The open beta for Battlefield 6 has already become the biggest in the franchise’s history, but not without sparking debate among players. One of the most discussed topics has been the size of the maps, which many fans feel are noticeably smaller than in previous Battlefield entries.
While some players have compared the beta’s maps to Call of Duty’s Ground War mode rather than the traditionally larger Battlefield arenas, the game’s design director, Shashank Uchil, has explained the reasoning behind this choice.
“Scale Is Not Everything”
Speaking at the Battlefield 6 multiplayer reveal event, Uchil addressed concerns over the scale of the maps.
“We want to make a map that suits every type of player. They could be infantry players. So we want to make sure we have good infantry maps. Maybe a player who likes tanks, vehicles… OK, let’s make a map that’s good for infantry and tanks. You know what? I like helicopters. Let’s make a map for that. And then the jets… So let’s make a map that caters to them as well.”
According to Uchil, this design approach prioritizes specialized experiences over universally large environments. The goal is to offer maps tailored to specific playstyles, whether that’s close-quarters infantry combat or vehicle-heavy battles.
Addressing the criticism directly, Uchil added:
“Scale is not everything. Just because you have X kilometers doesn’t mean it’s going to be a good map… if you make a really big map, you’re going to fill it up with stuff. Then it becomes more of an open world, and then you start compromising on a bunch of stuff.”
Beta Breaks Franchise Records
Despite the criticism, Battlefield 6’s open beta has broken records, becoming the largest in the series’ history. The strong participation suggests that player interest is high ahead of the game’s October 10 launch.
If the final release maintains the positive momentum from the beta while addressing some of the feedback, EA may have a major hit on its hands.
