It’s immediately apparent when looking atBattlefield 6that it’s a spiritual successor toBattlefield 3and4, and the developers have said as much. Speaking with them, it’s clear that, following the relativeunpopularity ofBattlefield 2042, the series had to find itself again, turning to some key entries for inspiration.
Screen Rantspoke to Senior Producer at Ripple Effect, Ryan McArthur and Director of Production at Motive, Alma Talbot, and we asked about the process of re-examining the series when beginningBattlefield 6’s development. McArthur candidly said it’s about dissecting the series’ best installments:
“It is going back to looking at what made us successful, what players loved – where has the franchise been, at its peak? You look at BF3 and 4, you look at games like Bad Company and Bad Company 2, and what you’ve got in there, it’s easy to identify.BF3 and 4 class gameplay was awesome. Destruction in Bad Company 2 was fantastic.”
But there are also broader considerations in examining the series' identity as it tries to reclaim its illustrious legacy.
All-Out Warfare Is The Heart & Soul Of Battlefield
Conquest Especially
When looking back on the series like this, it’s hard to overlookBattlefield’s bread and butter: Conquest. It’s now the crowning jewel of what Battlefield Studios has for years called “All-Out Warfare,” a suite of 64-player game modes that are most closely associated with the quintessentialBattlefieldexperience.
“I would almost call [Conquest] the heart and soul of All-Out Warfare,”says McArthur. “Players love it. When you jump in, that’s where everyone’s going to go if you haven’t played Battlefield. You’re probably going to go play Conquest, because that’s what you’ve heard players talk about.”
Talbot unsurprisingly calls All-Out Warfare the “core modes” ofBattlefield 6. “People who are fans of the franchise for a long time,” she says,“that’s what they’re here for.”This outlook is in lockstep with the idea of getting the series back on track by examining older games likeBF3and4.
Early Impressions Indicate BF6 Will Deliver This Classic Battlefield Experience
Conquest & Breakthrough Are Highlights
Having playedBattlefield 6,these so-called core modes are indeed where the game shines. I was able to play Conquest, Breakthrough, Squad Deathmatch, and Domination, and the former two are by far the most fun. Aiming to create a spiritual successor toBattlefield 3and4has paid off.
While certain innovations are exciting, like therevamped destructionand new Kinesthetic Combat System (which gives you more movement options),it’s simply getting back to a classicBattlefieldexperience that makesBF6so satisfying to play.
Conquest truly is the heart and soul ofBattlefield, and it’s clear that a lot of effort went into the map and character design to evoke the same atmosphere asBF3andBF4.2042was an unfortunate misstep, but early impressions ofBattlefield 6have been positive – it could be the triumphant return to form fans have been waiting for.
