The anticipation for the next Battlefield installment is building up, with the game officially in the works. However, specifics about its gameplay, setting, and narrative remain largely under wraps. It’s common for projects of this magnitude—especially with at least four different studios involved—to have information leaks during development, and Battlefield 6 has been no exception to this trend over recent months.
Tom Henderson from Insider Gaming has been a consistent source of leaks regarding Battlefield 6, providing an intriguing peek into the development process. His latest update, shared on November 19, mentions that the game is going through the most extensive playtesting phases seen in the franchise’s history. This includes various small feedback and large-scale sessions conducted frequently. Initially, this might seem excessive, but it’s a necessary step for the Battlefield series to regain its former glory.
Reflecting on the past, the Battlefield series has had its share of troublesome launches. Take Battlefield 4, for instance—released in October 2013—it was riddled with technical woes from server issues leading to mid-game disconnections to severe netcode glitches and progression-breaking bugs. The issues were so critical that EA and DICE had to halt all planned updates and expansions to focus solely on resolving these problems. Despite EA CEO Andrew Wilson’s assurance in June 2014 that such a problematic launch wouldn’t recur, the release of Battlefield V in 2018 faced similar hurdles.
Long matchmaking queues, progression tracking hiccups, and numerous UI and menu issues marred Battlefield V’s already contentious debut. Battlefield 2042 also faced its own set of challenges, leaving the fanbase increasingly disillusioned with the franchise.
Given this context, more playtests for Battlefield 6 seem like a wise move. This rigorous testing phase before the official release should enable developers to identify and fix potential issues long before players experience the game, aiming for a seamless launch. In today’s gaming landscape, where server stability can make or break a game’s reception, Battlefield 6 cannot afford another rocky start.
The playtests align with Battlefield 6’s player-centric approach. In a September interview with Kat Bailey from IGN, Vince Zampella, Head of Respawn and Group GM for EA Studios, spoke about their intent to give fans what they truly desire. Zampella emphasized drawing inspiration from popular past entries like Battlefield 3 and 4, highlighting the team’s commitment to resonating with the fanbase’s expectations.
These playtests are poised to assist developers in achieving this goal, ensuring that the gameplay aligns with what fans have come to love about the Battlefield series.
Battlefield 2042, an action-packed first-person shooter, stands as a testament to the series’ iconic all-out warfare theme. Engaging with a modern arsenal, players dive into intense multiplayer combat, experiencing both expansive warfare and tight-knit battles across 2042 landscapes and revisiting classic Battlefield settings. The game also introduces Battlefield Portal, a creative platform allowing for the design and sharing of unexpected battles using elements from past and present titles.
The game includes optional in-game purchases of virtual currency, which players can use to acquire various virtual in-game items. Released on November 19, 2021, by Electronic Arts, Battlefield 2042 supports online multiplayer, running on the Frostbite engine, and is rated M for Mature due to elements like blood, strong language, and violence. Cross-platform play is available for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and even PS4 and Xbox One, making it accessible to a broad audience. The game’s size is a substantial 84 GB on Xbox Series as of June 2023.
