Hands On: Battlefield 6 Is An Xbox Series X|S Showpiece, Even In Beta Form

After a four-year lull, Battlefield returns, and the freshly-minted Battlefield Studios has clearly taken earlier feedback to heart. Almost every twist introduced in Battlefield 2042 has been rolled back, making way for a traditional entry that focuses on the components that historically defined the franchise: sprawling, explosive skirmishes on crumbling battlefields that blend infantry firefights with all-out vehicular warfare. The whole production also dazzles on Xbox Series X|S, thanks to its current-gen exclusivity.

The title in question is Battlefield 6, now available on our consoles—albeit in beta form. Across the coming weekends, players can dive into numerous BF6 arenas and playlists on Series X and S before launch, with every detail documented in our in-depth beta guide further down.

Housekeeping sorted: yes, Battlefield 6 absolutely feels like a renaissance for the franchise. We’re not claiming it’s flawless—some facets still warrant concern—but the beating heart of BF6 is such a dramatic leap from 2042 that we can’t help but applaud what Battlefield Studios has achieved. One improvement stands out right away: BF6 is no slouch in the performance department on present-generation hardware—quite the opposite.

The beta’s environments are stunning: gust-swept downtown streets, sweeping alpine ranges, and every little thing in between. Visually, the BF6 beta delivers shots we haven’t seen from the brand in years, complete with destruction that accentuates every last pixel. Marry the aesthetics of Battlefield 3 with the tech chops of Battlefield 5, then dip it in next-gen sauce, and you’d land right here—and we’re absolutely on board.

What truly steals the show, though, is BF6’s audio. Slap on a quality headset and the whole atmosphere changes. Sprint across an objective and you’ll catch every rustle of fabric, every footfall pounding concrete, every chunk of grit kicked up in your wake—anchoring you firmly in this digital warzone. Once bullets start flying, things truly ramp up. The crack of rifles and the snarl of engines are pitch-perfect, weaving a soundscape so immersive it elevates the entire package—especially when experienced through decent gear.

In terms of the essentials, BF6’s beta delivers the goods; but what about the extra layers that push an online shooter over the top? Right now the seasoning is decent, yet there’s clear headroom for refinement—something we’re earnestly banking on for launch.

First up, the perennial Battlefield quandary of time-to-kill makes an appearance: testers feel it’s just slightly too snappy. Foes drop a fraction too abruptly, and when you’re the one catching lead, the sting lands instantly. Coupled with overly generous hip-fire accuracy on full-auto guns, the flow can veer toward twitchy, arcade territory—something we’d love rebalanced before release.

Broadly, the weapon handling skews toward today’s Call of Duty / Warzone feel—a sturdy foundation. Still, we’d welcome further tightening from the team. Firearms could possess more heft, mirroring the classic Battlefield cadence, if we’re picking nits. The current model isn’t a deal-breaker; combat already feels leagues better than 2042. That said, a couple of extra passes on weapon heft and TTK could clinch a superb shooting experience.

Summing up: we’re thoroughly impressed by Battlefield 6’s multiplayer thus far—based strictly on our ongoing beta sessions. It looks and sounds utterly spectacular on Xbox Series X|S, boasts a remarkable degree of polish for a test build, and largely represents a colossal stride in the right direction. There are nuances we still want tweaked before launch; however, they all fall within realistic reach. In short, the franchise appears poised for a strong resurgence. Watching it duel Black Ops 7 this year will be fascinating indeed.

Drop a comment below if you’re jumping into the BF6 beta this weekend.