Battlefield 6 reinvigorates the long-running series with chaotic and dynamic multiplayer gunplay that’s sure to satisfy new and returning fans.
In a world of Apex Legends, Overwatch, and annual Call of Duty releases, it’s easy to forget Battlefield’s contributions to the multiplayer shooter genre. Still, Battlefield 6 ($69.99, reviewed on PlayStation 5 Pro but also available on PC and Xbox) is a fantastic reminder that the oldest dog in the race still has legs. The military shooter series specializes in destruction and scale, and Battlefield 6 delivers in spades. Both small-scale incursions and large-scale conflicts unfold with dynamic realism, as buildings collapse, barricades shatter, and maps morph in real-time. Battlefield 6’s single-player campaign isn’t quite as exciting as its online skirmishes, but it shines enough as a multiplayer game to earn our Editors’ Choice award.Battlefield 6 vs. Battlefield 2042: War Has Changed
It’s been a long time since I loaded up a military shooter. In fact, before the Battlefield 6 beta, the last one I played was 2021’s Battlefield 2042, which didn’t launch in the best shape. It was plagued by bugs, server issues, broken movement, and a tedious progression system, among other problems. Although updates over the years addressed several of those pain points, many players were ultimately disappointed by the final product. That’s something the developers were keen to avoid repeating here.
Battlefield 6 is more of a spiritual successor to older Battlefield titles than a direct sequel to Battlefield 2042. Although it lacks free-form, map-leveling destruction, Battlefield 6 has what the devs call «Tactical Destruction.»
In some ways, it’s like a set of scripted set pieces. Not everything is destructible; instead, only certain elements collapse. For example, a building’s framework will stand no matter what hits it, but you can destroy the walls and floors.
What’s so thrilling about this is that the destruction remains consistent across matches. You can leverage the carnage to your advantage, reshaping the map and learning how it changes the combat flow. This encourages fast-paced matches that force you to stay on the move; you can’t sit in one place for too long because your cover can be blown away. Gears of War and other cover-based shooters employ similar systems, but Battlefield dials the chaos up to 11. Not only does your cover get destroyed, but the walls, floor, and ceilings around you come crumbling down, too.
Strategic destruction aside, watching the spectacle unfold before you is highly satisfying. On one map, I shot a grenade launcher into a building’s window, completely destroying the tower’s corner. On another map, a giant crane collapsed in the center of the warzone, sending a wave of dust and debris across the screen, and other players scrambling for their lives. Coupled with incredible sound design, Battlefield 6’s combat comes to life in a way that most multiplayer shooters don’t. Gameplay: Classes and New Movement Abilities
Like previous series entries, Battlefield 6 features a class-based system that lets you play as a soldier with either the Assault, Engineer, Recon, or Support skill sets. Although there’s no roll queue ala Overwatch, Battlefield 6 encourages you to pick a class best suited for the situation.
