PC gamers eager to jump into Battlefield 6 face an unexpected hurdle: enabling Secure Boot on their computers. This security feature, normally tucked away in computer settings, has become a mandatory requirement to play the game, sparking both frustration and debate within the gaming community.
EA has made Secure Boot mandatory for Battlefield 6 as part of its Javelin anti-cheat system. The feature prevents unauthorized code from loading during a PC’s startup process, which EA claims helps combat sophisticated cheating methods. According to EA, Secure Boot provides tools to fight “cheats that attempt to infiltrate during the Windows boot process.”
The requirement isn’t entirely new to Battlefield fans. EA previously introduced this measure to Battlefield 2042 through patch 8.8.0 in May 2025, leading to hundreds of negative reviews on Steam. Players expressed frustration at having to access their BIOS settings – something many casual PC users have never done before.
“It’s the developers’ job to prevent cheating – not the players’,” wrote one reviewer. Another complained: “Game says to mess with your BIOS and enable secure boot to just launch the game.”
For most modern PCs, enabling Secure Boot involves a few relatively simple steps. Users must first verify their system compatibility by checking if their PC uses UEFI firmware instead of Legacy BIOS, and ensure they have TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module) enabled. The process typically requires restarting the computer, entering the BIOS by pressing a specific key during startup, and enabling the Secure Boot option.
However, for some players, particularly those with older hardware or custom PC setups, the process can be more complicated. Some motherboards may require firmware updates, while others using legacy BIOS mode need to convert their disk partition style from MBR to GPT format – a more technical process that carries some risk if not done correctly.
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Linux users and Steam Deck owners face even bigger problems. Since Secure Boot cannot be emulated in Proton (the compatibility layer that lets Windows games run on Linux), Battlefield 6 is effectively unplayable on these platforms. This compatibility issue has been confirmed by EA’s Executive VP Vince Zampella, who acknowledged there are no current plans for Steam Deck support.
The Javelin anti-cheat system, which EA claims has blocked over 33 million cheat attempts with a 99% accuracy rate since its 2022 launch, operates at the kernel level of Windows. This deep system access allows it to scan memory and verify driver integrity, but also requires the additional security layer that Secure Boot provides.
Industry experts note this is part of a growing trend. Call of Duty has announced similar requirements for its upcoming Black Ops 7 release, suggesting hardware-based security is becoming the new standard for major multiplayer games.
For most players with newer Windows 10 or 11 computers, enabling Secure Boot should be straightforward. Microsoft’s push for hardware-rooted security in Windows 11 means many recent systems already have these features enabled by default. EA has published a detailed guide to help users navigate the process.
Despite the controversy, EA maintains that the security benefits outweigh the inconvenience. The company’s Secure Boot Information page describes the requirement as part of its “Positive Play” initiative to ensure fair gameplay. Meanwhile, the gaming community remains divided, with some accepting the change as necessary to combat cheating, while others see it as an unnecessary burden pushed onto players.
As the Battlefield 6 Open Beta kicks off on August 7, time will tell whether this security requirement will significantly impact the game’s player base or set a new standard for PC gaming security.