Battlefield 6 Multiplayer Hands-On Preview: Class Identity, Teamplay, Awesome Maps, and a Limp Bizkit Mentality

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It’s crucial for Battlefield 6 to be a major success, and it appears Electronic Arts recognizes this. The establishment of Battlefield Labs prior to release might help break the launch spell that has plagued previous Battlefields. Moreover, the creation of Battlefield Studios, which brings developers from DICE, Ripple Effect Studios, Criterion Games, and Motive Studio under one roof, demonstrates the significant resources being allocated to this specific game. Already, it seems that the confidence and investment in Battlefield 6 are proving to be fruitful.

Ever since a developer hinted at it at the Battlefield 6 multiplayer event in Los Angeles, California, I’ve been thinking about how Battlefield 6 could be the next evolution of games like Battlefield 3 and Battlefield 4. At this event, players worldwide got their initial look at Battlefield 6’s multiplayer action, while media and content creators had a chance to dive into the game themselves. Game Rant spent about four hours playing Battlefield 6, and it seems clear that it has all the essential foundations for an outstanding Battlefield experience. The gameplay I experienced will be accessible during Battlefield 6’s open beta periods, which are open to everyone without any specific requirements.

Throughout our gaming session, we managed to engage in several game modes of Battlefield 6 across these maps:

In the course of playing Battlefield 6, we tried out various game modes on these specific maps:

Or simply:

While we were playing Battlefield 6, we experimented with different game modes on these particular maps.

  • Liberation Peak: Conquest, Breakthrough, Domination
  • Siege of Cairo: Conquest, Team Deathmatch, Breakthrough
  • Empire State: Team Deathmatch
  • Iberian Offensive: Team Deathmatch, Domination

Battlefield 6’s Maps Lend Themselves to Incredible Plays

It’s a clever move to create “battle areas” from Battlefield 6’s maps, as this makes each map feel cohesive and well-suited for every game mode. Plus, there’s enough diversity among these battle areas to keep them feeling unique. I tried out four of the total nine maps at launch, which resulted in various battle areas corresponding to each game mode. Not only will the upcoming open beta offer more content than any Battlefield beta has before, but the variety at launch is just right – not too much or too little. Having too many maps might result in diminishing returns, while having too few could make map design less appealing. However, there seems to be an ideal number of maps and battle areas that are distinctively designed to maintain high-quality visuals throughout.

Among the games I’ve experienced so far, Siege of Cairo has quickly become one of my top picks. Whether it was the intense street fights, skirmishes under bridges, tank wars, or maneuvering through buildings, it truly captured the “full-scale war” experience that I personally find most appealing. It gave me the sensation of being in a real battlefield, and while other maps might share this quality, each has its unique atmosphere. For instance, Empire State had a more contemporary urban warfare feel (while Siege of Cairo felt more like classic all-out warfare, if you get what I mean). My experience was limited to Team Deathmatch in Empire State, but even then, the perfect combination of game mode and combat zone is evident.

Certainly, destruction in Battlefield 6 stands out as remarkable, deviating from the marketing tactics used in previous descriptions. Unlike certain past Battlefield games, it avoids trivializing destruction as a mere gimmick. Instead, the destruction is authentic and impactful, making each explosion significant. I’ve often found myself collapsing buildings onto opponents who, in retaliation, did the same to me. Leaping from windows into combat rolls provides an exhilarating adrenaline rush. The knowledge that no cover lasts forever encourages players to keep moving and engaging. Battlefield 6’s gameplay in the heat of the moment is slightly quicker than some earlier versions, but it skillfully leverages this speed to its advantage.

Battlefield 6’s Gameplay Feels Confident

In Battlefield 6, the time it takes to eliminate an opponent (TTK) is exceptionally fast. I speculate that the battle royale mode will make this faster pace somewhat slower, but the swift gameplay overall still includes a quick TTK. The game offers numerous movement options, and while it’s not quite like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’s omnidirectional movement, there are no significant constraints either. Apart from something unusual like wall-running, all desired types of movement players could think of are available in the game. Despite the speed, it maintains a balance between tactics and reactions without compromising them.

As a gamer immersed in Battlefield 6, every second is packed with strategic decisions. Approaching a building, capturing a zone, assessing the angles of surrounding structures, evaluating the cover available, and utilizing the abilities unique to this game – it’s all happening right now. It’s crucial to think fast but not rush headlong into action. Running and gunning might work in some situations, but beware, as such recklessness will quickly earn you a harsh lesson. Instead, carefully consider your options and respond swiftly when unexpected events like a stray bullet or collapsing building occur. Mastering these tactics is the key to thriving in Battlefield 6.

Battlefield 6’s Classes Are Right on the Money

In those instances, certainly, the importance of classes becomes evident. Battlefield 2042‘s specialists didn’t quite hit the target, as it seemed like attempting to mend something that wasn’t broken, missing the teamplay and class identity of its previous versions. Contrastingly, in Battlefield 6, classes have made a triumphant return, each with a distinct personality. The Assault class is equipped to carry more weapons than the others and gains abilities capable of altering the course of battle, such as an additional adrenaline boost. The support class provides the best defensive and healing options in Battlefield 6, while Engineers play a crucial role in countering and defending vehicles, and Recon embodies the sniper fantasy completely. The extra intel from the Recon can be a game-changer; however, the one immediate criticism that comes to mind is the excessive brightness of the Sniper’s scope.

Teamwork plays a crucial role. Every class should fulfill its responsibilities, and effective communication can either make or break the game. I’ve often found myself lying there, waiting for a Support class to revive me. In intense battles or when they were securing an area, their inaction made sense, but there were moments when they were just idling while I was left behind. This is a testament to how well the classes in Battlefield 6 understand the importance of teamwork (since we had no means of communication). However, beyond that, Engineers should focus on machinery and repairs, Assault on firefights, and Recon on gathering intel. The unique roles of each class are thriving in Battlefield 6.

After spending four hours on Battlefield 6, I must confess that it’s been a long time since a first-person shooter has provided me such an enjoyable experience, at least this year. For me, Battlefield 6 needs to deliver its campaign, enhance its Portal feature, and excel in its battle royale mode, all while successfully debuting on October 10th. The multiplayer aspect already appears solid, but Battlefield’s launches have historically been a bit of a challenge. However, with the collaboration between Battlefield Labs and Battlefield Studios, it seems that this time we might be witnessing a successful launch. Battlefield 6 isn’t behind in any way, and at the very least, it’s stepping onto the battlefield fully prepared, geared up, and ready to cause some destruction.

The much-anticipated release of Battlefield 6 is set for October 10th, available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X. Our team at Game Rant had the opportunity to preview it, thanks to travel and accommodation provided for this purpose.

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2025-08-02 19:07