Battlefield 6’s beta may be a massive success in terms of player count, but if one were to check the Battlefield subreddit, they would think the game is a hugely unpopular mess. While constructive criticism is fair and is one of the main purposes of a beta, much of the complaints have been small issues treated like something major (like class icons being hard to identify) or outrage over anything even remotely resembling Call of Duty. The UI falls into the latter category, as do the game’s maps, with one of the most common arguments being that Battlefield 6 feels more like Modern Warfare 2019’s Ground War than Call of Duty - though I couldn’t disagree more.
To me, Battlefield 6's maps feel like a flashback to Battlefield 3 - my favorite entry in the franchise and a title Battlefield Studios is aspiring to create a successor to with BF6. That game had numerous maps that felt like the ones from this beta in terms of scale, whether it be the close-quarters buildings of Sienne Crossing and Grand Bazaar or the iconic passages of Operation Metro. And while I wasn’t chronically online then like I am now, I distinctly remember much of the same outrage spreading back then. Battlefield 2 fans were furious about smaller maps, less of a reliance on vehicles, and fast-paced gameplay, claiming that BF3 was making the series too CoD-like. With BF6, it feels like history is repeating itself, and that Battlefield fans are once again having knee-jerk reactions to anything that is also found in the biggest FPS series in gaming. Me, though? I’m just having a blast.
Perhaps it’s because I love both franchises and play them regularly that I just can’t see Battlefield 6 as a CoD-like game. The sliding that the community was dooming over is fairly slow and nothing like Black Ops 6’s omnimovement, as I’ve hardly seen players using it to their advantage - if anything, I’ve seen more people bunnyhopping to get cheap wins in gunfights just like they used to in Battlefield 3. Movement feels weighty, destruction is unparalleled, classes have identities even with open weapons - everything feels like what I’d expect a modern Battlefield game to play and look like. This includes the supposedly CoD-like maps, and to me, it feels like outraged players are misjudging the situation.
Battlefield 6’s Beta Maps Are Just a Taste of What’s to Come
First and foremost, it’s worth noting that the Battlefield 6 beta map lineup only features 3 (soon to be 4) of the 9 locations at launch. Though they aren’t featured in the beta, the BF6 website reveals that there are three big maps set to appear in the main game: the returning Operation Firestorm, New Sobek City, and Kundara Valley. While some players will be quick to argue that three large maps is too few, with the rest being small or medium, properly looking at Battlefield 3’s lineup puts things into perspective. Battlefield 3 featured the following maps at launch:
- Caspian Border - Large
- Damavand Peak - Medium
- Grand Bazaar - Small
- Kharg Island - Large
- Norshar Canals - Medium
- Operation Firestorm - Large
- Operation Metro - Small
- Seine Crossing - Small
- Tehran Highway - Medium
Regardless of whether players are happy about Battlefield 6’s map sizes, it’s clear that they’re not a new thing for the franchise. What is looked at as the best game in the franchise by so many fans today had the exact same number of large maps at launch, with it shining brightly despite placing a major focus on infantry - the same focus that Battlefield 6 seemingly has. There are valid complaints to be had about the BF6 beta not featuring at least one big map, as it would quell the concerns of vehicle enjoyers and large-scale battle lovers, but it’s simply false to claim that Battlefield 6 will only offer hectic “CoD-like maps” at launch. And hell, even if it did, I certainly wouldn’t be one of the people complaining.
While I’d never want vehicles to leave the Battlefield series, as they’re a vital part of its DNA, I’d be lying if I said they were the thing I love most about it. Yes, I adore the only in Battlefield moments they create, from Rendezooks to ramming C4-covered jeeps into tanks, but rarely do I make use of them myself. Instead, I find myself sniping, capturing objectives, or destroying said vehicles on foot. I'm most deeply attached to Battlefield’s infantry gameplay - and those small maps from BF3? They were my absolute favorites. Rushing around the streets of Grand Bazaar, fighting over the bridge on Sienne Crossing, and dodging grenades in Operation Metro as I try to revive my freinds are some of my fondest memories of that game. With this in mind, it’s no surprise I also preferred BF3's chaotic Close Quarters expansion over the slower-paced Armored Kill.
Part of this love for smaller Battlefield maps and infantry experiences comes from my preference in game modes, too. Yes, Conquest is iconic and the definitive Battlefield mode, but I never enjoyed it nearly as much as Rush (and later on, Operations). Medium and small maps simply suit the Rush experience better, so I have a good feeling that when I get my hands on Rush in BF6, it’ll feel incredible on the very same maps featured in the beta. For people who prefer gigantic maps, I get why the current lineup is disappointing. But after Battlefield 2042’s ridiculously big and empty arenas, it’s refreshing to see maps that feel like they’d belong in an older Battlefield entry.
Battlefield 6’s Structure is a Secret Weapon
Two more things to consider about Battlefield 6’s maps are the seasonal approach and Portal. Love it or hate it, Battlefield 6 will be a live-service game, with official maps introduced every few months to keep gamers engaged. Since Battlefield 6 seems to be in good shape already, a smoother launch is likely, meaning fresh content could be added sooner rather than later this time around - a welcome improvement from Battlefield 2042. And if BF6 really does feel as if it is lacking large-scale experiences once it fully releases, then Battlefield Studios can prioritize them in its initial seasons.
As for Portal, Battlefield 6’s use of Godot’s tools means that creative players can redesign maps as they see fit, creating larger combat zones by moving or removing certain assets. With this game-changing feature in mind, as well as a seasonal format that can incorporate feedback, old-school Battlefield fans from the BF2 days who only want huge maps like Karkand will get their wish one way or another. As such, it seems like there’s little reason to be so negative about the beta’s maps. Not only have over half the BF6 maps gone untested, but what is there is perfect for infantry-focused Battlefield fans like myself. If the franchise wants to thrive, it cannot appeal to just one type of player, so hopefully Battlefield 6’s full release caters to fans of huge warzones. This Battlefield veteran is already sold, though, and I can’t wait to play more.
Battlefield 6
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 90%
- Released
- October 10, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, In-App Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Battlefield Studios
- Publisher(s)
- EA
