Battlefield 6 vs Battlefield 2042 – How do the two modern shooters compare?

Whether you’re new to Battlefield or you’re just not sure what the difference is between the last two iterations, this Battlefield 6 vs Battlefield 2042 run-through will tell you all you need to know. BF6 and BF 2042 are often mentioned in the same breath; by way of comparison, though, they’re not exactly on the same page. 

Here we’ll go through the key elements of comparison to deliver an overall view and final score for each. Granted, we’re still waiting on the Battlefield 6 release date to arrive, so we’ll want to ensure our scores and views are reviewed when it does. However, we spent a considerable amount of time in the early access and open betas, so we’ll draw directly from that in our initial scoring.

Set in the titular year of 2042, Battlefield’s experiment in near-future themed military action was moderately successful when it launched. According to reports, it holds the position as the second-fastest-selling Battlefield game in its first week. It trails only Battlefield 3, with 4.23 million copies sold.

That’s impressive, although according to Steam Charts, it has trailed 2016’s BF1 in terms of player counts for a large portion of its lifespan. That means its long-term legacy is a little less shiny, which is why so much hope is being placed on Battlefield 6. However, that anticipation comes in twice as heavy for BF6.

For one, due to 2042’s future theme and perceived move away from the core BF ‘feel’ (plus, no server browser, mediocre map selection, no classic class system, etc), Battlefield 2042 didn’t really feel like Battlefield. For two, although 2042 felt more like an FPS than a BF game, it didn’t really deliver as either. Now, Battlefield 6 needs to, somehow, excel at both.

EA surely hopes that any comparisons between BF6 vs BF 2042 leave the latter eating dust. Despite a tricky development cycle, the early signs are solid. There was huge support during open beta, which drew massive hype for a game returning to its modern military roots. However, post 2042, Battlefield 6 needs to impress Battlefield ‘purists’ and FPS fans seeking Black Ops alternatives. 

Battlefield 6 looks the part: there’s no doubt it’s the slickest seeming Battlefield game yet, in terms of pure aesthetics. Dice’s ‘Tactical Destruction’ mechanics also add chaos to some stunning, varied maps. And, based on the beta player count at least, there’s plenty to be optimistic about. There are some concerns, too. 

The debate about class-locked weapons goes on, with BF6 opting for a more customizable loadout with class ‘proficiencies’ impacting gunplay. The returning ‘Rush’ mode is another flag for some, being smaller and infantry-based, while concerns about TTD (time-to-death), TTK (time-to-kill), and CoD-like movement persist. 

This is a tricky one for any Battlefield 2042 vs Battlefield 6 joust. While Battlefield 2042 does a decent job of holding the torch on objective-based gameplay, it’s a little let down by distractions like unsatisfying environments, average-feeling vehicles, occasionally wonky hit registry, and ultimately, the flow of matches isn’t aging magnificently in our view. 

There is chaos here, but it’s not always the fun kind. That’s because even though BF 2042 gameplay supports up to 128-player matches, adding good scale, enjoyment is always more than player numbers. Objective-based play doesn’t feel so rewarding, and the ‘smaller’ game modes like Breakthrough can feel like they snowball too quickly to victory or defeat. 

For Battlefield 6, while it’s stepped out in new FPS-feeling clothing, the early responses to BF6 gameplay feel mostly positive. We’d say that’s fair, as objective-based gameplay is rewarding even if you’re not a strong FPS, K/D ratio-focused player. Plus, matches appear to flow well around the maps, with variation in the pace of victories and defeats.

It’s clear that BF6’s player movements are more FPS-tuned, and the intended feel is more fast-paced triple-A chaos than methodically or tactically repositioning across a battlefield, than some fans may like. It works solidly, though, and while scale and absorption into all-out war are credible blemishes for now, the quality of gameplay appears focused and impactful.

Battlefield 2042 launched with 7 new maps and now has 16, plus 6 Portal-accessible classics like Noshahr Canals and El Alamein. But do the maps of Battlefield 2042 deliver quality? Well, not consistently. Reworks were deployed across maps to improve flow for both Breakthrough and Conquest game modes. Improvements? Yes. A clear win? No.

