August 8th 2025.
Battlefield 6 – the war has begun
The long-awaited open beta for Battlefield 6 is finally here, but the question on everyone's mind is: how does it compare to Call Of Duty and can it really become its main competitor? Electronic Arts (EA) is known for playing it safe, but with their recent release of the unexpected game It Takes Two and their bold decision to make Dark Souls the main inspiration for their Star Wars game, it seems they are willing to take more risks. However, it's clear that EA has put all their chips on the success of Battlefield 6, especially with their struggling EA Sports FC franchise.
Despite being released a year before Call Of Duty, Battlefield only gained popularity on consoles with 2008's Battlefield: Bad Company. However, it has always been seen as too hardcore for the mainstream market. After the failure of Battlefield 2042, EA could have easily given up on the franchise for a while. Instead, they have gone all out by involving four of their most talented studios to create Battlefield 6 and have even hinted at a potential rival to Call Of Duty's Warzone.
The stakes are high for EA with this game, as rumors suggest they have set seemingly impossible goals for its success. However, after playing the ongoing open beta, we are feeling more optimistic about its potential. While it's a game that will have its critics, it already seems like a viable alternative to Call Of Duty, which appears to be the main goal.
The game's roots can be traced back to 2013's Battlefield 4, which was a make-or-break moment for the franchise. Unfortunately, it broke. The game suffered from numerous bugs and glitches upon its release, which led to poor sales despite going up against the weaker Call Of Duty: Ghosts. That being said, Battlefield 3 and 4 are the two games that Battlefield 6 feels most similar to in terms of its setting and gameplay, as it tries to merge elements from both Battlefield and Call Of Duty into one game.
The open beta, which began on Thursday, August 7 for early access players, will continue into the weekend and for a few more days later in the month. So far, we have only had a few hours to play the beta, which naturally doesn't have all the features of the final release. But first impressions are very positive, thanks to the stunning graphics and the game's signature destruction effects. EA has already stated that they have taken inspiration from Bad Company's approach, which allowed players to flatten almost the entire map, rather than the more controlled destruction in recent games.
However, despite EA's claims, the destruction in Battlefield 6 is not on the same level as Bad Company. There are still many walls and objects that are indestructible, and it's not always clear which ones can be destroyed and why. Sometimes, you may need bigger weapons to do so, but other times, it may seem impossible to destroy them at all. Still, it's incredibly satisfying to shoot upwards and blow up the ground beneath an enemy team, or to have a wall explode in front of you, forcing you into a desperate firefight with the opposing players.
The sound design in Battlefield 6 is fantastic, and it's a must to play with headphones for the full immersive experience. The soundscape allows you to pinpoint where a firefight is happening, even if you can't see it yet.
One of the main points of contention for this game is going to be the size of the maps. EA seems to be trying to find a compromise between Battlefield's traditionally large maps and the fact that they can be overwhelming for new players. The biggest maps in the game are not available in the beta, but the current ones are slightly on the smaller side for the Conquest game mode, although not to the point of ruining the experience.
The main problem preventing Battlefield from becoming truly mainstream is that for new players, the average match involves wandering around aimlessly, never seeing anyone else, and then getting shot from a mile away by a sniper they never knew was there. This experience is especially frustrating when all the tanks and jets are already taken. It's hard to tell from the beta to what extent this issue has been addressed, as everyone is still learning the game. However, this will likely be a major point of contention once the game is fully released and the skill level of players increases.
One thing we can say is that we have never been particularly skilled at Battlefield, but in the beta, we never felt outclassed by other players. There is plenty of cover on most maps, and there always seems to be other players around. However, we do have concerns about the gunplay. While it was never going to be as smooth as Call Of Duty, there seems to be a lack of auto-aim when using a controller. It may be possible to adjust this in the game's settings, but the default settings may be off-putting for new players, whether or not they are familiar with the Battlefield series. Additionally, the time to kill (the amount of time it takes to kill another player) for most players is exceptionally quick, with one-shot kills being common.
The pace of the action in Battlefield 6 is faster compared to previous games in the series. While many players have complained about the "COD-ification" of Battlefield, this game seems to strike a sensible balance between various factors. However, it's impossible to please everyone, and there will inevitably be heated debates online about the game's direction. For now, as everything is still new and exciting, Battlefield 6 is simply a fun and enjoyable game. It feels familiar, yet it takes full advantage of modern hardware, making it a major step forward for the franchise and the genre. If you get the chance to play it this weekend or later this month, we think you'll really enjoy it. However, how players will feel about it in the weeks after its release is still uncertain.
Battlefield 6 will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC for £69.99. The game is set to be released on October 10, 2025, and is rated for players ages 16 and up. The graphics are top-notch, and we expect players won't have any complaints in that department. If you have any thoughts or opinions on Battlefield 6, we'd love to hear them. Leave a comment below or follow us on Twitter. You can also email us or use our Submit Stuff page if you have any letters or features to share.
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