As Someone With Thousands of Hours Playing Battlefield, Here’s How I Think BF6 Can Get Back on Track

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The Battlefield series has always been incredibly important to me as a gamer. I remember being really proud of reaching the rank of Colonel in Battlefield 3, and collecting trophies in the series is what first got me into chasing achievements. Battlefield 3 is right up there with Overwatch and the original Black Ops as one of my all-time favorite multiplayer games. I’ve also had a lot of fun with Battlefield 4, Battlefield 1, and Battlefield: Hardline. While I’m still enjoying Battlefield 6, it’s clear that the game hasn’t maintained the initial excitement it had at launch.

It’s normal for multiplayer games to lose players over time, but the recent drop in Battlefield 6‘s player count has been especially significant, and everyone has different ideas about why it’s happening. As a longtime Battlefield player, I believe the game can definitely turn things around. Compared to the rocky launch of Battlefield 2042, which needed months of fixes, or the network issues that plagued Battlefield 4, the problems with Battlefield 6 seem much easier to resolve. It remains to be seen if the developers at BF Studios will address these issues, but a clear path to improvement exists.

Step 1: Maps Remain Too Much of a Talking Point to Ignore

It’s easy to get the impression that Battlefield 6 is failing if you follow the main subreddit. However, a lot of the criticism feels exaggerated. For example, some players complain about movement techniques that have always been a part of Battlefield games, and others constantly criticize the cosmetic options, even though the current skins are fairly uninspired. That being said, not all the complaints are unfounded – the game definitely needs to improve its maps.

One of the maps in development is a naval map, which the developers have confirmed will be released in a future season of Battlefield. Since the game already includes boats, ships, and amphibious vehicles, adding this map feels like a natural fit. I also think map size needs attention. While it’s silly to suggest Battlefield 6 is only trying to appeal to Call of Duty players—people said the same thing about Battlefield 3—the game really needs more large maps. Too many maps are small and focused on constant, close-quarters combat, which gets old quickly. I enjoyed maps like Operation Metro and Locker, but I also loved the strategic possibilities of larger maps where you could plan flanking routes and find good sniping spots. The game needs more variety in map size, and this is an area that needs to be improved soon.

Battlefield’s Classic Maps Could Reignite Interest

Image via EA

With the new Operation Metro, it’s a good time for Battlefield 6 to revisit what made the series so popular: fantastic maps. I don’t want constant remasters like we see in Call of Duty – even I’m tired of the same maps – but a mix of two new maps for every one classic map in future seasons would be perfect. If longtime Battlefield fans aren’t enjoying the new maps, why not give them a beloved map from the past each season? That way, everyone has something to play. I’m excited about the possibility of playing on Propaganda again, but there are so many other great maps from Battlefield’s history that deserve to be brought back. I’d love to experience the thrill of parachuting off Damavand Peak or driving a tank across the Caspian Border plains once more. And please, bring back Strike at Karkand and Wake Island – it’s been far too long!

For Battlefield 6 Season 2, I’d love to see a mix of maps: a revamped classic large map, a brand new large map focused on naval combat, and a map that keeps the fast-paced, chaotic style some players really enjoy. This approach would improve map variety without abandoning the more intense gameplay that a vocal part of the community wants, which could happen if the developers only respond to the most prominent feedback.

Step 2: Fix Battlefield 6’s Glaring Cosmetic Problem

Battlefield Studios is facing a lot of scrutiny over its cosmetic designs. They previously criticized other games, like Call of Duty, for outlandish collaborations and promised more realistic options. Now, players are holding them to that standard. A recent skin caused significant backlash – it was initially too brightly colored and had a distracting pattern, leading to it being quickly redesigned and re-released. While the core designs in the Battle Pass are generally simple and military-focused, some players still complained about a weapon skin being too golden and similar to Call of Duty. To be honest, the cosmetics in Battlefield 6 are just pretty dull, and I suspect many players feel the same way.

I usually check in-game shops for new items in games like Marvel Rivals, Overwatch 2, and even Black Ops 7, but I don’t bother with that in Battlefield 6. Even though I bought the premium version of Battlefield 6 early, I don’t even want to finish the first season’s battle pass because none of the rewards are appealing. I’ve stopped progressing on three out of the four reward tracks and have lost all motivation to unlock everything, which is unusual for me – I always finish battle passes in other games. This is a big issue that needs to be addressed. Battlefield 6 needs more exciting skins and cosmetics to give players something to work towards and justify the game’s ongoing live service model.

I’m not suggesting overly flashy outfits that would alienate hardcore Battlefield fans. However, there’s a lot of potential to improve the game’s cosmetic options. For example, why not release a Battle Pass and in-game store items themed around Battlefield Vietnam? Or bring back popular looks from Battlefield 3 and 4 – I especially miss the BF3 Recon class! Players proved they’re interested in classic styles by grinding for the Engineer look in Battlefield 2042. A Bad Company-themed Battle Pass or a season of Battlefield 1-inspired bundles would also be great. Giving each season a clear theme, instead of just random items like in Season 1, would make the cosmetics more appealing. Even simple things like an all-black skin, or the battle-damaged models from the BF3 Endgame expansion, were highly sought after. Basic skins can be popular – the community loved fan-made concepts of soldiers in jeans – but so far, the available cosmetics haven’t been exciting enough to grab our attention.

