Battlefield 6's New Leak Should Only Be the First Step on a Longer Journey

There is plenty of positivity around Battlefield 6 following its successful open beta and given the current state of its main competition, Call of Duty. Battlefield Studios’ quickness when addressing criticism about the upcoming game has also been a point of praise. For example, after players showed concerns about the game having too many small maps, and doubting that its big maps were truly massive, another batch of Battlefield Labs testing focused on large experiences like Sobek City promptly began. Changes to helicopter controls have been promised, too, and now, it seems like the creators behind the game are addressing the topic of immersion.

While Battlefield 6’s impressive destruction, drag and revive feature, and cutting-edge graphics are all immersive aspects, there is always room to improve. The series has consistently been at the forefront of immersion, whether it be thanks to soldier dialogue, detailed weapons, accurate uniforms, or vehicle animations. Sure, Battlefield games aren’t full mil-sim experiences like ARMA, but fans of the series undoubtedly appreciate extra details when they’re present. It’s for that reason that fans have been so happy to see the return of blood splatters and mud buildup on weaponry. Considering that this feature wasn’t present in Battlefield 6’s open beta, but has been added to newer builds, there is hope for similar additions going forward.

How Battlefield 6 Can Take Immersion Even Further

bf 2042 sandstorm weather — Battlefield 2042 Sandstorm

If Battlefield Studios is looking for opportunities to increase immersion, there are numerous features that could be taken from previous entries in the franchise, as well as fresh additions. Options include:

Dynamic weather, like windstorms, day and night cycles, rain and fog, and so on. It doesn’t have to get as extreme as BF 2042‘s tornados, though the sandstorm was a good example of an “extreme” weather change.
The option to toss (or push) grenades back at enemies.
Weapon inspections, which appeared in Battlefield 5 several months after its release.
Exciting, map-specific menu music for each map during the load-up sequence.
Vehicles taking visual damage to certain areas (destroying the treads of a tank or wheels of trucks to suggest hindered movement).
The return of Battlefield’s Commander Mode, which saw a player on each team handling strategy and influencing various fights.
The option to cook grenades alongside a cleaner/slower throwing animation.
An animation for deaths where debris falls on top of the player, which older games in the series had, as soldiers would hold their hands above their heads as they were crushed.
A practice range for Battlefield 6’s vehicles, much like the shooting range that allows players to test their guns out without hopping into a game.
More manic and intense voice lines when soldiers are burning, surrounded, and so on.
Fortifications, which were a highlight of the games they appeared in.
Snipers counting off their kills when on a streak like in Battlefield 5.
First person ragdoll animations.

battlefield-4-commander-mode — bf4 commander feature

Obviously, Battlefield 6 can be a great game without any of these little details, but integrating at least some of them would go a long way to helping recapture the series’ identity. The positivity about the buildup of mud and blood shows just how much fans care about small touches in this series, as part of what makes Battlefield so special is the visceral feel of battle. It’s what 2042 lacked, and while Battlefield 6 is a huge step in the right direction, games like BF1 remain at the top of the mountain in this regard. Fortunately, BF6 has an ace up its sleeve to keep in mind.

Battlefield 6’s Immersion Can Get Better as the Game’s Life Goes On

Not only did games like Battlefield 5 add details such as weapon inspections post-launch, establishing a precedent for those kinds of additions later in a title’s life cycle, but Battlefield 6 is poised to be a proper live-service game. While seasonal updates are usually defined by battle passes, maps, and modes, perhaps each season could also bring extra enhancements to the core experience that stick around permanently. A dynamic weather-focused season could be followed up by a season centered around making vehicles feel like the star of the show, and so on. If this approach were to be taken, Battlefield 6 could feel just as immersive as BF1 with time, if not more so thanks to the deep destruction and breathtaking visuals that are already baked into the core game. At the very least, though, it seems like fans can look forward to some bloody, muddy weapons, which is awesome news for anyone with an eye for detail.