Battlefield 6 might be off to one of the biggest launches in franchise history, but not everyone is having a smooth time jumping in. For some PC players, the excitement quickly turned into frustration when the EA App, Electronic Arts’ own game launcher, began blocking users from even starting the game.
The issue was widespread enough that players flooded social media with screenshots of error messages, demanding fixes from EA. Things got so bad that even Vince Zampella, the CEO and co-founder of Respawn Entertainment, publicly criticized the app – a bold move considering Respawn operates under EA’s own umbrella.
Vince Zampella Calls Out EA’s Own Launcher
Zampella didn’t hold back. In a post responding to the growing number of complaints, he admitted he was just as frustrated as the community.
“I have yelled about EA App people. Any suggestions on next levels of escalation?”
That line alone set the internet ablaze – a top EA studio head openly dunking on the company’s own launcher was not what fans expected to see the day after launch.
In follow-up comments, Zampella confirmed he was actually playing Battlefield 6 on Steam instead, claiming it provided a much smoother experience. When a fan mentioned they’d been hit with the same issues on the EA App, Zampella bluntly suggested they refund it there and buy the Steam version instead.
And that’s not all. When someone told him to “yell at Andrew Wilson,” EA’s CEO, Zampella quickly defended his boss, saying:
“It’s not his fault – he’s just as upset as me.”
Steam and Xbox Players Dodge the Problem
Interestingly, the issue seems to have affected only the EA App version of the game. Zampella clarified that other platforms like Xbox weren’t impacted at all, and Steam players have been playing without interruption since launch.
That’s probably why so many PC players started jokingly referring to Steam as the “real EA launcher” after Zampella’s comment went viral.
EA App Back on Track – For Now
Thankfully, EA has already fixed the issue. Reports suggest the EA App is back to normal, and Battlefield 6 is now launching properly for all players. But the timing couldn’t have been worse – the PC launch day buzz was dampened by hours of frustration, refunds, and memes roasting EA’s app.
Still, the fact that a high-profile EA executive like Vince Zampella publicly voiced his frustration says a lot. It’s rare to see that kind of honesty from someone inside the company, and players clearly appreciated it. Many even praised Zampella for “saying what we’re all thinking.”
Fans React: ‘Vince Said What We All Wanted To’
Within minutes, Zampella’s post became one of the most-discussed gaming tweets of the day. Fans flooded his replies with a mix of support and disbelief:
- “You’re the only one at EA who gets it,” one player wrote.
- “This is the most real thing an EA exec has ever said,” another added.
It’s not often a studio head joins the trenches alongside players, but this time, it felt like Zampella was genuinely speaking as a gamer – not as an executive.
A Rough Start, But Hope Remains High
Despite the rocky first day for PC players, Battlefield 6 continues to dominate charts, already ranking among the most-played games on Steam. Once the launcher drama subsided, most players were able to jump into matches without further issues.
It’s safe to say the problem won’t leave a permanent mark on the game’s reputation, but it does highlight something important – even EA’s own leaders are tired of its launcher problems.
If anything, this episode might be the wake-up call EA needs to prioritize fixing and improving the app that millions rely on to play its biggest titles.
Did you get hit by the EA App issue when trying to play Battlefield 6 on PC? Or were you lucky enough to launch through Steam without trouble? Drop your thoughts – and your best EA App memes – below.
