UPDATE 2:36 p.m. PT: EA and Battlefield Studios have revealed a full roadmap for Battlefield 6 Season 4, alongside additional details for its Top Gun crossover.
The previously-teased collaboration with Paramount Games Studio will officially come with the F-18 Super Hornet, F-14 Tomcat, and two new modes. Top Gun: Maverick characters Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (Miles Teller), Lt. Robert “Bob” Floyd (Lewis Pullman), and Adm. Solomon “Warlock” Bates (Charles Parnell) will also be featured as character skins and cosmetics with full voice acting from each of their respective actors.
“It’s a huge honor to appear in a long-running franchise like Battlefield with its millions of fans, and talented people working on it,” Teller said in a statement. “And with Top Gun, it’s like two titans meeting.”
“I’ll actually be the one giving orders in-game, which I love,” Parnell said. “If it’s my voice that pushes players on to clutch a win, that’s awesome.”
“Battlefield is very intense, whether you’re in the sky or on the ground or fighting in the sea,” Pullman said. “In that way, it’s a perfect pairing with Top Gun.”
Battlefield 6 Season 4 aims to bring more than just a need for speed when it launches July 21, 2026. As previously announced, this next content update will take players back to the sea with naval warfare. Phase 1: Pacific Front kicks things off with Tsuru Reef – the game’s biggest map yet – with Phase 2: Top Gun set to introduce a Wake Island remake for Battlefield 6 and all of that juicy crossover content when it launches August 18. Phase 3: Tidal Strike will then round out Season 4 with the Deep Six: Collection Event come September 15.
“When Battlefield 6 launched, it had a strong core of content that we’ve grown over time, using feedback from the community to make the game even better,” Battlefield general manager says Byron Beede said. “With the addition of Naval Warfare, our Top Gun collaboration, our largest map, and so much more, Season 4 is our biggest update yet and is the perfect opportunity for players old and new to dive in.”
Through the ups and downs, Season 4 represents a big moment for Battlefield 6. As EA and BF Studios continue to deliver updates to those who have stuck by the latest entry as it approaches its first anniversary this October, it’s also told players that the upcoming season will feature Spectator Mode and the Portal Custom Lobby.
ORIGINAL STORY: Battlefield 6 is getting a Top Gun crossover next month.
In a press presentation, EA confirmed that Battlefield 6 will welcome a special Top Gun-themed event in August. The celebration will feature “vehicles, characters, and modes inspired by the franchise.” It’s unclear if that means we’ll be getting skins for characters like Maverick, Goose, or Hangman, but don’t hold your breath; Tom Cruise has famously avoided licensing his likeness for video games and merchandising. Cruise reportedly even struck down a Funko Pop based on his character from The Mummy ahead of its release.
That said, it’s possible there will be skins that utilize the costumes and iconography of the Top Gun universe, such as Maverick’s jacket, his helmet, or a fighter pilot suit, for instance. Nevertheless, there’s more than cosmetics for this event: it will also usher in two naval/aerial-centric modes, with Season 4 introducing Carrier Strike, a spin on the classic Carrier Assault mode, which will encourage players to use aerial vehicles to attack and defend the aircraft carriers.
There will also be a new mode available through Gauntlet known as Fighter Sweep, which is a jets-only affair. A new two-person jet is being added in Season 4, allowing you to take a wingman with you to the sky in true Top Gun fashion to dogfight other pilots together.
The team will share more details on this crossover closer to its debut in August, but it’s exciting news for anyone who enjoys Battlefield and Top Gun. Season 4 is scheduled to kick off next week and will center around naval combat. The season will feature two new maps, including a reimagining of Wake Island in August. It’s expected to be the biggest map in Battlefield 6, which should please those who feel previous maps haven’t had the scope and scale they desire from the franchise.
We recently sat down with Ariel Giovannetti, Seasonal and Competitive Creative Lead on Battlefield 6, for an exclusive interview about the state of the game and plans for the future. It’s worth a read if you want an idea of how the team develops its seasonal content, implements feedback, and what they’re planning for the future.
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN’s news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.