The nextBattlefieldgame is officially in development, but details on its gameplay, setting, and story are still very scarce. But as is usually the case with a project of this scale (at least four studios are working on the game), some information is bound to slip through the cracks during development, andBattlefield 6has seen plenty of leaks sprout up in the last few months.
Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson has been the source of many ofBattlefield 6’s leaksover the last year or so, and his latest report paints an interesting picture of the sequel’s development process. On November 19, Henderson published a report that claimedBattlefield 6is currently undergoing the most extensive playtests in franchise history, with both small feedback sessions and large-scale play sessions occurring frequently. This might seem a bit excessive at first glance, but it’s exactly what theBattlefieldfranchise needs.
Why Battlefield 6’s Playtests Are Necessary
The Battlefield Series Has a Rough Track Record with Launches
WhenBattlefield 4launched back in October 2013, its first few months of life were plagued by an onslaught of technical issues. From major server issues that would kick players out mid-match, to severe netcode problems that would cause extreme lag, to progression-breaking bugs, to minor glitches like wrong audio files being played,Battlefield 4had no shortage of problems at launch.
These issues were so bad, in fact, that EA and DICE had to delay all planned updates and expansions toBattlefield 4so that they could focus solely on fixing the game. But despiteEA’s CEO Andrew Wilsontelling Eurogamer in June 2014 thatBattlefield 4’s launch was “unacceptable” and that something like it would never happen again, 2018’sBattlefield Vrepeated history.
Absurdly long matchmaking queue times, progression tracking issues, server filtering issues, a bevy of UI and menu problems, and a litany of other grievances hamperedBattlefield V’s already controversial launch.Battlefield 2042didn’t fare much better a few years later, and that one-two punch of disappointment is a large cause for the fan-base’s heel-turn ontheBattlefieldfranchise.
So, ifBattlefield 6is truly undergoing more playtests than ever before, that could only be a good thing. Testing so long before launch will presumably letBattlefield 6’s developerstroubleshoot and resolve any issues long before fans get to play the full game, hopefully paving the way for a much smoother launch day experience. And in this modern age of gaming where server issues can have severe long-term effects on a game’s reception,Battlefield 6can’t afford a bad launch.
Playtests Support Battlefield 6’s Player-First Approach
Back in September, IGN’s Kat Bailey interviewed Head of Respawn & Group GM for EA Studios Organization,Vince Zampella, about the next entry in theBattlefieldfranchise. One of the lasting impressions fans had coming away from this interview is that Zampella and the rest of theBattlefield 6development team are trying their best to give fans exactly what they want, with him directly stating that the team is trying to hearken back to fan-favorite entries likeBattlefield 3and4.
These extensive playtests for the nextBattlefieldshould also help to achieve the developer’s goal of giving fans the type ofBattlefieldexperience they want when it comes to actual in-game content.
Battlefield 2042
WHERE TO PLAY
Battlefield 2042 is a first-person shooter that marks the return to the iconic all-out warfare of the franchise. With the help of a cutting-edge arsenal, engage in intense, immersive multiplayer battles.Lead your team to victory in both large all-out warfare and close-quarters combat on maps from the world of 2042 and classic Battlefield titles. Find your playstyle in class-based gameplay and take on several experiences comprising elevated versions of Conquest and Breakthrough. Explore Battlefield Portal, a platform where players can discover, create, and share unexpected battles from Battlefield’s past and present.This game includes optional in-game purchases of virtual currency that can be used to acquire virtual in-game items.
