EA and DICE have been very careful to stress thatBattlefield 6is going to be a return to form for the series afterBattlefield 2042left the series on an uncertain note. More emphasis has been placed on realism, destruction, and a grounded feel, compared to its predecessor’s commitment to flashy effects and quippy Specialists. While certain ideas are being carried over from that game, such as theBattlefield 6Beta’s open weapons playlist, there does seem to be a real and consistent drive to make this next game reflect where the series once stood over a decade ago.
It can be pretty easy to say that2042was all bad ideas, andBattlefield 6should throw them all away, but that wouldn’t be fair to the good ones it brought to the table. Many pastBattlefieldgames have brought new mechanics with them that didn’t make the cut with their successors, such asBF5’s entrenchment system that let players build anything from sandbag walls to anti-tank guns. But some ideas, while great for that game, might not have a place in the next, and one ofBattlefield 2042’s best features being dropped fromBF6could actually be a really good thing.
Battlefield 6 Won’t Have 2042’s Attachment Switching, and There’s a Good Reason for Why
AmongBattlefield 2042’s many divisive featureswas the ability to switch weapon attachments on the go. Whether switching from a muzzle brake to a suppressor, changing ammo types, or fitting the right scope for the range, there were lots of options available to2042players in the middle of an engagement. And this worked well for2042: the game was fast, with maps that were incredibly large and open, often featuring central features that turned wide-open fields of fire into tight corridor crawls. It made sense in2042to be able to adapt to new situations, as many Specialists themselves could bring all kinds of threatening abilities, and players had to stay on their toes at all times.
BF6looks to be aiming for a very different approach. It seems to be aiming to be slower, more grounded, though just as dangerous. There aren’t going to be nearly so many gadgets that can get a player out of a tough spot, and the more methodical approach to gameplay necessitates thatBattlefield 6feel a bit more realistic. In this vein, it wouldn’t make a lot of sense for players to switch attachments to suit every possible situation.
It would take a lot of the challenge out of encounters, as instead of preparing for a fight with the right gear, there would always be an easy fallback option to switch to. While fun, attachment swapping rarely puts players in disadvantageous situations, and ifBattlefield 6is going to lean on things feeling realisticand gritty again, players need to feel like they have their backs against the wall.
There Are Some Past Features That Battlefield 6 Would Benefit From Adding
Despite everything, it would be a good idea forBF6to include a few old mechanics. Namely,Battlefield’s suppression mechanichas been left in the dust for a while, and it would add a lot to the immersion and realism.BF5innovated on quite a few mechanics, but the one that would fit well inBF6is crouch sprinting, and it was always a shame that2042never ran with it. But most of all, a ping system to replace the easy spotting that has long been a staple of the franchise, which both2042andBF5handled pretty well.
