Editor’s note: This review specifically covers Battlefield 6’s multiplayer experience. Our single-player campaign review is available separately.
Battlefield 6’s multiplayer excels with its distinct, interwoven layers of combat. On the ground, infantry skirmishes are constant, while land vehicles like tanks and armored cars dynamically reshape the battlefield, capable of wiping out soldiers and flattening buildings. Above it all, a limited number of aircraft dominate the skies, posing a constant threat to ground forces. The genius lies in how these diverse elements seamlessly blend into a cohesive, thrilling experience. Although a handful of maps occasionally turn into sniper havens and progression for advanced gear feels a bit slow, these are minor issues in what stands as one of the year’s top multiplayer shooters.
At the heart of the action is the infantry combat, driven by superb gunplay. The weapons are incredibly satisfying, both visually and audibly, especially with a good audio setup that lets you hear every deep boom and the subtle clink of spent casings. While precise, the ballistics system wisely incorporates just enough bullet travel and drop to reward sharpshooters. Yet, with manageable recoil and spread, even newcomers can quickly find their rhythm and make an impact.
Players can select from four distinct classes, each offering unique strengths and contributing to a well-balanced team dynamic. Charging into battle as an Assault soldier is exhilarating, but the satisfaction of keeping your squad in the fight as a Medic is equally rewarding. Reviving teammates with a defibrillator not only preserves precious lives but also ensures your team maintains momentum, allowing players to contribute meaningfully even without being at the forefront of every firefight.
However, my feelings on the loadout system are somewhat mixed. The freedom to equip any weapon across any class is appreciated, but it often leads to simply defaulting to one’s preferred assault rifle for every role. While there are subtle bonuses for using class-specific weapons, such as improved fire rate and accuracy for Recon snipers, these effects are often too minor to genuinely influence weapon choices. While class roles like the Engineer’s ability to repair vehicles remain crucial, the distinctions between weapon choices for each class feel a bit too blurred.
Being a skilled tank commander can genuinely make or break the outcome of a match.
Another point of concern is the slow pace of unlocks between matches. While the system of earning new equipment and weapons through levels and multi-stage challenges is familiar, and daily/weekly challenges do help alleviate the grind, the level requirements often feel excessively high. For instance, accessing class-specific challenges – crucial for unlocking specialized training paths – requires reaching level 20, a feat that can take many hours of play. With vital tools like the Deploy Beacon (a remote squad spawn point) locked behind such thresholds, the early game experience can feel hindered before players truly hit their stride.
The battlefield truly ignites when vehicles enter the fray. Though restricted to larger maps, their arrival unleashes a magnificent storm of chaos. A tank rumbling down a street commands both control and devastation, scattering enemies with its machine guns and cannon fire. As buildings crumble and debris showers, these armored beasts become primary targets. Whether you respond by deploying your own tank, switching to an Engineer to launch rockets, or another tactical approach, vehicles fundamentally alter the strategic landscape, keeping every match engaging. While not overly difficult to operate, tanks demand a higher skill ceiling than infantry combat. A skilled tank commander understands when to deploy defensive measures, when to push aggressively, or when to retreat for repairs, making their presence a decisive factor in victory or defeat.
For those with a love for aviation, the sky offers a compelling final layer of combat. Piloting a jet, engaging in thrilling dogfights, and strafing enemy positions, interspersed with strategic bombing runs, is immensely satisfying. Airplanes and helicopters create an exhilarating aerial experience, a terrifying threat from below, and immense gratification when successfully downed by a ground-based rocket. This layer presents the highest skill barrier, requiring mastery of complex controls and a deep understanding of aerial combat. While this challenge is acceptable, the absence of a dedicated flight training mode is a significant drawback, making it frustratingly difficult for new players to learn and excel in aerial warfare, unlike the robust firing range available for firearms.
The game brings back a collection of classic Battlefield modes, each as enjoyable as ever. Team Deathmatch offers a solid warm-up, but the true spectacles are the 64-player modes: Breakthrough and Conquest. Breakthrough sees one team, with finite lives, pushing to capture objectives against endless waves of defenders, while Conquest pits both teams against each other for control of various territories. Both modes expertly guide the chaos, creating massive engagements in open fields and skies, alongside intense, close-quarters skirmishes around key objectives.
Overall, the maps are well-designed, though some unfortunately become dominated by snipers.
Additionally, modes like Rush offer a refreshing change of pace. This Counterstrike-esque mode, designed for smaller teams, quickly became a personal favorite thanks to its immediate action and shorter match times, ideal for quick sessions. The innovative new Escalation mode also stands out, challenging players to capture and hold an ever-decreasing number of control points. This dynamic shift forces increasingly intense battles and demands constant tactical adaptation, which I found to be a particularly engaging design choice.
At launch, players can explore nine generally robust maps. These range from the tight, urban combat of Saints Quarter to the expansive, vehicle-heavy landscapes of Operation Firestorm. Empire State particularly impressed me, offering a fantastic blend of open roads, accessible buildings, and elevated sniper perches. Mastering these maps provides a significant tactical edge; knowing how to seize a rooftop overlooking an objective to decimate an enemy squad highlights the strategic depth inherent in Battlefield 6’s combat.
However, not all launch maps hit the mark perfectly. Liberation Peak, for instance, has become notorious for its sniper-dominated hill, disrupting the delicate class balance that defines Battlefield. Mirak Valley suffers from similar issues, especially in Breakthrough, where attackers often lack adequate cover against entrenched sharpshooters. While New Sobek City offers enjoyable destructible environments and diverse terrain, it can quickly become saturated with anti-vehicle mines, effectively neutralizing tanks. This overuse of mines, possibly a balance issue, detracts from what could otherwise be an outstanding battlefield.
The stunning visual quality of the maps, enhanced by their exceptional destructibility, is a major plus. Witness chunks of concrete flying as bullets impact structures, cars and buses exploding, and cover disappearing instantly with a well-aimed grenade. Unleashing a tank can literally bring down entire buildings – a truly terrifying sight for those caught inside – altering the landscape in significant and unpredictable ways, ensuring no two matches ever feel quite the same.
Ultimately, the true brilliance lies in the seamless synergy of combat, environment design, and destruction. I recall a moment battling for control in New Sobek City’s construction site; the enemy was dug in tight until I crashed my tank through a wall and several support columns. Amidst the swirling dust and debris, I opened fire with my machine gun as teammates moved in to secure the area. It was a breathtaking, large-scale spectacle, a dynamic experience unparalleled in any other game.
Verdict
Battlefield 6’s multiplayer offers an expertly crafted, exhilarating experience, enhanced by spectacular destruction that not only looks incredible but also significantly impacts gameplay. While initial progression feels a bit slow and a few maps could use some balancing tweaks, these are minor criticisms in an otherwise outstanding game. Much like a perfectly aimed sniper shot, Battlefield 6’s multiplayer is a resounding success.