Weekend 2 of the Battlefield 6 Open Beta is upon us — here's its start time and what's new, including a nifty feature to address all those server browser complaints.

The digital war drums are building again, and this Thursday—August 14 at 08:00 UTC—the second weekend of the Battlefield 6 Open Beta storms back to life. There’s a thrill in the air: fresh battlegrounds, refined playlists, and Game-on flexibility that could turn frustration into fierce joy.

Last weekend’s beta was a wild triumph—over half a million concurrent players on Steam, shattering records and feeding raw excitement for what’s next. Players waited in lobbies, weapons glinted oversized on small maps, and a patch of greed for more kept gnawing at the bones of the experience. Now, DICE and EA are delivering.

The newest addition: the Empire State infantry-only map, set in the urban sprawl of Brooklyn. It’s tight, tactical, visceral—a cry of humanity amid pixel chaos. Infantry boots echo on concrete; adrenaline doesn’t just gush, it burns.Windows Central

With it comes Rush mode, scaled down to 32 players—a cocktail of strategy and urgency wrapped up in explosive intel.Windows Central The playlists themselves shift like tectonic plates. From All-Out Warfare blending Conquest, Breakthrough, and Rush to Close Quarters rotations, the beta feeds variety to the fighter’s hunger.Electronic Arts Inc.GameSpot

But the soul of this update? A slender, shining relief in the chaos—a brand-new feature called Custom Search. No more guessing which map or mode will click. Want Conquest on Siege of Cairo? If there’s a match, you’ll land there. It’s not a full server browser—but for now, it’s the grace note we didn’t know we needed.Electronic Arts Inc.Insider GamingMP1st

Behind the scenes, the developers haven’t just rolled out content—they’ve leaned into community feedback. From “super bullet” glitches to vehicle imbalances, to sniper glare too sharp to ignore, each fix seals wounds—or at least stitches them tighter.Windows Central

The emotional pulse among players is fighting to be heard. One Redditor shared frustration wrapped in hope: “PLEASE… don’t ignore your medic duties—I promise it'll make this explosive FPS even more enjoyable.” Others crave control, complaining about map rotation yet breathing easier at customization.inklReddit

This isn’t just Weekend 2—it’s redemption. An opportunity for connection between community and creators. It’s the crack in the digital ceiling, letting in warmth, feedback, purpose. Each map load, every jump into Conquest, every moment in Close Quarters—it’s not just testing code. It’s hope in motion.