One of the oddest BF 2042 maps for us is Hourglass, a map where spawning or pushing into the middle of nowhere (desert) without any cover feels like a feature. And Kaleidoscope? A vertical-but-not-needed “what is this?” concoction of confusion. The game does have solid, large-scale options like Renewal and reliably enjoyable maps like Orbital and Spearhead, but there’s no continued joy in the rotation. 

For Battlefield 6 maps, we have 9 from launch, although we didn’t get to play them all in the open betas. Dice has been speaking about its adaptively designed combat zones, and some of this was witnessed and enjoyed by us across the five accessible multiplayer modes available during the beta.

While the mostly distinct locations are mainly enjoyable and varied (so far), BF6’s map adaptability is yet to be fully tested across all game modes. However, while close-quarters gameplay (Empire State, Siege of Cairo) feels well-tuned, BF6 is yet to show a large-scale, classic Battlefield feel. Liberation Peak is a bit…Liberation Mid, but Mirak Valley and the returning Operation Firestorm offer potential here.

For BF 2042, futuristic-styled weapons are par for the course, and there are now over 40 combined weapons for the release, which is a fair amount. We don’t have space to go through all of them here, but we will say that even for a 2021 title, the weapon feel isn’t great. Things feel a little clunky and a pretty unrealistic, although the variety of options is solid.

Something BF 2042 doesn’t have, and has in common with BF6, is class-locked or class-closed weapons. So you can certainly pick a sniper or marksman rifle as an engineer, for example. 

This leads to some interesting approaches to gameplay, even if hit-reg issues seem to persist, and securing a kill can sometimes feel like chasing soup with a fork unless your accuracy is on point; unless you use meta loadouts…which can feel overpowered. Our experience of BF 2042 weapons isn’t great, but the variety is good.

When it comes to Battlefield 6 weapons, it’s less of a polarising BF6 vs BF 2042 in terms of implementation and variety, although gun-feel is a matter we’ll get to. Again, we have no class-closed weapons, although if a selectable matchmaking option makes it to release, that would be a win. Unshackled from futurism, there are more than 50 modern guns and gadgets.

Battlefield 6 is dialling in a crisp aesthetic, and the guns look the part, even if (as with 2042) some combinations of attachments feel too advantageous. The main win for BF6 here is that its gunplay feels smooth, fast, impactful, and looks great. However, hampered by a TTD (time to death) issue during beta and ludicrously low ammo capacities, tweaks could improve things.

I’m not shy in saying it: I bought BF 2042 for $3, which is outstanding value for a game that debuted in 2021 at $60 (Xbox One, PS4, PC) and $70 (Xbox Series X/S, PS5). If you like your games discounted and decent, it’s a good addition today at 95% off, even if you need 100GB of disk space. 

Objectively, at the time, the Battlefield 2024 price was contentious. ‘New-gen’ pricing sadly upped the expected MSRP, and it’s hard to imagine paying $70 for BF 2042 now, although there was little choice at launch apart from not owning the game. For a direct comparison, I’m going to score based on its original price, but at $3, it’s a 9/10. 

Right then, the Battlefield 6 price. First off, $100 for a game, even if it’s the deluxe Phantom Edition, feels painful. Clearly, games can provide years of fun and entertainment, but there’s no getting away from the cost, even for the $70 Standard Edition. 

Come the Battlefield 6 release date, I’m sure some gamers will have saved to buy it, but honestly, ouch. 

Although I will buy the game, for professional (reporting) and leisure reasons, if it were just for leisure, I’m less sure I would. It doesn’t matter that such pricing is being normalized either; there’s no getting away from the fact that $70 is still as big an issue for Standard Editions today as it was for next-gen purchases four years ago. 

For all its missteps and failure to live up to early sales, BF 2042 is a largely enjoyable experience if you can find a big discount. It’s not the best Battlefield game, but it has its moments of rewarding joy. Plus, there’s plenty of replayability if you can forgive some of its foibles. Not great but good, although it feels like it should have been better.

On the other side, Battlefield 6 is shaping up to be a potentially thrilling FPS overhaul for BF. Based on extensive exposure to Battlefield 6 beta gameplay, there’s no doubt that it’s a high-production, gritty, and impressive-seeming addition. However, its cost is a problem, while its gameplay feels fresh and frenetic, even if its maps may leave us wanting more expanse.