Battlefield 6’s beta may be doing big numbers, but not everyone is satisfied with the latest entry in the FPS franchise. Some Battlefield veterans have had a laundry list of complaints about the game, from BF6’s Rush mode missing the mark and maps being small to helicopters controlling poorly and the main menu being frustrating to navigate. While not everyone agrees with these issues, or feels that some of the problems have been exaggerated, frustrated players have argued that the problems combine to make Battlefield 6 feel more like Call of Duty than an entry in the Battlefield series. However, there are several reasons this claim is off the mark – though that does not mean BF6 doesn’t resemble other games, as it actually feels a lot like DICE’s Medal of Honor titles.
Why Battlefield 6 and Ground War Feel So Different From One Another
Specifically, frustrated gamers have been parroting the argument that Battlefield 6 is a lot like the Modern Warfare reboot’s Ground War game mode. Featured in Modern Warfare 2019 and its 2022 sequel, Ground War was a mode that was clearly designed as a Battlefield alternative, offering fans of that franchise something to enjoy as they waited patiently for another modern Battlefield game. While this was a clever business strategy, and there was fun to be had in Modern Warfare 2019’s version of Ground War in particular, there are some massive differences between Infinity Ward’s creation and Battlefield Studios’ upcoming release:
- Killstreaks are perhaps the most obvious change, and something Battlefield veterans would undoubtedly disprove of in one of their games.
- Ground War’s maps were all segments of Call of Duty: Warzone’s Verdansk, whereas Battlefield 6 offers maps from diverse theaters of war.
- Ground War matches could end quickly if a team captured and held every flag for a brief time, as the opposing side would be nuked. While memorable, this prevented comebacks and meant fewer tug-of-war battles.
- Ground War offered nothing comparable to Battlefield 6’s impressive destruction, meaning tanks feel significantly weaker and immersion is lacking in comparison.
- Ground War lacks Battlefield 6’s class system, meaning players are helping each other far less and there are few “jobs” to do beyond capturing points and killing.
With all this in mind, it’s puzzling to think of how Battlefield 6 is being compared to Call of Duty. Sure, its movement is faster than some may like, but it’s far weightier than CoD, and there are plenty of shooters with a similarly fast time-to-kill. Additionally, though the maps may be infantry-focused, acting as if they are Call of Duty sized is laughable, as one sector on Breakthrough is the size of an average map from Battlefield’s main competition. Though this comparison may ultimately be off the mark, those who have followed DICE’s work for some time will be able to point to another franchise BF6 more closely resembles: Medal of Honor.
Battlefield 6 Feels Like a Successor to DICE’s Medal of Honor as Much as it Does to BF3/BF4
Though plenty has been said about how Battlefield 6 is meant to evoke feelings players had when playing BF3 and BF4, anyone who played the most recent full-fledged Medal of Honor games may also find themselves feeling nostalgic. While Medal of Honor explored VR in 2020, its last traditional FPS came in the form of 2012’s Medal of Honor: Warfighter, which was a follow-up to 2010’s reboot of the series. At that point in time, Medal of Honor was essentially the middle point between Call of Duty and Battlefield. For those who wanted DICE’s weightier gameplay and a grounded military focus, but smaller maps, less vehicles, and simplified streaks, Medal of Honor was perfect. Its TTK was comparable to Battlefield 6, and it had classes, too, so outside of streaks being present, it was extremely similar.
Medal of Honor’s score chains offered 7 tiers, with players picking between an offensive and defensive option at level. These ranged from UAVs and armor-piercing rounds to the super-powerful cruise missile.
DICE’s Medal of Honor still had some interesting concepts that set it apart, such as the Tier 1 system, which played off the Tier 1 operators from the campaign. Meant to resemble the best of the best, players became Tier 1 when maxing out one of the 3 classes in the game and were rewarded with a different appearance for their soldier. When someone managed to kill a Tier 1 player, they’d gain 5 extra points toward their score chain, rewarding them for taking out an experienced enemy. Though it would be great to see Medal of Honor return, it seems unlikely at the moment, as its last release was 5 years ago – and 13 years ago if not counting the VR game Above and Beyond. With the series essentially dormant, and Battlefield only set to pick up steam as the 2020s progress, it’s nice that Medal of Honor fans have a spiritual successor of sorts to enjoy with BF6.
Battlefield 6
- Released
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October 10, 2025
- 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
