Even with how good Dangerous Firm 2, Battlefield 4 (post-fixing all of the launch points), and Battlefield 1 have been, DICE’s flagship first-person shooter franchise wasn’t precisely on our radar heading into 2025. Blame Battlefield 2042 all you need (and I’ve), even after all of the patches turning it into an pleasing, although not unimaginable, multiplayer expertise. The lengthy hole between releases additionally didn’t assist, particularly when followers have been prepared to maneuver on from the near-future premise.
But, there’s one thing particular about Battlefield 6. Battlefield Studios, made up of Ripple Impact, Criterion, DICE, and Motive, talked so much about how this was the largest Battlefield ever. And with one open beta, it proved {that a} enjoyable Battlefield expertise was nonetheless attainable. Even in early entry, the beta crossed 334,000 peak concurrent gamers on Steam at launch. After it grew to become obtainable on all platforms, it went even additional past, peaking at over 521,000 concurrent gamers on Steam.
Not solely has that surpassed the lifetime peak of the Name of Responsibility app, which gives entry to the newest expertise, nevertheless it’s additionally the largest beta for the Battlefield franchise ever. Once more, that is solely on Steam for the primary weekend. It’s seemingly (however not confirmed) that the participant counts are a lot increased when factoring in consoles. Impulsively, Battlefield is again.
However other than the truth that it’s Battlefield, why a lot enthusiasm for the open beta? Digital Arts and DICE did their fair proportion of hyping up the multiplayer, what with an in depth reveal occasion and whatnot. The truth that many signed up for Battlefield Labs and couldn’t entry additionally it is probably an element, particularly given the sheer turnout when it was first introduced.
I feel it comes all the way down to the truth that Battlefield 6 is providing what followers have wished for a very long time. A return to a extra modern fight expertise with out all method of futuristic devices. No extra Specialists and Lessons proper off the bat. That tense ambiance of being a part of an even bigger battle which rages throughout you, backed by spectacular real-time destruction and stellar sound results. It sounds so shockingly easy that you must marvel how DICE missed the forest for the bushes when it launched 2042.
Nonetheless, even a few of the new additions to the components, as simple as they appear, are fairly cool. Dragging your fallen allies, for instance. The operating joke about Battlefield gamers not resurrecting their teammates nonetheless holds, however with the ability to drag them to security provides to the general realism. Strategically, it’s an enormous game-changer as properly. After downing an enemy, do you push to safe the kill earlier than they disappear round a nook? Do you rush them, risking loss of life from their allies offering cowl?
Alternatively, in case you’re the one doing the dragging, you must contemplate all this and whether or not it’s value risking your pores and skin, particularly when the grenades go flying. However a profitable revival might very properly shock the enemy once they attempt to rush in, that one second of hesitation in the end serving as their undoing.
And whereas I’m not a fan of DICE retaining open weapons, the place each Class can use any weapon kind, their general method is a pleasant compromise. A separate playtest particularly for closed weapons would have been sufficient, and but, further advantages for individuals who keep on with Signature weapons, sure weapon varieties being obtainable to all Lessons alongside their “most popular” choices are simply the cherry on prime.
There are nonetheless many points to iron out forward of launch. Complaints of the present choice feeling too small, time to kill and time to loss of life (particularly when it feels such as you’re typically immediately shredded), the shotgun having insane vary, equipping a Stinger and an RPG in the identical package, the UI as an entire, and the dearth of a server browser. The jury continues to be out, however for the primary time in what looks like a very long time, the beta moniker seemingly suits.
Battlefield international neighborhood supervisor Kevin Johnson already confirmed that the shotgun and Stinger/RPG loadout points have been resolved in a unique construct. Principal sport designer Florian Le Bihan is soliciting footage of “unexpectedly quick TTD” based mostly on suggestions. And whereas the server browser technically falls underneath Portal, it makes use of persistent servers per lead producer David Sirland. He additionally confirmed that matchmaking will observe earlier titles, prioritizing ping whereas ability stays “far down the listing.” If that wasn’t sufficient, complaints about multiplayer modes utilizing AI troopers in the end ended up unfounded – they’re really employed in coaching.
This isn’t to say that Digital Arts received’t mess up the sport in some capability, like monetization. In case you’re not a fan of the seasonal method and battle passes, Battlefield 6 could have each of these. On the intense facet, at the least DICE is dedicated to lifelike cosmetics and never going off the deep finish like Name of Responsibility. At the very least, for now.
There stays the query of the marketing campaign, particularly contemplating all of the reported issues to this point. I’m skeptical about battle royale since Firestorm didn’t take off (and the style as an entire feels chilly as of late exterior of the established titles).
Stories additionally point out that the writer has some unhealthy expectations – 100 million gamers over an unknown interval, allegedly to compete in opposition to Roblox and Fortnite. Even for a beta that’s carried out remarkably properly and units the sport up for a profitable launch, I don’t suppose Battlefield 6 is getting anyplace close to that quantity, particularly with a $70 price ticket. It might nonetheless carry out very properly by Battlefield franchise requirements. Nonetheless, you must marvel if the everyday EA perspective will finally slip in and try to use it as a lot as attainable to justify on a regular basis and sources spent to succeed in this level.
There’s no denying the hype, and even with all these points and potential issues, one can’t deny the beta’s reputation, particularly within the face of Name of Responsibility, which hasn’t had any authentic monetary competitors in years. As with earlier titles – and sure, that features 2042 – I’m hoping that DICE sticks to its dedication of constructing the sport alongside the neighborhood. It definitely received’t get every thing proper, and as soon as the honeymoon interval is over, you possibly can seemingly count on a litany of nigh-unending complaints about each single facet of the sport.
That’s not even contemplating how they should please those that desire a compelling single-player marketing campaign. Or future content material plans and the sport’s post-launch assist. Will we see different traditional mechanics return and, extra importantly, will they be the best ones? Will Battlefield Labs nonetheless be round to probably check new content material (as will probably be occurring with the upcoming battle royale playtests)? One fallacious stability change might unbalance all the neighborhood and switch them in opposition to the workforce, even when it’s the best alternative in the long term.
However, for now, it’s good to be excited for a brand new Battlefield sport, and several other followers, even these elevating the loudest complaints, agree. Its gritty ambiance and lifelike fight, particularly the responsive gunplay, are like nothing else on the market. So far as followers are involved, Battlefield 6 is a triumphant return for the franchise and a stable step ahead. All that’s left now could be to ship on that potential when the complete sport launches on October tenth.
Observe: The views expressed on this article are these of the writer and don’t essentially characterize the views of, and shouldn’t be attributed to, GamingBolt as a corporation.
