Following the recent open beta, a new hands-on session with Battlefield 6 offered a deeper look at the game’s signature large-scale combat, complete with its full suite of vehicles. The preview focused on two of the game’s most expansive maps and a brand-new mode, building on an earlier look at weapons and the return of character classes.
New Maps and a Dynamic New Mode
The session showcased two of Battlefield 6’s largest All-Out Warfare maps, Mirak Valley and Operation Firestorm, alongside the debut of the Escalation game mode.
Mirak Valley: Set in Tajikistan, Mirak Valley will be the game’s largest map at launch. It offers a diverse landscape, combining wide-open terrain ideal for vehicle combat with a central construction zone and a small village for intense infantry skirmishes. Trenches are carved throughout the map, providing infantry with crucial cover from snipers and other distant threats.
Operation Firestorm: Making its return from Battlefield 3, Operation Firestorm transforms an oil field and refinery into a dynamic combined-arms battlefield. The map features a mix of open areas, elevated sniper perches on smokestacks, and numerous interior spaces. This classic map now prominently displays Battlefield 6’s enhanced destruction system, where buildings that offer cover can be quickly reduced to rubble by tanks and air support.
Escalation: This new mode blends elements of Conquest and Breakthrough for a unique strategic flow. Matches begin with numerous capture points spread across the map. A team holding the majority of these points begins to “capture territory,” and holding this advantage until a meter fills scores them a point. After each point is scored, one capture point is permanently removed from play. This dynamic forces teams into progressively smaller and more intense engagements as they fight for the remaining objectives. The first team to score three points wins.
Class Training Specializations
This session also provided a complete look at the “Training” specializations, which allow players to customize the role of each class. Each of the four main classes will have two distinct Training options at launch.
Assault: Frontliner and Breacher: Frontliner focuses on damage recovery and a faster objective capture rate. Breacher provides additional grenades and a faster reload for room-clearing weapons like the Incendiary Shotgun and Breaching Launcher.
Support: Combat Medic and Fire Support: Combat Medic is the classic support role, centered around reviving teammates with defibrillators. The Fire Support training focuses on creating defensible positions, providing suppressing fire, and using smoke to cover allied movements.
Engineer: Anti-Armor and Combat Engineer: Anti-Armor gives players an advantage against vehicles, granting extra rockets and dampening the effects of enemy repairs. Combat Engineer enhances the repair capabilities of tools and can boost the effectiveness of teammates’ gear.
Recon: Sniper and Spec Ops: Sniper training improves situational awareness by spotting targets at longer ranges and allows headshots to prevent enemy revives. Spec Ops training emphasizes stealth, reducing movement sound and allowing players to exit the “In Combat” state faster while prone, enabling quicker squad spawns.
Key Adjustments Since the Beta
Following player feedback from the open beta in August, the development team has implemented several key adjustments that were evident during the session.
Refined Player Movement: The “Kinesthetic Combat” system has been tweaked, with player momentum slightly reduced to prevent the chaining of rapid movements. The game aims for a balance where movement remains quick and responsive—with options like sliding, diving, and holstering weapons for speed—without becoming overly erratic.
Sniper Role and Map Design: While the long sightlines on maps like Mirak Valley and Operation Firestorm still make snipers a potent threat, their overall dominance has been toned down. The maps now feature more varied terrain and structures to provide cover, and snipers have been adjusted to be slightly less oppressive.
Improved Weapon Balancing: Significant weapon tuning was also apparent. Weapons that felt underpowered in the beta, such as the Support class’s default LMG, are now more effective for both suppressive fire and securing kills. Conversely, the M87A1 Shotgun, which was dominant in the beta, has been rebalanced to be less overwhelming while remaining a strong choice for close-quarters combat.
Enhanced Vehicle Mobility: A notable addition is a short speed boost for all ground vehicles. This new ability provides a crucial tactical option for dodging incoming fire or navigating difficult terrain.
Battlefield 6 is set to launch on PS5 on October 10, when players will have the chance to experience these new maps, modes, and gameplay adjustments for themselves.
