Pass, and the Year of the Horse Challenges run from February 17 through March 3 with free themed cosmetic rewards.
Phase 2: Nightfall (March 17)
The second phase introduces Hagental Base, an infantry-focused close-quarters map set inside a subterranean military installation with minimal lighting. Battlefield Studios has described it as inspired by the Metro and Locker maps from earlier Battlefield titles. A Nightfall LTM takes Hagental Base and plunges it into near-total darkness, making Night Vision Goggles, thermal sights, and flashlights essential equipment choices.
RedSec gets its own Nightfall Gauntlet variant with reduced squad sizes and a limited set of operation challenges. A new point of interest called Testing Complex 3 also appears on the Fort Lyndon Battle Royale map, adding a subterranean zone with higher-rarity loot.
Two more weapons arrive with Phase 2: the CZ3A1 SMG and the VZ.61 Machine Pistol, both claimable through the Battle Pass. New attachments include a thermal/red dot hybrid optic and a laser/flashlight underbarrel combo. The Dirt Bike vehicle also debuts, becoming the fastest ground transport in both Battlefield 6 and RedSec.
Phase 3: Hunter/Prey (April 14)
The final phase is the smallest content drop. It centers on the Operation Augur LTM, though full details on that mode haven't been revealed yet. Confirmed additions include the LTV vehicle, the KAPOK 14" Machete melee weapon, Battle Royale Duos for RedSec, and Portal support for Escalation experiences.
Season 2 Battle Pass structure
The Battle Pass follows the same 100-tier format from Season 1. All gameplay-affecting items — weapons, gadgets, and vehicles — sit on the free track. The Premium Track costs $9.99 (or 1,100 BFC) and unlocks cosmetic items. A Battlefield Pro Tier option at $24.99 provides 25 instant tier skips and access to an Exclusive Assignments path. Players who own the Phantom Edition of Battlefield 6 receive the Season 2 Pro Pass at no extra cost as part of their year-one content guarantee.
PlayStation Plus members also get a free Toxic Tide Pack containing a Pax Armata soldier skin, two weapon packages, a vehicle skin, and additional cosmetic items.
Season 2 marks a significant content injection for Battlefield 6 after a prolonged first season. With three distinct phases stretching through mid-April, the roadmap gives players a steady drip of maps, modes, and gear — starting the moment servers go live on February 17.
