Since its launch, Battlefield 6 has been divisive. If the title shines with its ambitions and technical innovations, many voices are raised against the size of its cards. Too vast, too open, too monotonous… for many players, the pace of the game is unbalanced, making certain parts frustrating. DICE seems to have heard these criticisms, and is already making adjustments without trumpeting it.
Reduced maps, lower number of players
Several players have noticed a reduction in the number of participants in certain game modes. On several very open maps like Empire State, Manhattan Bridge or New Sobek City, Breakthrough mode has quietly gone from 64 to 48 players. A decision which aims to limit the “rat race” effect felt by many participants in these sprawling environments.
The developers acknowledge that map sizes are “under review.” They explain that Battlefield is at its best “when maps offer different ways to play and consistent action at every turn.” A statement which immediately reignited the debate among fans of the license, some regretting the more tactical and spaced out rhythm of the old opuses.
Beta maps were intentionally smaller
One of the major criticisms of the game was the feeling of suffocation in some of the beta maps. Here again, DICE responds: these maps “were intentionally smaller than those that will be available in the final version”. A way to test the intensity of the clashes and adjust the formula before the full launch.
But this strategy backfired, with many players feeling that these cards broke the very DNA of the series. In Battlefield, verticality, fallback zones, vehicle management and the distribution of clashes have always been key. Too much proximity, and the game loses strategy. Too much space, and it becomes slow, boring, even barren.
Towards a new balance for the coming seasons
With the California Resistance update, a new map called Eastwood has just arrived. It will serve as a laboratory for future adjustments. The studio says it will continue to monitor “existing maps and modes for targeted adjustments” and will also draw inspiration from community creations via Portal mode.
The announced goal is to offer a variety of card types for the coming seasons, without denying the richness of the Battlefield sandbox. It will not be a question of choosing between small or large cards, but of creating a relevant balance between different formats. The developers want to prove that “there are different types of Battlefield maps in all games”, and that there is something for everyone.