All hands are on deck for the next Battlefield entry. Last year, EA confirmed that at least three studios are working on Battlefield 6, with DICE leading development on its multiplayer portion, EA Motive handling its singleplayer component, and Criterion assisting with both. EA is clearly giving the next Battlefield everything it's got, and after a disappointing last entry, that's reassuring to see.
Along with a multi-developer model, EA has also confirmed that the next Battlefield is taking a back-to-basics approach, striving to reach the heights of past entries like Battlefield 3 and 4. While that's certainly the right way to bring fans back on board, the next Battlefield shouldn't be afraid to add new features if it would genuinely benefit the game. For instance, there's one particularly helpful feature that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has just introduced that Battlefield 6 might want to borrow.
Battlefield 6 Should Take a 'Less is More Approach' with Guns
While Battlefield 2042 might have gotten too big for its britches, DICE could benefit from toning the next game down in some areas.
Battlefield Should Borrow a New Call of Duty Zombies Feature
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies' Tutorial is Brief But Effective
In the decade and a half since its introduction, Call of Duty's Zombies mode has gotten increasingly more complex, with each subsequent entry adding its own handful of new mechanics and tweaks. Though the overarching formula remains largely the same in each Call of Duty Zombies entry, it has gotten a little more tricky for newcomers to understand everything the mode has to offer.
For instance, though Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's Zombies mode takes a mostly back-to-basics approach with its return to the traditional round-based formula, it still contains an armor plate system, weapon rarity levels, a salvage and crafting mechanic, and a handful of other tweaks and additions to the classic Zombies structure.
Rather than throw newcomers in at the deep-end, however, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 introduces a new "Training Course" mode for Zombies. This Training Course takes players through each of Black Ops 6 Zombies' mechanics, from killing enemies and earning Essence, to unlocking new parts of the map, to upgrading weapons and using Perk-a-Colas. It's nothing revolutionary, but Black Ops 6 Zombies' Training Course provides new players with an effective, short tutorial, ensuring they're not immediately overwhelmed with the new iteration of the long-standing horde mode.
The Next Battlefield Could Benefit From Having Its Own Set of Tutorials
The Battlefield series has never really been one to provide players with tutorials. Instead, Battlefield believes experience is the best teacher, often thrusting players into the action right away and requiring them to learn the game's mechanics and systems on the spot. This can be a bit overwhelming for series newcomers, especially when it comes to hard-to-master mechanics like piloting vehicles and using class-specific abilities.
Some Battlefield entries have used their campaigns to introduce the game's more complex mechanics, such as Battlefield 1 and V's War Stories, which see players take control of different characters, often using a different set of mechanics with each one. However, many multiplayer-focused players skip these campaigns entirely.
It might be a good idea for the next Battlefield to provide brief, bite-sized tutorials that teach players how to fly jets, pilot helicopters, drive tanks, use a sniper effectively, and a variety of other Battlefield mechanics that are often cited as being quite difficult for newcomers to wrap their head around.
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
