Call of Duty’s Slump Hands Battlefield 6 the Advantage
▼ Summary
– Call of Duty’s recent releases, like Black Ops 6 and Warzone, feature absurd crossover skins (e.g., Beavis and Butthead, Ninja Turtles), eroding its military shooter identity.
– Players are increasingly frustrated with Call of Duty’s direction, creating an opportunity for Battlefield 6 to appeal to fans seeking a more grounded military experience.
– Battlefield 6 aims to return to a simpler, class-based military shooter style, inspired by earlier Battlefield titles, with no named operators or immersion-breaking skins.
– EA faces skepticism due to mixed signals, like initially allowing all classes to use any weapon and planning a free battle royale mode to attract 100 million players.
– Despite EA’s missteps, Battlefield 6 has potential to win cultural favor over Call of Duty if it avoids repeating Battlefield 2042’s rocky launch.
The recent identity crisis plaguing Call of Duty may finally give Battlefield 6 the upper hand in reclaiming the military shooter throne. Players are growing weary of Activision’s relentless push toward absurd crossover skins and chaotic aesthetics, creating an opening for EA’s rival franchise to deliver a more grounded experience.
For years, Call of Duty’s shift toward flashy, immersion-breaking cosmetics has alienated fans who once appreciated its military realism. The latest installment, Black Ops 6, continues this trend with cartoonish collaborations, Beavis and Butthead, American Dad, and even the Ninja Turtles now share the battlefield. While these skins generate short-term buzz, they’ve left many questioning whether the series has lost its way.
Enter Battlefield 6, which appears to be doubling down on the gritty, tactical roots that defined classics like Battlefield 3 and 4. Early playtests reveal a return to dusty urban warfare, dynamic destruction, and class-based combat, elements that once set the franchise apart. EA’s key art reinforces this direction, depicting anonymous soldiers with faces obscured, emphasizing teamwork over individual heroics.
Still, skepticism lingers. EA’s ambitious goal of 100 million players, fueled by a free battle royale mode, raises concerns about monetization creeping in. And while the studio recently backtracked on open-class weapon restrictions after fan backlash, the misstep suggests lingering uncertainty in its vision.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. The last head-to-head clash in 2021 saw Battlefield 2042 stumble badly, despite Call of Duty also having an off year. This time, with Activision’s franchise leaning further into gimmicks, Battlefield 6 has a rare chance to win back disillusioned fans, if it doesn’t trip over its own ambition.
(Source: PCGAMER)
