Battlefield 6 is riding pretty high right now off the back of an incredible reveal trailer, showcasing a long-awaited game that looks to be hitting all the right notes. This is pretty important for the Battlefield franchise, as for many fans, the series has felt like it’s lost its way in the last decade. There were plenty of ups and downs in that time, and it has still remained one of the most popular and enduring FPS games out there. But there is one lingering question now that Battlefield 6 has been unveiled, and the answer to it will be very important, as history could repeat itself in a very unfortunate way.
The problem with Battlefield is that, in the past decade, it has often set wholly unrealistic expectations, and then failed to meet those targets. There is a good reason that many fans of the series have been clamoring for a return to the days of BF3 and 4 – that was when the series had arguably the strongest identity. It was clear what it wanted to be, and that helped it to skyrocket in popularity. While Battlefield 1 was a very successful game, it marked a shift in the series toward more one-off experiments, leaving each game substantially different from the last. If Battlefield 6 is going to recapture the success of the halcyon days that many fans hope it can, it needs to do one crucial thing right.
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July 31 is Going to Be a Big Day for Battlefield 6
Battlefield fans will want to tune into EA’s social media channels on July 31 to learn a lot more about the upcoming Battlefield 6.
Battlefield 6’s Gameplay Needs to Be True to Its Trailer, Unlike Battlefield 2042
Battlefield 6’s open beta will be a trial by fire for this hyped-up game. The trailer has whetted the appetite, but now it needs to show that it can live up to it. This is not without precedent, either, as many Battlefield trailers have misled fans about what the game will be, and that has led to an overwhelming feeling of cautious optimism. Once burned, twice shy.
It’s interesting, then, that the trailer for BF6 has deliberately chosen to portray the game in a more measured light. There weren’t any obvious references to anything, as easy as it would have been to stuff it full of them, and DICE appears to be walking a fine line between a more nostalgic vision and something trying to reclaim its seat at the table of premiere FPS games.
Battlefield 6 Needs to Avoid Comparisons to Battlefield 2042 Like the Plague
In contrast, Battlefield 2042 did the opposite. Its trailer didn’t lie about what the game was, but it certainly obfuscated some of the more controversial elements. It focused on callbacks, big set-pieces, and a huge scale that was utterly bombastic at the time of watching. In hindsight, it should have been clear that there was a certain element of EA trying a little too hard, but as many fans were overjoyed to see a pseudo-modern setting, it slipped by. Once the beta dropped, though, it was clear to see that this “love letter to the fans” was not what many players had expected, with quippy Specialists, underwhelming maps, and a lack of Battlefield’s signature immersion. It did launch incredibly buggy, though, in an accidental callback to the release of Battlefield 4.
It’s too early to pass judgment on Battlefield 6, but it is hard not to be excited. This is the first time in a while that Battlefield has felt true to itself, and that feeling could only have happened because of all the Battlefield 6 leaks. As players are not going in completely blind, it feels like there is a level of trust afforded by the community that otherwise wouldn’t be present. This is ironic in itself, as DICE tried its best to keep leaks to a minimum, but no matter how hard it tried, a lot of the leaks have actually had a positive effect on the game’s reputation. Here’s hoping it all comes together, but if rumors are to be believed, it won’t be long until everyone finds out.
Battlefield 6
- Developer(s)
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Battlefield Studios
- Engine
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Frostbite
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
- Number of Players
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Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
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Unknown
