Battlefield 6 Supports Optional Cross-Play for Gamers
▼ Summary
– Battlefield 6 introduces a “preferred input” matchmaking system, grouping controller users together and mouse/keyboard players separately to reduce input-based advantages.
– Cross-play between input types will only occur when necessary to fill lobbies, prioritizing fairness while maintaining quick matchmaking.
– The game treats cross-play as a fallback option, matching console players together first before expanding to full cross-play if needed.
– Matchmaking will prioritize ping for server proximity, with skill factoring in variably by game mode, though exact SBMM details remain unclear.
– Battlefield 6 launches on October 10, 2025, featuring large-scale battles, class-based combat, vehicles, and destruction, with an open beta starting August 9.
Battlefield 6 introduces a refined cross-play system designed to balance fairness and accessibility for all players. The latest installment in the franchise will implement a “preferred input” matchmaking approach, ensuring controller users on consoles primarily face opponents with similar setups, while mouse-and-keyboard players on PC are grouped accordingly. This system aims to minimize input-based advantages while maintaining fast queue times by only mixing input methods when necessary to fill lobbies.
Alexia Christofi, the game’s producer, clarified that cross-play prioritizes keeping players within their preferred platform community. If regional player counts are too low for stable matchmaking, the system expands to include other platforms. This hybrid model seeks to improve competitive integrity without sacrificing matchmaking speed or connection quality. Players retain full control, with the option to toggle cross-play on or off in the settings.
The decision follows feedback from Battlefield 2042, where unrestricted cross-play between consoles and PC often led to lopsided matches. Battlefield 6 repositions cross-play as a secondary solution, activated only when necessary to avoid fragmented player bases or excessive wait times.
Beyond input-based matchmaking, EA has addressed concerns about skill-based matchmaking (SBMM). While ping remains the primary factor for server placement, skill levels will influence matchmaking to varying degrees depending on the game mode and available players. Exact mechanics are still under wraps, but the goal is to strike a balance between competitive fairness and accessibility.
Fans can expect the series’ signature elements, massive battles, squad-based tactics, vehicular combat, and dynamic destruction, to return with enhanced mechanics. The game launches on October 10, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC, with an open beta kicking off on August 9 for early adopters.
(Source: GAMESPOT)
