Today, EA revealed the next exciting installment in the Battlefield franchise, Battlefield 6, at an exclusive event that was held in Los Angeles, California. This event had a primary focus on the upcoming multiplayer mode. It’s been 4 years since the release of their last installment, Battlefield 2042, which has grown a cult-like following.
Fans have been eagerly anticipating any information about this game, especially since EA revealed some details about the return of their weapon systems as well as the return of their character classes. Though there wasn’t any mention of single player at this event, we not only learned a lot about what this installment’s multiplayer is all about, but we also got a chance to play some of the multiplayer modes for a few hours with a few hundred creators and media alike.
Multiplayer Maps and Modes
The Battlefield 6 multiplayer reveal event hit the ground running with an impressive video showcasing some of the maps available at launch. Fan-favourite multiplayer modes return, including classic staples like Conquest, Breakthrough and Rush. Players will also experience a range of fast-paced, first-person shooter modes such as Team Deathmatch, Squad Deathmatch, Domination and King of the Hill. A brand new mode, Escalation, has two teams fighting to capture strategic control points. During our gameplay session, we had the chance to try several of these modes.
“Battlefield 6 is shaping up to be one of the best FPS releases of the year.”
I had a lot of fun playing Breakthrough, Squad Deathmatch and Domination. Battlefield 6 will launch with a robust package of multiplayer modes and maps, taking the fight to vastly different locales around the world. These maps include Siege of Cairo, Iberian Offensive, Liberation Peak and Empire State. Each features multiple combat zones, hand-crafted and tailored to specific modes, ensuring that every battle complements the player experience and offers a variety of playstyles. The team also unveiled a remake of the iconic Battlefield 3 map, Operation Firestorm—a reveal that drew huge applause from the audience.
Refreshed Classes
This new installment in the franchise introduces a complete overhaul of the character classes. The iconic class system returns—now better than ever—with Assault, Recon, Support and Engineer roles empowering players to define their place on the battlefield. Each class has been redesigned with enhanced abilities, class-specific gadgets, signature weapons and dedicated training, all aimed at pushing teams toward victory.
During the Q&A session, DICE producer David Sirland explained why this change was necessary ahead of the game’s launch. He emphasized the importance of helping players fully understand how each role is meant to be played and noted that class balancing typically happens post-launch. Sirland acknowledged that in previous games, the development team often had to adjust the “feeling” of each class reactively to make sure everything functioned as intended.
This time, however, there was a strong emphasis on refining and enhancing every class before release, ensuring players grasp the intended role from the start. The panel also noted that players tend to stick to a favourite class, often avoiding others. With this overhaul, the goal is to encourage players to rediscover the fun in experimenting with each role and find new reasons to try something different.
Tactical Destruction
This franchise is known for its destructible environments, and there was a major emphasis on that during the reveal. Battlefield 6 spares no expense this time around, and I was blown away by how much destruction now impacts multiplayer gameplay.
“The new kinesthetic combat system adds real tactical depth without sacrificing Battlefield’s grounded realism.”
So, what is tactical destruction? In Battlefield 6, destruction has been enhanced to offer an unparalleled level of freedom, allowing players to reshape the combat zone, create new paths, flank enemies and control the flow of battle. For example, if there’s a bridge connecting two buildings, you can now destroy it to cut off player movement through that area. And if enemies are above you, you can plant C4 or fire explosive projectiles to collapse the floor beneath them, taking them out as they fall.
This brings a completely new layer to the Battlefield experience and raises the bar for tactical navigation—especially in competitive play.
Kinesthetic Combat System
The team showed off this new system that brings enhancements to movement and gunplay. This gives players an unprecedented level of mobility, offering new tactical options such as Drag and Revive to pull teammates out of danger and back from the brink, and mounting weapons on walls to reduce recoil.
A quick note, this system isn’t anything like the omni-movement that Call Of Duty Black Ops 6 has, but a more refined and true-to-life function that could increase the skill ceiling for competitive play to those who master it. Playing as the support class for a few games, I took a liking to the ability to drag and revive your fallen teammate is incredibly clutch and puts a lot of emphasis on team play. You need to make sure you have coverage while doing this; otherwise, you’re done for.
Portal Returns
One thing I didn’t have on my Battlefield 6 reveal bingo card was the return of Portal. The crowd absolutely erupted when it was shown off in the reveal video.
If you’re unfamiliar with Portal, here’s a quick recap: it’s a level editor that lets players create their own maps and game types. This time, it’s an all-new, improved version featuring a robust toolset that includes spatial editing, AI tools, custom scripting, mutators, and toggles for weapons (open or closed), hardcore mode, vehicles and more. There’s also a built-in server browser for easier access to custom content.
As a game developer, I was geeking out watching the breakdown of how Portal will work in this game. Giving players more tools to express themselves has always been important in my books—and the Battlefield 6 team has truly gone above and beyond with how they’ve expanded and improved Portal this time around.
Open Beta
Before the event wrapped up, the team not only revealed the game’s launch date but also announced a series of open betas in the coming weeks. This is set to be the Battlefield franchise’s biggest open beta to date, running over two weekends—first from August 9 to 10, and again from August 14 to 17. The beta will be available on PC, Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5.
Battlefield 6 has a lot going for it, and the time I spent with the game made it clear the team is serious about delivering something fans will enjoy. From quality-of-life improvements to the class system to the new and exciting maps, Battlefield 6 is shaping up to be one of the best FPS releases of the year. Not only will longtime fans be thrilled by what’s on offer, but I believe newcomers will also be drawn in with a renewed curiosity for the franchise.
I’ve always been a casual Battlefield player, but after this reveal, I can absolutely see myself spending a lot more time with Battlefield 6.
