The next addition to the Battlefield series is on the horizon, and although details are thin on the ground, there’s still a lot to unpack when it comes to Battlefield 6 (if that’s even going to be its name…) Here’s everything we know – and everything we think we know – about Battlefield 6.

Release

DICE usually releases main instalments of the series around October time, but just because that’s been the tradition so far, it doesn’t mean the team should be continuing that quantity-over-quality approach. This isn’t Call of Duty, after all. We last got Battlefield 5 in 2018, and Battlefield 4 came before that in 2013. EA has previously stated that 2021 is looking like when we can expect the next game to launch, though with the global pandemic, that’s of course subject to change.
The latest news on the release year comes via VGC, who shared a statement from an EA spokesperson on the matter.
The statement reads as follows: “The team at DICE is working on the standalone Battlefield V update releasing this summer, and continuing their work on delivering Community Games,
“While the studio’s vision for Star Wars Battlefront II is now complete with this week’s The Battle on Scarif Update, the servers, in-game challenges, recurring events and game support will continue as the game lives on with players and the community. We’re looking forward to hearing players’ stories for both games, for years to come.
“Longer term, the studio is focused on the future of Battlefield that we’ll be bringing to players in 2021.”
Let’s hope there’s not going to be too many delays to that release window!
Setting

Fans are more than ready for another great Battlefield game with a true sense of purpose and story. Longstanding Battlefield players mourn the loss of the proper community that used to surround the games, and a resurrection of that would be much appreciated.
This is exactly why some fans think that the Battlefield series is moving towards a modern-day, urban setting. Battlefield 4 (which was the 13th release for the series) was set in the modern day in the year 2020 – seven years in the future of the title’s 2013 release. The fact it’ll have been nearly a decade since the Battlefield series focused on a main title in a modern setting does support these hypotheses.
Further fuel is added to this rumour thanks to industry insider and VentureBeat reporter, Jeff Grubb, who recently took to Twitter with some claims on Battlefield 6 and Call of Duty 2020. Earlier this year, Grubb shared an article which claimed Battlefield 6 will be set in the present, adding simply: “Yup.” While this isn’t confirmation by any means, it does add some credibility to the rumours.
Scale & Gameplay
There’s a new rumour on the block that Battlefield 6 – or whatever its name may be – is going to be able to support at least 128 players, focusing still around 32v32 player combat.
Earlier this summer, known video games leaker Tom Henderson claimed to have new details on the game – specifically regarding its play counts.
The tweet by Henderson reads: “maps have been designed with 128+ players in mind. But 32 vs 32 will also be a standard playlist.”
Though this might automatically spring the idea of 64vs64 matches to mind, Henderson went on to clarify: “It doesn’t necessarily mean 64vs64 is coming. The core game is still 32vs32.”
Battlefield 5 supports up to 64 players, splitting off into squads of 16.
Another rumour currently circulating is the potential addition of day and night cycles. This new lighting change would be ideal in making the world and gameplay feel even more realistic. Again, we’re still not sure on this one, so take it with a grain of salt.
Battle Royale

Henderson also tweeted about the potential for a Battle Royale mode in the new Battlefield, writing: “There’s also been increased interest in Battle Royale due to the success of Warzone. No confirmation of a BR in the next Battlefield yet, but could EA and DICE be planning a F2P Battlefield experience?”
I’m sure lots of you are now sighing at the idea and hope that this is just Henderson spouting off, because the market is already so saturated with Battle Royales.
The Battlefield franchise has moved back over to Steam now anyway and since the move, the player count already started to restore for titles in the series like Battlefield 5. Whatever Battlefield 6 turns out to be, let’s hope that EA DICE has learned from its past mistakes and will make this the biggest and best Battlefield to date!
Featured Image Credit: EA/DICE