Battlefield 6 Season 2: Contaminated Map & Golmud Railway Revealed

Battlefield Studios is moving quickly to re-engage its player base following the recent Season 2 delay. In a detailed blog post published on January 21, 2026, the developer offered a comprehensive roadmap for upcoming content, signaling a return to form for the franchise.

The announcement serves as a direct response to community feedback, providing a first look at new maps, returning fan favorites, and significant gameplay adjustments. With the official launch of Season 2 set for February 17, the studio is opening the doors to its BF Labs testing environment to gather critical data.

The centerpiece of the reveal is Contaminated, a brand-new multiplayer map designed to offer a distinct combat experience. According to the studio, the map's scale is strategically positioned between the compact Eastwood (Season 1) and the sprawling Mirak Valley (Launch).

Visuals released for the work-in-progress map depict a treacherous rocky mountain battleground. The environment is shrouded in fog and dense forest, overlooking a small aircraft runway where snipers are expected to dominate the treeline.

The developers are utilizing BF Labs to specifically evaluate how vehicle and aerial combat interacts with infantry within this terrain. Key testing metrics include:

• Vehicle and aerial presence vs. infantry combat
• Cover and asset placement effectiveness
• Objective boundary viability
• Unique map-specific gameplay mechanics

The studio explicitly compared Contaminated's design philosophy to St. Quentin Scar from Battlefield 1 and Arras from Battlefield V, suggesting a blend of open fields and tactical chokepoints.

Buried in the "On the Horizon" section of the update is a massive announcement for veteran players: Golmud Railway is coming to Battlefield 6. Originally a launch map for Battlefield 4, this location is widely considered one of the largest maps in the series' history.

The studio promises that this iteration will be the largest multiplayer map available in the current game. While previous remakes like Operation Firestorm were scaled down for Battlefield 6, developers are taking a different approach here.

We’re bringing Golmud into Battlefield Labs early as this will be a multi-session project. Through Labs, we want to test changes such as larger flight space, increased cover for aircraft, and other adjustments as the map evolves over time.

The goal is to preserve the "combined arms gameplay" that made the original memorable while modernizing the layout to support Battlefield 6 systems.

Fans of aerial warfare have been vocal about their desire for more support in the current title. To address this, BF Studios confirmed that the rumored return of the AH-6 Little Bird is indeed happening.

The compact helicopter, a staple of close-quarters air combat, is slated for inclusion in Season 2. Alongside the Little Bird, the studio is preparing to test the previously promised air radar system.

These additions are part of a broader effort to balance jet gameplay, which recently received a tweak. The developer aims to ensure that air vehicles have adequate cover and flight space, particularly on the incoming remaster of Golmud Railway.

Battlefield Labs is the primary vehicle for these upcoming changes. Kevin Johnson, the global community manager, emphasized that the program will facilitate meaningful collaboration between developers and players.

Alongside that, we want to ensure more ongoing and meaningful action is taken on your feedback - Battlefield Labs will be the conduit for that. What is in store is going to be a great collaboration moment!

Players can expect to go hands-on with Contaminated as soon as this Friday. However, not all features are ready for public testing yet. The long-awaited solo queue for REDSEC battle royale remains in "internal and exploratory" testing, with no confirmed timeline for a public release.

With Season 2 officially launching on February 17, Battlefield 6 is poised for a significant content injection. The combination of a fresh environment in Contaminated and the nostalgia-fueled return of Golmud Railway offers something for both new recruits and seasoned veterans.

As BF Labs testing ramps up, the studio is betting on direct community feedback to refine these experiences before they hit live servers. The focus on combined arms and vehicle balance suggests a return to the franchise's roots, wrapped in modernized mechanics.