After spending a few hours in the Battlefield 6 open beta, I walked away genuinely impressed. The game feels gritty, intense, and unmistakably Battlefield in a way we haven’t seen in years. From the atmospheric visuals to the revamped class system, there’s a strong foundation here. Still, not everything lands perfectly, and a few areas could use refinement before launch. Here’s a breakdown of the highlights and concerns from my first hands-on session.

What Battlefield 6 Gets Right

Atmosphere That Hits Hard

The very first thing that stood out was the atmosphere. The visuals are stunning—dust clouds, smoke, and debris make every match feel like a true warzone. Vehicles and soldier models are more grounded than the stylized approach of 2042, giving the game a much more authentic tone. Simply put, Battlefield feels like Battlefield again.

Destruction That Matters

Explosives and heavy weapons make the environment feel alive. Buildings crumble, cover disappears, and new routes open up mid-match. It’s powerful without being chaotic, striking a solid balance that keeps the flow dynamic and prevents camping.

Gunplay Feels Tight

Weapons carry real weight, with punchy recoil and quick time-to-kill (TTK). Most guns feel balanced, though shotguns hit a little harder than expected. Leaning, wall mounting, and bipods all function smoothly—though the latter is pretty pointless outside of aiming down sights. Overall, firefights are satisfying and fair.

Movement Evolves the Formula

Movement feels more fluid than ever. Combat rolls, fast slides, crouch sprinting, diving through doors, and even lying on your back all add new layers of control. Sliding might be slightly overpowered due to its speed and distance, but the system as a whole makes navigating the battlefield fun and dynamic.

Classes Return

The traditional class system is back, and it’s a welcome return. Each role feels purposeful again, with signature gadgets reinforcing their identities. Support juggling both ammo and healing is unusual but works surprisingly well, while Assault having the option for a second primary weapon opens up aggressive, flexible playstyles.

Where It Needs Work

Vehicles Feel Off

Driving vehicles is clunky, and turret sensitivity in first-person mode is painfully low. Maps feel cramped for large-scale vehicle play, and constant rocket spam only makes the experience more frustrating. Right now, ground vehicles don’t feel nearly as fun as infantry combat.

HUD Overload

The HUD is overly busy, constantly bombarding players with outlines, notifications, and giant markers. It pulls attention away from the action and hurts immersion. Dialing this back would make the already-strong visuals stand out even more.

Gameplay Pacing Feels Too Fast

This is the biggest concern. While Battlefield has always been more arcade than mil-sim, BF6 currently feels too twitchy. Grenade animations, reloads, and vaulting are lightning-fast, while sliding covers unrealistic distances. Combined with the quick TTK, the game doesn’t give much breathing room to strategize or soak in its visuals. A small slowdown could go a long way toward restoring Battlefield’s classic, methodical pacing.

Final Thoughts

Battlefield 6 has the atmosphere, destruction, and class design fans have been missing. The gunplay is fun, the maps look great, and the movement system is a big step forward. But the overly fast pacing, vehicle frustrations, and cluttered HUD hold it back from being the full Battlefield experience. If DICE can fine-tune these elements before release, Battlefield 6 has the potential to be a true return to form for the series.