In the upcoming release of Battlefield 6, the developers are committed to amplifying the elements that have made the franchise so beloved. Expect expansive military engagements across land, sea, and air, featuring environments that can be completely destroyed. Although the game hasn’t launched yet, the previews have stirred excitement about its potential and what this new entry could mean for EA, especially in competition with Call of Duty.
One significant design choice has played a key role in this revitalization of the series, which has taken four years to develop. Christian Buhl, the technical director for Battlefield 6, shared insights with PC Gamer, stating, “Maybe the only magic trick is that we’re not on the PS4 or Xbox One anymore. So we’ve kind of raised the floor of what we have in terms of memory and CPU speed, and so obviously raising that floor helps with improving performance overall.”
Challenges with Console Performance
In an interesting note, Battlefield 6 has pushed the Xbox Series S to its limits, with developers reporting that the console possesses “less memory than even our mid-spec PC.” Buhl admitted, “A lot of our levels were crashing on Xbox Series S.”
Having spent some time with Battlefield 6, I can clearly see its lineage to titles like Battlefield 3 and 4; however, I do hope for more destruction within gameplay. Concerns linger regarding the size of the maps, yet I can’t deny that the game nails the essence of chaotic urban warfare.
Moving Beyond Legacy Hardware
While there remains a large pool of players on older consoles, the reality is that the technology is over ten years old. Attempting to accommodate these aging systems can hinder development, ultimately leading to a subpar gaming experience. Battlefield 6 is set to release alongside Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, which brings formidable competition. To stand out, it must elevate gameplay significantly.
Transitioning away from last-generation hardware was not about addressing existing issues; it allowed the development team to focus on maximizing their capabilities rather than limiting their scope. Buhl elaborated, “It’s the testing, it’s testing destruction, it’s optimizing different areas. We’re using the Frostbite engine, of course. The Frostbite engine was designed for Battlefield. It is built for destruction, and those elements are fundamental to the engine.”
Simply put, Buhl expressed he “doesn’t think there was a magic bullet” for this game’s development: “It was just a lot of testing, a lot of iteration, a lot of work.” If Battlefield 6 can capture the breathtaking quality of Battlefield 4, it will mark a significant achievement for the team.
DICE has already confirmed the final system requirements for Battlefield 6 on PC, revealing that “a substantial number” of beta players did not meet the necessary standards. They’ve even provided a breakdown by FPS, resolution, and settings, which shows their commitment to transparency.