Battlefield 6 has been firing on all cylinders since it was properly revealed. Following extensive testing through Battlefield Labs, the game released its open beta, which turned out to be a tremendous success. Many players new to the franchise were instantly impressed by Battlefield 6’s destruction mechanics and fresh concepts like drag and revive, while old-school military shooter fans have appreciated the proper return of classes and Battlefield Studios’ promise of grounded cosmetics. Following this open beta, Battlefield Studios quickly addressed criticism about movement and map design, confirming testing of two large maps via Battlefield Labs while announcing a movement nerf that limits slide and jump spam.
With all this in mind, as well as a traditional campaign, a map editor via BF Portal, a battle royale mode, and a healthy number of small maps that ensure variety, Battlefield 6 seems poised to be a crowdpleaser for veterans and newcomers alike. It checks nearly every box shooter fans could ask for - with an emphasis on nearly. After all, there is one awesome mechanic from the old Battlefield games that has gone unmentioned by EA and Battlefield Studios in the lead-up to launch, so it can be safely assumed it won’t be returning upon the game’s release in October. However, Battlefield 6 is a live-service title that will receive multiple seasons of post-launch content, and it’s hard to think of a more unique addition than Commander Mode.
What Was Battlefield’s Commander Mode?
Introduced in the iconic game Battlefield 2, Commander had one player take on a role where they oversaw their team’s efforts instead of just fighting on the ground like everyone else. Commanders would guide their allies by placing objective markers, which could be carried out for extra points, and they had the following abilities:
- Commander view, which essentially allowed them to see the entire map from a satellite position. This enabled strategies and helped them spot especially problematic enemies for their team to take out.
- Commander assets, which resembled Call of Duty-like killstreaks. Commanders could drop vehicles and supplies, fire artillery, and use UAVs to give their side a leg up.
- An option to chat with other squad leaders to get a better insight into what is going on.
Commander mode was also featured in the futuristic Battlefield 2142, with it working just as it did in BF2. It offered similar assets as well as a Move Titan command and an EMP option.
While Commander mode skipped the fan-favorite entry Battlefield 3, it made a triumphant return in Battlefield 4, with DICE taking the mechanic to new heights. Instead of simply being a boots-on-the-ground soldier with extra abilities, there was a dedicated Commander slot on each side, and Commanders were locked to the Commander View screen. As opposed to just a handful of assets, players had three categories of tools at their disposal: Default, Main, and Squad. Default included basic UAVs and EMPs, Main offered deadly assets like the Cruise Missile and AC-130 which rewarded good gameplay, and Squad allowed Commanders to gear up select groups with Vehicles and quicker respawns.
Best of all was that Battlefield 4’s take on Commander came with a companion app, meaning that if players were lying in bed, sitting in their living room, or traveling, they could still get the Commander experience. By making Commander a dedicated role that players could access whenever they didn't want to or couldn’t play normal Battlefield, it allowed someone to fully focus on fulfilling their job and guiding a team to victory. There were so many assets that a Commander would be kept busy for a full match without ever getting bored, and there was enough depth to the system that Commanders could make or break a match depending on how tactical they were. Unfortunately, the feature has not been present in Battlefield Hardline, BF1, BF5, or 2042, leaving fans without a fresh take on Commander for several years.
Commander Mode Would Be a Perfect Seasonal Headliner for Battlefield 6
Though it’s clear that Commander mode is not planned for Battlefield 6's debut, as it surely would have been teased by now, perhaps it could make its way to the game after release. Cell phones and mobile gaming have only become more common as the years have gone on, making another Companion app viable, especially if Battlelog and player stats were to be integrated into the same place. Some proper systems could be put in place for battle pass progression and exclusive rewards for skilled Commanders in BF6, giving more fans a reason to try it. Plus, it’d be a great option to have for older players who are too busy to hop on their console as much as they'd like, or those who have to travel often, as they can pull out their phone and take part in a Battlefield experience. BF6 is already set to include so much of what makes the series great, but Commander Mode’s return really would be the perfect extra touch.
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
