While Call of Duty has often overshadowed its counterpart, Battlefield has carved out a distinct identity within the military shooter genre. The Battlefield series is characterized by its hardcore, strategic gameplay and vast multiplayer experiences, featuring up to 128 players engaging in epic battles that include full-scale destruction, aerial combat, and vehicle warfare. Following a four-year hiatus since the last release, Battlefield 6 emerges to rekindle that all-out war experience.
Recently, Electronic Arts wrapped up the first open beta for Battlefield 6, inviting players to explore selected multiplayer maps and game modes that will launch on October 10. Steam alone saw over half a million concurrent players during the weekend, underscoring the high demand for a new Battlefield installment. My participation in the beta, which spanned several hours, transformed my initial cautious optimism into keen anticipation. The game appears to take cues from earlier titles like Battlefield 3 and 4, delivering the familiar chaotic, explosive, and immersive action that fans have come to expect.
In a shift from the ‘Specialist’ system of Battlefield 2042, the latest entry reintroduces traditional character classes and focuses on intense 32v32 matches set across detailed, immersive environments. Returning to a contemporary setting reminiscent of Battlefield 3 and 4, Battlefield 6 aims to deliver a straightforward multiplayer combat experience that adheres to the series’ foundational elements. In a gaming landscape cluttered with cartoonish themes targeting younger audiences, Battlefield 6 positions itself as an adult-oriented first-person shooter.
Movement and Gunplay
The beta introduced significant improvements in the movement system, making players feel faster and more agile than ever before. The game incorporates crouch running and more dynamic prone positions, allowing players to aim and shoot while grounded. Leaning from cover is now contextual, coupled with enhanced animations for actions like sprinting, crouching, and vaulting.
The gunplay maintains the expected Battlefield feel; however, it appears to draw inspiration from the Call of Duty franchise, particularly under the guidance of EA’s Vince Zampella, known for his work on Call of Duty. This influence is reflected in the tighter shooting mechanics that enhance the pace of online matches. Recoil has been adjusted for individual weapons, and EA claims to have minimized the time between pulling the trigger and the bullet’s impact, resulting in a more responsive shooting experience. Each weapon retains its unique feel, which can be customized through various attachments.
Battlefield 6’s gunplay is tight and responsive
Photo Credit: EA/ Screenshot – Manas Mitul
Open Beta Maps and Modes
The first open beta showcased three multiplayer maps: Siege of Cairo, Iberian Offensive, and Liberation Peak. Siege of Cairo and Iberian Offensive are urban settings filled with streets, alleys, and buildings that serve as prime environments for the game’s destruction mechanics. Players can demolish structures using heavy weaponry and military vehicles, enabling strategic destruction to either eliminate sniper nests or create exposure gaps for enemy soldiers.
Liberation Peak, located on Tajikistan’s mountainous terrain, emerged as my favorite of the three maps. Its extensive layout supports vehicular and aerial combat, while the uneven surface offers excellent sniper positions. Engaging in a tactical back-and-forth with another sniper epitomizes the gripping experiences that have always drawn me to the Battlefield franchise.
Siege of Cairo features a dense urban setting with plenty of room for destruction
Photo Credit: EA
Among the available modes, Conquest shines as an ideal fit for Liberation Peak. Although I sampled other modes like Domination and King of the Hill, my experience was primarily shaped by Conquest’s large-scale chaos. This mode encourages teamwork and strategic objectives, though achieving collaboration can be challenging when partnering with random players online. Nonetheless, I noted improvements in teamwork during the beta, likely aided by the return to traditional classes that promote team-oriented gameplay.
Among the new features is a drag and revive mechanic, enabling players to assist downed teammates while getting them to a safer position before reviving.
Liberation Peak is crafted for large-scale conflict and aerial combat
Photo Credit: EA/ Screenshot – Manas Mitul
Battlefield Studios has worked to enhance the roles of all four classes: Assault, Recon, Support, and Engineer. However, the open nature of class selection may dilute the uniqueness of each role. While locked weapon playlists do exist, a more rigid class system might offer clearer differentiation between roles.
Graphics and Performance
Although the second open beta is set for August 14, the first beta clearly showcased the game’s impressive visual quality. Battlefield 6 benefits from focusing on PC and current-generation consoles, evident in its detailed environments, lighting effects, and character models. Liberation Peak stands out visually, surrounded by stunning snow-capped mountains.
Battlefield 6 is a graphical powerhouse
Photo Credit: EA/ Screenshot – Manas Mitul
The user interface also appears streamlined and minimalistic during the beta period, in stark contrast to the cluttered menus of recent Call of Duty games. However, the absence of the Server Browser—a staple of previous Battlefield titles—was disappointing. On a positive note, EA has confirmed it will be incorporated into Portal mode, allowing players to design custom maps and experiences.
PC optimization seems solid, yet high graphical settings can lead to performance dips in intense combat scenarios. During play on a system featuring a 13th Gen Intel Core i5, 16GB of RAM, and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, I encountered frame drops on high settings, but switching to medium yielded consistent 60fps performance.
Battlefield 6’s second open beta will add an additional map and three modes
Photo Credit: EA
The open beta has set a record for participation in the Battlefield series, with peaks of 521,079 concurrent players on Steam—a higher count than any Call of Duty title to date. These positive indicators suggest a promising return for Battlefield 6. As the community awaits the second beta phase, featuring an additional map and modes, the full multiplayer experience will only be fully evaluated upon launch.
Ultimately, EA’s thoughtful approach to developing Battlefield 6 may help regain fans’ trust after the disappointments of Battlefield 2042. A successful release could foster healthy competition in the first-person shooter market, challenging Activision’s dominance. Should Battlefield 6 meet its high expectations upon release, it has the potential to become one of the franchise’s most cherished entries.