Battlefield 6 Multiplayer review: Finding your fun is back

With a release day that saw 747,000 PC players rush to Battlefield 6 servers, and many more console players besides, the hype is real. Such a dramatic start to life, perhaps, wouldn’t have been possible without the Battlefield 6 open beta. It was August when the public first got to glimpse BF6’s multiplayer, and the player numbers soared. 

Two months later, we’ve seen another surge of enthusiasm. But this is a game that will rise or fall based on the strength of engagement. A mix of old and new players need to find the modes, class, or squadmates that keep them coming back for more. But does Battlefield 6 feel like that game? Or is it 2042 all over again?

The Escapist recaps

• Battlefield 6 multiplayer feels like Battlefield 4 but evolved, and with huge potential.
• The best way to pay is to find your fun, your mode, your class, and your way.
• Player stats may matter to some, but learning and joy are key to Battlefield.
• There are community experiences that offer additional experiences.

A returning friend

I’ve written before about how much I loved BF3 and BF4, and the Battlefield 6 beta returned to me something quite familiar, as I’m sure it did many older Battlefield-heads. BF4 is a game that I’m not quite sure when I last logged off from. Still, BF6 made it feel that I was immediately reconnected with a longstanding and joyful sidekick.

Obviously, Battlefield 6 isn’t Battlefield 4, but in its multiplayer guise, the new arrival has more than a touch of similarity. That’s a huge credit to the studios involved in development, and speaks to the strength of the Frostbite engine, too. But as with any friend not seen in a while, you notice subtle differences, new maturities, and new wisdoms.

That’s the bigger picture of how I feel about BF6 multiplayer. While the Battlefield 6 campaign offered fun despite awkward glitches that break immersion, the multiplayer feels charged and well-evolved. Not complete in its current form, but filled with potential to grow further and develop in ways that older entrants didn’t.

Mapping it out

Battlefield’s maps have always been a strong suit, and the nine available at launch have a good variety for the multiple game modes on offer. BF6 has a lot of riches in both, and the title does well to abide by a chosen playlist for you, or (if it can’t) it otherwise thrusts you into guaranteed action. I don’t even mind if the custom search disregards my map choice.

Obviously, disregarding a player’s preference would be problematic, yet the few times it has happened to me, I’ve had a blast anyway. The non-stop chaos works well across the current maps available, and is a testament to the rekindling of the epic BF3/4 feel of multiplayer action. It also reflects visually captivating and smooth gameplay that feels well optimised.

From solid larger maps like (the classic) Operation Firestorm, Liberation Peak, and New Sobek City, to non-stop urban action in Manhattan Bridge, Empire State, and Saints Quarter, the range and varied types of battle make Battlefield 6 a joy to stay with. Even in a crushing defeat or a game where my KD Ratio is negative, I feel like I’m enjoying the experience. 

Playing your way

Whatever your ability to endure losses or not to be the ‘best’ on the battlefield, it feels like there’s a real depth to Battlefield 6 gameplay. And at least there’s always a way to improve or evolve your abilities or enjoyment. Whether that’s at the firing range, trying a different combination of loadouts, or hunting for a community experience better suited to you. 

It’s this array of options to provide you, the player, with your Battlefield experience that feels unique in modern FPS titles. I think it’s fair to say that Call of Duty doesn’t feel this experientially personal, despite its skins and cosmetics. (There are cosmetic options for BF6 weapons, too, if you care for them.) The range here is a blessing, so just play your way.

Let me tell you, I’m really not good at sniping. Not a big deal: I can find an elevated position, spot, laser tag targets, and provide a handy spawn point for my squad. So my close-quarters combat needs polishing. Okay, well, I can flank, smoke the point, and push, knowing it may enliven teammates. Or if I’m a squad leader, I can think tactically and earn XP that way. 

Ready replayability 

It’s this sort of ‘play it your way’ that the Battlefield 6 multiplayer has returned from a twelve-year hiatus. Because honestly, “PTFO” (play the damned objective) is as true now as it was in 2013. Just play the objective, the vehicle, the class, or the map the best you can. You’ll learn, gain unlocks (beware bugs), gain ranks, win, lose, be blown up, and do it again. 

And for my part, I really enjoy doing it all. I can applaud a melee kill against me while I hunt my first, or admire a destructive jet player before I bring them down. There’s a real carefree joy to be found in matches. Battlefield 6 player stats? Not as important as the fun you have. And if you like FPS games, even if you’ve been away, I’m sure you’ll enjoy BF6.

Speaking of which, as a PC player, I’ve seen people log on to BF6 that I’ve not seen online since BF4. Clearly, I wasn’t alone in anticipating the fun beyond the Battlefield 6 release date. I doubt I’ll be alone in my praise for the joy of multiplayer either. Honestly, whether you’re new to Battlefield, returning, or a former CoD fanatic. I think you’ll find your fun.

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