After a long hiatus, a new entry in the “Battlefield” franchise is on the horizon, and players have a chance to check out its one-of-a-kind take on the military shooter. Electronic Arts is holding a “Battlefield 6” Open Beta over two weekends in August.
The first part happens this weekend from Aug. 9 to 10. Hard-core fans can have a shot at the Early Access period, which starts today and goes until Aug. 8. All they have to do is check out any creator streaming “Battlefield 6” on Twitch to unlock it. Just make sure the Twitch account is linked to EA. Those who signed up for Battlefield Labs before July 31 or have EA Play Pro will already have access.
The second weekend runs from Aug. 14 to 17. The beta is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S.
“Battlefield 6” returns the series to a more modern setting rather than the near future of “Battlefield 2042.” The upcoming sequel takes place in 2027 after an assassination rocks the world and major European countries have left NATO. In this dark time, a private military corporation called PAX ARMATA fills the power vacuum, setting up a conflict between nations and companies.
EA is keeping the distinct combat of the “Battlefield” series intact. It’s less about a game where players frag each other, trying to get the highest kill-death ratio. The game is more about teamwork across a massive warzone, one in which squads of four are part of a larger force, and they are working together to defeat the rival army. With so many players and vehicles such as tanks, fighter jets, and jeeps on the map, it’s chaos, but that’s also part of the fun.
Another element that makes “Battlefield” distinct is its destructible environments that open up new strategies. Walls don’t mean much in the game. If a wall is blocking a path, players can blow through it. Building also aren’t castles, and though players could rain gunfire from an apartment, a tank blast could take it out or a blast from below could take them out.
Players should figure out which of the classes they want to check out during the Open Beta. They can pick from Assault, Recon, Support and Engineer. Each one has a specific set of weapons and tools to help their team win. Meanwhile, “Battlefield 6” features new elements such as the Kinesthetic Combat System that brings maneuvers such as combat rolls and drag and revives. Players can also peak and lean around corners, which minimizes the opportunities to get sniped. Players can also mount weapons across cover to reduce recoil, making weapons fire more accurately.
The open beta will give fans a taste of the experience, which launches Oct. 10.
