Impressions From the Battlefield 6 Open Beta, As Told By the Players

The Battlefield 6 open beta was released early on August 7, 2025. Not long after, gamers and critics dropped in for a taste of the upcoming shooter before its October launch, and drop in they did. Steam alone peaked at just over 300,000 players enjoying the Battlefield 6 open beta. Early impressions suggest that Battlefield is on pace to become a smash hit, and after putting in a dozen hours myself, EA seems to be onto something with this latest entry in the long-running franchise.

The overwhelming impression that Battlefield 6 gives off is a return to form after the critically panned Battlefield 2042. The core gameplay is smooth, featuring access to the traditional four-class system and classic game modes, such as Conquest and Rush. Most importantly, it works well in all the ways that matter to Battlefield players. Movement has been slowed down to better suit the maps, and the developers have made adjustments to make Battlefield feel more like itself, rather than a clone of Call of Duty. But while most fans appreciate the backtracking of changes made in the previous entry, not everyone offered positive feedback.

Battlefield 6′ Open Beta Draws Some Criticisms for its Maps

 One prime example of mixed reception was the Map size. Players felt that the beta maps were too cramped, which contradicted the slower-paced feel of Battlefield. Instead, this is an instance where the game feels like a Call of Duty map with Battlefield mechanics.

Vehicle gameplay was also criticized for feeling inferior to previous entries, with some players believing it was overly simplified for accessibility. It seems, however, the consensus can’t agree on whether these vehicle changes were good or bad, as some believe that the vehicles are still fun to use, even though they don’t feel as mechanical as they did in Battlefield 5. Most feedback portrays faith in the core design of Battlefield 6. Based on player response, as well as my time with the beta, the game has many more successes than failures.

What Players Are Saying About Battlefield 6’s Weapons and Visuals

The game’s visual presentation has been earning high praise. The developers, DICE, have deployed intense lighting and environmental design with this title. Battlefield 6 looks great even without ray tracing, and the visual effects of smoke, fog, and other particles immerse the player in battle. Speaking of battle, the gunplay is the make-or-break aspect of Battlefield. While players generally found the gunplay to be solid, there were some concerns about the time-to-kill, weapon feel, and balance.

Getting killed in a split-second only works in the most tactical of shooters, and while Battlefield is closer to that than say Call of Duty, the time-to-kill might be a bit too short for something like Battlefield according to players. As for the way the guns feel, many were happy that the weapons have noticeable recoil. The problems come in with weapon progression, as players are able to completely circumvent recoil and spread with only a few weapon attachments. Recoil reduction isn’t inherently a bad thing, but maybe attachments should be harder to unlock so that players don’t undermine a gun’s initial feel.

Weapon balance was also a topic of discussion across social media and forums. The trouble weapon of the beta is, without a doubt, the shotgun. Specifically, the semi-automatic assault shotgun.

As strong as shotguns are at range, it is almost sure they will be nerfed, but other weapons may need some attention as well. Submachine guns are also somewhat strong at mid range; however, it can be debated that the strength of the submachine gun may be due to netcode, causing hitscan to feel instantaneous. It’s too early to tell when it comes to them, but conversation is being had, and it’s safe to assume that DICE is paying attention to these massive Battlefield feedback threads.

What Battlefield 6’s Open Beta Helps Predict For its Launch

The overall player sentiment from the Battlefield 6 open beta is primarily positive. While many are cautious that DICE might listen to too much feedback and change the game too much in the wrong ways by the time of release, it’s safe to say that Battlefield is back. After the critical failure that was Battlefield 2042, surely anything would’ve been a step in the right direction. It seems DICE learned from their previous iteration. The return of the four-class system, better gunplay, and maps that deliver those hectic Battlefield moments that we all love make Battlefield 6 look like a game to be on the lookout for when it releases in October.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Battlefield 6 key art / Original