What We Want vs. What They Think We Want (Battlefield 6 Edition)

After hours in the Battlefield 6 beta, the verdict is simple: Battlefield is still sitting on a goldmine, but DICE is digging in the wrong damn spot. The chaos, the sound, the cinematic moments, they’re here. But so are the same mistakes fans have been shouting about for years.

What We Want (and what still needs work)

Big Maps With Vehicles

Battlefield has always been about scale, infantry, tanks, jets, all colliding across massive playgrounds. Right now, the beta maps feel like tight deathmatch arenas. They funnel players into cramped fights that feel more like COD than Battlefield.

“12v12 no vehicles and open weapons… just a shotgun fest… leaning too hard into courting the Call of Duty crowd at the expense of battlefield DNA.” (Windows Central, community feedback)

We don’t want three-lane shooters. We want sprawling chaos where flanks matter, vehicles dominate, and infantry adapts.

A Proper Server Browser

Stop burying this in Portal. The main game needs it. A real server browser is how communities form and rivalries live on. Without it, lobbies die after one match and we’re left with matchmaking roulette.

“There needs to be a server browser so you can reliably play…the people you want to play with.” (Reddit feedback megathread)
“Without proper server browsing… it was part of what made Battlefield… Battlefield.” (Reddit)

Default servers with rotations. Persistent play. It’s not optional, it’s essential.

Class-Locked Weapons (Pick a Side, DICE)

If everyone can carry every weapon, then classes don’t matter. Squads don’t need each other. Battlefield shines when Assault is pushing, Engineers are keeping armor alive, Medics are reviving, and Recon is spotting. Right now, weapon sharing blurs roles into mush.

“PICK A LANE DICE! have confidence in your game!”

Classes need teeth, or the whole squad system collapses.

Remove Auto Spotting

The giant orange doritos over heads? They’re wallhacks. They ruin flanks, sneaky plays, and tension. Spotting should be earned, not handed out by the HUD.

“Auto spotting needs to be effectively removed… You’re effectively always being hunted… people are just chasing orange diamonds.” (Reddit)

If I line up a stealth flank, I shouldn’t be betrayed by a floating triangle from 80 meters away.

Vehicles That Don’t Feel Like Paper

Tanks disintegrating after one guy fires a couple rockets. Jets that handle like shopping carts with wings. Vehicles should be terrifying and rewarding, not a guaranteed death sentence. The point of combined arms is that a tank rolling up changes the battle, not that it evaporates on sight.

Real Destruction

Let us level buildings. Let us carve new paths. Let us reshape the battlefield. Right now, destruction is inconsistent and feels scripted. In classic Battlefield, you never knew what would collapse next, that unpredictability is the magic.
The beta teases it, but we want the full-fat Bad Company 2 and BF4 chaos again.

Uniform Clarity

Stop making me squint to tell if someone is friend or foe. Distinct factions matter. Visual clarity matters. If I need a glowing marker to know who to shoot, the art direction failed.

“I found myself shooting at or being shot at by teammates… I’m not looking for a dot in the heat of battle.” (Reddit)

Clear silhouettes and faction uniforms aren’t just immersion, they’re gameplay.

Weapon Balance

Snipers are pea-shooters unless you hit a perfect dome. Meanwhile, pocket shotguns and spammy explosives are overtuned. Everything else feels good, but snipers and shotguns need a serious pass.

Persistent Teams

Why are we still disbanding after every match? Rivalries and rematches are what fuel Battlefield nights. Losing two matches in a row and clawing out a win on the third is unforgettable, but impossible when teams dissolve after one round.

Sniper Lens Flares

Dear god. Who thought turning every sniper scope into a solar flare from space was a good idea? Glint should be subtle, not a literal lighthouse.

The Good:

Sound Design

Honestly amazing. Guns thunder, tanks roar, explosions shake. It’s Battlefield’s best weapon right now.

Destruction (when it works)

When a wall caves in and debris showers the street, it feels like Battlefield. It’s just too rare and too controlled.

Gunplay

Ground combat feels responsive, weighty, and fun. It’s not too far into COD territory, which is a relief.

Atmosphere

The sound + visuals + chaos still hit that cinematic “holy crap this is Battlefield” feeling when it all comes together.

Final Thoughts

Despite all this, the game still has moments that click. The sound design is phenomenal, guns roar, explosions rattle your bones, and tanks sound like the monsters they should be. When destruction works, it’s gorgeous, and the gunplay itself feels sharp and weighty without leaning too far into COD territory. Add in the chaos of explosions, screaming jets, and frantic firefights, and the atmosphere is pure Battlefield. Dust actually comes off jackets when heavy machine gunners fire! That is the details that immerse you!

That’s the frustration. We can see the game we want buried in here. Bigger maps, better vehicles, destruction that matters, clear factions, real classes, and a server browser. These aren’t new demands, we’ve been shouting them for years.

We don’t want gimmicks.
We don’t want hero shooters.
We don’t want recycled arcade mechanics.

We just want Battlefield.

Battlefield 6’s beta is a study in contrasts. On one hand, the game feels like Battlefield again, with destructive environments, class-based dynamics, and a darkly realistic tone. On the other, it’s plagued by decisions that dilute its identity: small maps, open weapon systems, auto-spotting, and a fractured matchmaking ecosystem.

Key fixes needed before launch:

Big, open maps that accommodate vehicles, flanking, and battlefield diversity.
A real server browser integrated into the main game (not just Portal).
Skill-based spotting (manual spotting and gadgets only).
Meaningful class roles with weapon limitations to incentivize teamwork.

Players clearly want the game that made the franchise iconic, not a watered-down, trend-chasing take. The beta shows it’s possible. Now, DICE needs to listen.