Much of what Battlefield 6 has in store for players has yet to be revealed, but it's at least known it will be a live service title. While that term can be divisive, Battlefield 6 opting for a live service approach could work if DICE has learned from past mistakes. Battlefield has served as a strong competitor against Call of Duty, and if the franchise wants to continue this rivalry, jumping on a trendy party game's bandwagon could be the key to live service success.
The Battlefield franchise has been in a bit of a slump as of late. Battlefield 2042 tried to put a new spin on the series, but its rocky launch prevented it from becoming something great. Now that EA and DICE's sights are set on the future, looking to the success of other live service titles could be essential. While Battlefield boasts of its realism, the next game can still embrace this path, but more options may need to become available to keep players engaged, like Prop Hunt.
Battlefield Adding Party Games Like Prop Hunt Could Help Achieve Its Live Service Goals
Prop Hunt is a party mode that has been around for over a decade now, but it continues to pop up in popular multiplayer games. Most recently, Prop Hunt in Black Ops 6 added some fun diversity to the game's many offered modes. Black Ops 6 still features classic options like Domination and Team Deathmatch, but Prop Hunt brings a fun, casual option to the table that continues to resonate with many gamers.
The objective of Prop Hunt is a simple hide-and-seek formula. Some players will play as "props" that have to hide and blend in with their surroundings while "hunters" search for the hidden players.
Balancing Both Realism and Party-Focused Games
Battlefield's reputation as a more realistic take on the first-person shooter genre would likely make the addition of such a mode quite divisive. However, a harder lean into live service territory may make options like Prop Hunt necessary. Of course, there will always be die-hard players who prefer to spend hours in Battlefield's classic modes, but there are plenty of players who will also need consistent updates that bring games like Prop Hunt into the mix.
Now that EA and DICE's sights are set on the future, looking to the success of other live service titles could be essential.
The Call of Duty franchise has taken inspiration from live service titles like Fortnite in order to keep its entries lasting for as long as possible. From Prop Hunt to limited-time skins, Call of Duty's embrace of some of these features has kept it one step ahead of Battlefield in recent years. Of course, Call of Duty's pivot from its more realistic beginnings has been controversial at times, but it still keeps a lot of players returning to get a taste of fresh content. The next Battlefield likely won't feature skins that are as outlandish as Call of Duty's, but featuring its strong base modes while also including Prop Hunt-like game options could strike a solid balance that could ensure more consistent players.
Developed in 2012, Prop Hunt was originally made for Counter Strike: Source and then ported to Garry's Mod, where it became popular.
Battlefield 6 Can Still Make Room For Non-Realistic Gameplay
It's important to note that Battlefield's strength is found in its realism. However, that doesn't mean there still can't be room for some more outlandish elements. Disguising players as props and being hunted down, of course, isn't a realistic scenario, but it's proven to be a hit with most of the games that have included it. The future of Battlefield is in a tough situation, and failing to deliver on live service goals could have serious consequences.
While live service models can be controversial, games like Helldivers 2 have shown that this approach can be beneficial if handled correctly. Battlefield 6's live service ambitions may be risky to try again, but it could also be just what the franchise needs.
Battlefield 2042
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 65 /100 Critics Rec: 32%
- Released
- November 19, 2021
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- DICE, Criterion Games, Ripple Effect
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
WHERE TO PLAY
Battlefield 2042 is a first-person shooter that marks the return to the iconic all-out warfare of the franchise. With the help of a cutting-edge arsenal, engage in intense, immersive multiplayer battles.
Lead your team to victory in both large all-out warfare and close-quarters combat on maps from the world of 2042 and classic Battlefield titles. Find your playstyle in class-based gameplay and take on several experiences comprising elevated versions of Conquest and Breakthrough. Explore Battlefield Portal, a platform where players can discover, create, and share unexpected battles from Battlefield's past and present.
This game includes optional in-game purchases of virtual currency that can be used to acquire virtual in-game items.
- Engine
- Frostbite
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC, PS5 & Xbox Series X|S and PS4 & Xbox One
- Franchise
- Battlefield
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter
- How Long To Beat
- N/A
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 84 GB (June 2023)
- OpenCritic Rating
- Weak
