In Hindsight, I’m Glad Battlefield 6 Left BF4’s Coolest Feature Behind

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Since the Battlefield series kicked off as far back as 2002 with BF 1942, it’s not surprising that it has seen its fair share of creative developments over the years. Some of these changes have been story-focused, such as the war vignettes in BF1 and BF5, or DICE’s attempt at humorous characters in the Bad Company spin-off series. Other times, they’ve experimented with unique settings for the franchise, ranging from futuristic landscapes to the less-explored time period of World War 1. Their attempts at gameplay innovations have had mixed results; for instance, the specialists in 2042 didn’t resonate well, while Commander Mode remains a favorite among players. The Levolution system in Battlefield 4 is generally well-received by gamers, but it seems like Battlefield 6 is steering clear of this feature.

In simpler terms, I genuinely enjoyed the destructive features in Battlefield 4 and wouldn’t mind if they returned in Battlefield 6 later on. The moment I first played the Siege of Shanghai beta at home from high school and witnessed the skyscraper collapsing was truly awe-inspiring for me, as I had never experienced anything like it in a multiplayer game before. Similarly, Paracel Storm’s ship crash left a lasting impression because the map felt dramatically different once the carrier sank a large portion of the island. As a teenager during the time of Battlefield 4, it’s easy to fondly remember all the good aspects of this feature, but upon closer inspection, I believe the developers made the right choice by focusing their efforts elsewhere instead.

Battlefield 4’s Levolution Was Extremely Hit or Miss

The impressive showcase of Levolution was arguably the most appealing aspect of the game, serving as an effective marketing tool to maintain the enthusiasm of fans of Battlefield 3 towards its sequel. Nonetheless, it’s important to acknowledge that Levolution was essentially a marketing gimmick. While there were successful implementations such as Flood Zone’s collapsible levee that flooded the map, compelling players to battle on rooftops and transitioning land vehicles into boats, there were also less impactful modifications like certain areas undergoing minor changes.

  • The aforementioned Siege of Shanghai skyscraper. While bringing it down certainly looked cool and made for an “Only in Battlefield” moment, the map played significantly worse without its central landmark, as the middle of the playspace essentially became a large and empty pool of water. The dust-covered version of this arena was also far uglier.
  • While one would assume that destroying the titular Lancang Dam would be a huge moment, I remember being let down upon doing so. Sure, the rocks moving across the area and squishing enemies was a fun sight, but the map was hardly altered outside some rubble on the bridge and a few darker buildings.
  • Rogue Transmission’s Levolution, if it could even be called that, saw players dropping an electrical receiver through a large radar dish after destroying a series of cables. The dent in the dish is negligible, though, and it’s hard to justify the work required for this particular Levolution.

In simpler terms, Levolution, a unique feature in Battlefield 4, was only present on fewer than half of the game’s maps once its additional content stopped being released, and even when it was present, only half were worth activating. While I appreciate that DICE tried out this concept to give Battlefield 4 its own character, there were issues where Levolutions couldn’t be triggered on certain maps like Hainan Resort and Siege of Shanghai. Although the idea of alternate map versions is great in theory, in practice, a well-designed map’s structure can be compromised when it undergoes transformation. This issue occurred on several Battlefield 4 maps, which is why I’m glad that Battlefield 6 has chosen to focus on different game mechanics instead.

According to the tests conducted in the vast maps of Battlefield 6’s Labs, there are still some minor alterations, or what I’d call “mini-Levolutions,” taking place. For instance, a crane on Mirak Valley that can be destroyed blocks movement between two buildings. This could be an appealing balance where fans who enjoy both simplified destruction and Levolution elements find satisfaction.

Battlefield 6 Skipping Levolution May Have Given It The Freedom to Check Other Boxes

As a gamer diving into the world of Battlefield 6, the 40 hours spent in its beta were a testament to its potential. The new drag-and-revive mechanic adds an unprecedented layer of immersion, and the upcoming sledgehammers and ladders appear set to shake up gameplay dynamics significantly. The destruction integrated into the game is both useful and respectful to the original map identities, striking a perfect balance. Even minor features like the landing roll are impressive, and I wouldn’t be shocked if this freedom from over-reliance on gimmicky destruction allowed for such refined details to flourish. Although Levolution was popular in 2013 and holds a special place in my gaming memories, I believe that Battlefield Studios’ current approach is the way forward, as the charm of Levolution may have waned quickly over time.

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2025-09-05 23:37