The pre-release discussion surroundingBattlefield 6is now in full swing, with attention around the franchise firmly moving away from the up-and-down life-cycle of2042and towards the next ambitious steps for the longstanding series. Early rumors and reports have offered glimpses of what kind of experienceBF6will bring for some time now, yet recent developments regarding the game’s large-scale playtesting have opened up a whole new world of information around the project.
While there are some elements ofBattlefield 6that are entirely new additions to the franchise, it is no secret that DICE is aiming to recapture the classic themes and experiences of prior games likeBF3andBF4, while moving away from the more divisive mechanics ofBattlefield 2042. The recently leaked gameplay footage ofBF6’s early playtesting has offered a fantastic insight into this, with the project seemingly doing an excellent job at carrying forward the IP’s legacy of excellent sound design.
Battlefield 6’s Sound Design Seems to Honor the Franchise’s Most Successful Titles
TheBattlefieldfranchise has done well over the years to consistently stamp its presence in the highly competitive industry of first-person shooters, with the IP arguably being the only other major shooter series to directly contend with Activision’sCall of Duty. 2025 is rare in that it is set to seethe launch of a brand-newBattlefieldandCall of Dutyrelease, with DICE seemingly pulling out all the stops to dial things back to the winning formula of fan-favorite prior releases such as 2011’sBattlefield 3.
Battlefieldhas remained so popularthanks to its complex portrayal of large-scale warfare. Its chaotic land, sea, and air battles and interactive environments make for an experience that is quite removed from other major franchises likeCoD. These all combine to foster a fantastic sense of immersion withinBattlefield’s multiplayer, and the consistently responsive sound design of the franchise’s entries have played a huge role in reinforcing this aspect of the series.
Across all classicBattlefieldgames, the painstaking sound design of character screams, explosions, and bullets flying all within different types of environments has always been shared and proudly displayed, and it seems thatBattlefield 6is not shying away from its own impressive audio. For example, it is confirmed thatBF6is aiming to emulate the likes ofBF3through a return to things like 64-player matches, smaller maps, a more grounded modern-day setting, and sound quality.
As well as these changes,Battlefield 6is seemingly moving away from the divisive operators ofBF2042in favor of more generic and realistic player characters, which is another big win for fans of the more traditionalBattlefieldexperience.
Battlefield 6’s Sound Design Stole the Show Throughout Recent Playtesting
To keep fan feedback at the heart ofBF6’s development,DICE is currently hosting the most rigorous early playtesting of any title inBattlefield’s history. Recently leaked gameplay footage of this early build of the game is a testament to itsBF3andBF4inspirations. Many fans were quick to praise the visceral sound design showcased throughout the footage, taking such a high level of sound design in such an early build of the game as a great sign for its eventual quality at launch.
WhileBattlefield 2042’s loudest criticisms concerned things like its over-extended mapsand lack of staple features around the time of its launch, the sound design for the title also received its fair share of negative sentiment. A return to the perceived “golden age” ofBattlefieldwould not be complete without a level of sound design that can rival the bestBFentries of the past, andBattlefield 6thankfully seems to already be making good progress in this department.