The battle passes in Battlefield 6 could be improved with some changes to how players progress. While making the passes permanently available would be a good move for public relations, the most important improvement would be to simplify the system. If players can’t keep trying for new challenges, the game developers should remove challenges altogether and just award experience points for playing.

Step 3: Little Changes Can Make a Big Difference

To keep players engaged, the next Battlefield game needs more than just cosmetic items. Past Battlefield titles were known for hidden secrets and challenges – things like the Phantom Program or the Megalodon in Paracel Storm were incredibly memorable. Bringing back these kinds of collaborative side quests, with rewarding prizes, would be fantastic. The developers have shown they enjoy adding playful references and achievements, and extending that creativity into the gameplay itself would be great. Remember the viral moment in Battlefield 5 when players faced off against Pterodactyls in the sky? Battlefield 6 could really benefit from creating similar, shareable experiences to attract players.

It would be great to see more engaging events that fit the spirit of Battlefield. An event based on the popular Battlefield Friends web series, especially with a new episode out, would be fantastic. While I didn’t bother with the recent icepick weapon, I’d definitely play a lot to unlock a Bipod Knife! Things like a special “Colonel 100” player title or a voice pack featuring characters from the show (just for the player, to avoid complaints about breaking immersion) could really add to the fun. EA could also boost player engagement by doing similar events with other franchises like Mass Effect, Dead Space, or even the underrated Titanfall series. Right now, events often feature rewards I don’t care about, so I usually skip them, but that could easily change with more creative and appealing content.

Finally, the next Battlefield game could benefit from a touch of nostalgia. While a weapon leveling system might work the same as the old Service Stars, many long-time fans fondly remember how those stars looked and associate them with the series’ most popular eras. There’s a constant demand to bring them back – and I agree! Reintroducing features like Service Stars, along with on-screen ribbons that highlight player contributions, would be relatively small changes that could significantly improve the overall experience. Though they might seem less important than new maps or game modes, these details would make each moment of gameplay more rewarding and enjoyable.

…and One Other Big Addition Wouldn’t Hurt

Image via EA

While I appreciate BF Studios trying new things, I think they should prioritize bringing back Operations mode from Battlefield 1 and 5. The idea of linked maps within a single setting—like the ‘Theaters of War’ concept—would work really well in Battlefield 6. Longer matches with changing objectives and environments feel true to the spirit of Battlefield, and imagining a battle that moves from the Manhattan Bridge to the Empire State Building, and then to another location, would create a more immersive war experience. Plus, if Battlefield 6 includes even larger maps alongside the existing ones, Operations mode would offer even more variety.

Battlefield 6 Can and Should Recover, But Fans Have to Give It a Chance to Do So

Although Battlefront Studios can make improvements, players can also help by focusing on what they enjoy about the game instead of constantly repeating the same complaints.

The 3-Step plan doesn’t mention Battlefield RedSec, and that was deliberate. The game, Battlefield’s second attempt at a battle royale, didn’t really make a splash, and the negative reaction from the community certainly didn’t help. While it launched into a crowded market and didn’t offer enough unique features beyond its storms to keep players engaged, fans of the main Battlefield series quickly dismissed it, fearing it would become too similar to Warzone. Whether RedSec improves or fails completely is almost irrelevant, as it’s being developed by a separate team – something players might have thought about before criticizing it so harshly simply for existing.

While the launch of RedSec wasn’t flawless – the challenges in its battle pass felt like a forced attempt to attract players – it still offers a valuable lesson for the Battlefield community. Battlefield fans can be very critical, whether it’s about the server browser not working exactly like older versions or making unreasonable complaints. It’s rare to see positive feedback about what BF6 does well, as players tend to focus on the same issues. If this continues, the developers might start ignoring player feedback altogether, and we’ll lose the helpful insights that get buried under all the negativity.

Image via EA

Games like No Man’s Sky, Final Fantasy 14, and Fallout 76 all turned things around, but they had dedicated fans who really wanted them to succeed. Right now, it often feels like Battlefield fans are hoping the next Battlefield game, BF6, will fail, and that’s a recipe for disaster. If BF6 is going to make a comeback, the developers need to work hard – bringing back beloved maps and game modes, creating new content that people enjoy, offering better in-game events and customization options, and responding to player requests for quality-of-life improvements. But even if the developers make these changes, players need to acknowledge and appreciate them. Constant complaining about things like playlists or the battle royale mode will only hurt the game. If I were new to the series and saw all the negativity surrounding BF6 in 2026, I’d probably assume it’s a bad game, which isn’t true. So, while the developers have a responsibility to improve things, the community can also help by focusing on the fun aspects of the game and avoiding repetitive criticism. If both of those things happen – the developers making improvements and the community being more positive – then BF6 has a good chance of being successful for years to come.

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2026-01-10 05:36