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. Each has unique traits, but it doesn’t dictate the weapons you can use; you’re free to customize loadouts to fit your playstyle. I enjoy the freedom at work here, but you’ll still want to play to your class strengths. The support classes provide the team with extra ammo and health drops, while the Recon classes spot targets and deploy motion sensors to detect enemies as they flank. Each class is different enough that you’ll soon develop preferences based on your playstyle.
(Credit: Electronic Arts/PCMag)
A wide range of weaponry is on display, including assault rifles, SMGs, shotguns, and light machine guns. Each gun has realistic recoil (or as realistic as I can tell), and they all feel satisfying to shoot. You’re free to take them to the in-game fire range to better understand how each gun works and adjust certain parts, such as the barrel or sight, to improve hipfire, precision, control, and mobility.
The new Kinesthetic Combat System introduces small but meaningful updates to movement. When crouched against an object, you automatically snap to the corner to peek out and shoot your gun, or mount it to decrease recoil. When allies drop in battle, the Kinesthetic Combat System lets you pull the soldiers from the line of fire to safely revive them. This makes the gunplay and other actions feel natural while providing realistic weight to movements.
The movement changes quickly became second nature—I had to learn quickly to keep up with PC players (Battlefield 6 supports crossplay and cross-progression between consoles). The matchmaking system tries to fill your lobby with people on the same platform before expanding to include others, which is a nice touch if you’re a console player who doesn’t want to deal with PC players using super-accurate mouse-and-keyboard controls.
These major and minor changes differentiate Battlefield 6 from Call of Duty despite the games sharing many attributes. Many weapon challenges, skins, and gun customization options are also unlockable in-game. A Battle Pass with free and premium items is set to launch alongside Battlefield 6.
(Credit: Electronic Arts/PCMag)
What really impresses me is the wealth of multiplayer modes. Battlefield is known for its large-scale, multiplayer matches, known as All-Out Warfare. Then there’s Conquest, a mode where two teams fight to control objectives on the map. It’s classic Battlefield, complete with tanks, choppers, and jets. In Breakthrough, the map is divided into sectors: The attacking team pushes the frontline, while the defenders try to hold the lines. Rush mode tasks the attackers with setting explosives at strategic points, and the defenders must keep them at bay. Escalation sees teams fighting to capture key points and expand their territory.
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Additionally, you’ll find a wide range of small and medium-scale battles, as well as traditional multiplayer modes such as Team Deathmatch and King of the Hill. And for the purist, most modes have Closed Weapon variants, which restrict what weapons can be used by your soldier’s class.
(Credit: Electronic Arts/PCMag)
The Battlefield Portal returns, too, which is essentially Battlefield 6’s version of Halo’s Forge mode. With it, you can manipulate rules, introduce mutators, and adjust the AI scripting and Spatial Editing to change the map geography. Although I didn’t use the Portal tools myself, I sampled the fruits of the player base’s labor. These custom game types are part of the “Community Experiences” and offer more fun and creative ways to play.
