Why Battlefield 6’s Comprehensive Playtests Are Essential

The buzz is building around the next Battlefield game, which is officially in development, though we’re still largely in the dark about specifics like its gameplay, setting, or storyline. With such a massive project involving at least four studios, it’s not surprising that tidbits slip out during development, and recently, Battlefield 6 has been the subject of numerous leaks.

Tom Henderson from Insider Gaming has been quite the fountain of leaks regarding Battlefield 6 over the past year. His latest report offers a fascinating glimpse into the sequel’s development. On November 19, Henderson revealed that Battlefield 6 is undergoing the largest playtests in the series’ history, featuring both intimate feedback sessions and expansive play sessions. Initially, this might sound overwhelming, but it’s probably what the Battlefield series desperately needs.

Why Battlefield 6’s Playtests Are Necessary

The Battlefield series has a bumpy history when it comes to game launches. October 2013 saw the release of Battlefield 4, which was marred by a multitude of technical challenges right out of the gate. From major server outages booting players mid-game to serious netcode issues causing frustrating lag, plus progression-stalling bugs and minor glitches like incorrect audio cues—all these problems made Battlefield 4’s initial phase a rocky one.

The situation was dire enough that EA and DICE halted all scheduled updates and expansions for Battlefield 4, shifting focus solely to fixing these issues. Despite EA’s CEO Andrew Wilson promising Eurogamer in June 2014 that they’d learned from this and it wouldn’t happen again, 2018’s Battlefield V repeated past mistakes. It struggled with lengthy matchmaking waits, tracking glitches, server filter problems, clunky UI, and a range of other headaches—tarnishing its controversial launch. Battlefield 2042 stumbled again, leaving many fans disillusioned with the series.

If Battlefield 6 is truly seeing more playtesting than ever, that’s a promising sign. These extensive tests should allow developers to identify and resolve problems well before players dive into the full game, hopefully ensuring a much smoother release. In today’s gaming world, where server issues can have long-term negative impacts, Battlefield 6 cannot afford another launch fiasco.

Playtests Support Battlefield 6’s Player-First Approach

In a chat with Vince Zampella, Head of Respawn and Group GM for EA Studios, IGN’s Kat Bailey in September highlighted how the Battlefield team is eager to deliver the experience fans crave. Zampella emphasized efforts to recapture the essence of beloved titles like Battlefield 3 and 4.

These rigorous playtests for the upcoming Battlefield installment are likely to guide developers in crafting the gameplay content fans are yearning for.

Expanding on the franchise’s experiences, Battlefield 2042’s efforts are noteworthy. Released on November 19, 2021, it aimed to revive the franchise’s signature all-out warfare with advanced weaponry and immersive multiplayer battles. Players engage in both large-scale and close-quarters combat, experiencing revamped versions of Conquest and Breakthrough. Battlefield Portal allows for creative exploration and sharing of unique scenarios from the series’ past and present. Although not without its issues, the game targets cross-platform play between PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and previous console generations.

With such ambitious projects, thorough playtests are crucial for aligning with players’ expectations and ensuring a memorable Battlefield experience.