Battlefield 6and “leaks” go hand-in-hand, with every day seemingly bringing gamers more pieces of information about the shooter. Thus far, gamers have learned a lot about what the nextBattlefieldwill feature, ranging from a robot dog to expansive destruction mechanics. A battle royale mode has also been rumored, while a near-future setting and 128 player count are all-but-confirmed. However, when it comes to what the game doesnothave,Battlefield 6’s apparent lack of a campaignhas surprised some fans.
With known competitorCall of Dutyreceiving heavy backlash when a campaign was left out ofCall of Duty: Black Ops 4, it seems likely that not everyone will be happy about this leak. However,Battlefield 6fans should not be overly disappointed by this news, as the franchise’s history with campaigns has been mixed. UnlikeCall of Duty’s history with singleplayer campaigns, there have been few memorable moments inBattlefield’s story modes, and some entries never even had them to begin with. Further, with no campaign allowing DICE to focus on multiplayer content more players will enjoy, skipping a campaign could be viewed as a positive.
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Battlefield’s Inconsistent History With Campaigns
Battlefield’s past campaigns have varied heavily in their quality, meaning that the removal of the feature is not nearly as devastating as it would be for other franchises. WhiletheBattlefield: Bad Companyseriesdelivered some great memories for fans through its strong singleplayer offerings, they are the outlier. BothBattlefield 3andBattlefield 4told average stories with few standout missions. While some players enjoyed these campaigns for what they were, the audience was limited. Characters like Blackburn and Recker were one-dimensional and forgettable, while the levels did nothing special to set them apart from other campaigns.
With DICE seemingly realizing that this was an issue, the developer decided to change-up its style of singleplayer campaigns forBattlefield 1andBattlefield 5. In place of a full-length story focused on one lengthy plot, a series of mini-campaigns were delivered.Given the name “War Stories,” these groups of missions focused on different soldiers from different factions of the World Wars. Players experienced a variety of characters' stories, ranging from a tank crew to a fighter pilot. Across each of these short stories, an overall theme of honoring those that fought in World War 1 or World War 2 was seen — which is exactly why War Stories doesn’t work inBattlefield 6.
Battlefield 6is supposedly set in the near-future, giving players the chance to experience “World War 3.” The story will supposedly focus on Russia vs. America, with both countries paying mercenaries from the world to fight for their cause. While this is certainly an interesting premise, it goes against the values that War Stories were built upon. It makes little sense to honor fictional heroes from a nonexistent war, especially when mercenaries are only fighting for money. Serious and emotional stories make little sense for this narrative. While this does not mean that a campaign would be bad, War Stories specifically would be a poor fit for the story DICE is trying to tell.
With War Stories not working, and traditional campaigns only being done well inBad Company, it is easy to see why DICE would not be eager torevisit a story mode inBattlefield 6. On top of this, longtimeBattlefieldfans will remember that the first several games did not feature campaigns at all.Battlefield: 1942,Battlefield 2,Battlefield: 2142, andBattlefield: 1943all focused entirely on multiplayer, and it was hardly an issue for fans. In fact,Battlefield 2andBattlefield: 1943are considered some of the best games in the series, as players remember maps like Strike at Karkand and Wake Island fondly.
While the news is understandably sad for singleplayer fans, theBattlefieldfranchise is defined by its multiplayer. The series is known forits massive player counts, destructible maps, and engaging mix of vehicle and infantry combat. As such, leaving the campaign behind should not be a deal breaker for those interested in the game. Instead of seeing it as a negative and a bad sign for the project’s overall quality, gamers should instead be optimistic about the decision. By not focusing on a campaign, DICE can double down on what gives theBattlefieldseries such a strong reputation.
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How Skipping A Campaign Could Benefit Battlefield 6
By not having a campaign, DICE can focus entirely on pleasing gamers with a stellar multiplayer experience. Players could get more content, ranging from maps and game modes to weapons and vehicles. By leaning into the concept ofsoldiers from around the worldbeing involved in the conflict, DICE is free to pull equipment from every military organization on the planet. It could also feature any locations it wants to, as a lack of a campaign means there are no off-limits areas or narrative guidelines to adhere to. Everything from the White House to the Eiffel Tower could feature as a map, giving players some exciting locations to battle through.
With no time and resources spent on a campaign mode, DICE can double down on the multiplayer features. New additions like crash landings could be fleshed out and meaningful, while more detailed animations could be added to the game. Extra effort could befocused onBattlefield’s destruction, and if rumors are to be believed, this could see natural disasters impacting maps in major ways. On top of this, DICE could keep the game going for longer, using the extra budget to deliver more content months or years after the game has launched.
Skipping out on a campaign could give DICE the necessary time to deliver a strongBattlefieldbattle royale mode. There is no denying the popularity of battle royale, and such an addition would surely attract a larger audience than an average story campaign. With potential for vehicles play, several maps, and deep levels of destruction,Battlefield’s battle royale could provide some serious competition forCall of Duty: Warzone. WhileBattlefield 5’s Firestorm was treated as an afterthought, the new battle royale could be a defining feature ofBattlefield 6. With a deep co-op experience also possible, there are some great options on the table for a campaign replacement.
Lastly, and most importantly, skipping out on a campaign gives DICE one less thing to focus on for the sequel. WithBattlefield 4’s cross-gen launch being a mess back in 2013, ensuring that the same netcode and stability issues are not present inBattlefield 6is a must. Further, withBattefield 5being so divisive, focusing completely on the mode that matters most makes sense. With DICE needing to impress fans and win players back withBattlefield 6, prioritizing the game’s multiplayer component is the right move. Not only is aBattlefield 6campaign unnecessary, but leaving it on the cutting room floor might just lead to a more polished game.
Battlefield 6is expected to release for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S later this year.
