2021 is supposedly the year ofBattlefield 6, and while fans are hoping for a proper return to form for the series, an uninspired or unfitting setting could derail the franchise’s return. WhileBattlefield 6likely hasa World War 3 focus, there has been no official confirmation regarding whether the many leaks are legitimate. As such, there is still potential for the sequel not to be set in the modern day, and if that is the case, there are a few settings that DICE should steer clear of.
With the previous entry in theBattlefieldseries being controversial, and fans demanding another modern entry in the series for years,Battlefield 6has a clear path to success ahead. While it is likely that DICE will listen to the franchise’s player base and provide a heavily requested return to modernBattlefield, it is possible that DICE continues to push the envelope with its flagship series. If an unpredictable setting does come about, though, there are a few time periods that could prove disastrous.
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The Civil War (1861-1865)
While a modern setting would giveBattlefield 6competition withModern Warfare, facing off with Activision’s sales juggernaut would be a wiser alternative than going too far back into history. The Civil War has remained untouched in bothCall of DutyandBattlefieldfranchises, and it is easy to understand why. While it is undoubtedly a major war and an important turning point in history, there would be little interesting about the setting from a gameplay perspective.
With the conflict essentially boiling down to two sides standing still and firing at each other while reloading wildly slow lever action rifles, it seems best thatBattlefieldavoids the Civil War. While there is fun to be had fromCivil War simulation games, and DICE could play with history like it did duringBattlefield 1, it would be better to avoid the setting entirely. With no vehicles apart from horses and a massive lack of weapon variety, The Civil War is a poor fit for the franchise.
World War 2 (1939-1945)
WithBattlefield 5already covering World War 2, covering the same setting in back-to-back games would hardly gain much interest. While the era offers some of the most iconic locations, weaponry, and vehicles in the history of military combat, many if not all have appeared inBattlefield 5. Further, the latestBattlefieldtitle to take place in this era was not as well received as previousBattlefieldgames, with onlyBattlefield 5’s absurd easter eggsbeing loved by the entire community.
While some loved the game, many more criticizedBattlefield 5for half-baked gameplay concepts, disappointing maps, and a lack of historical accuracy. Beyond this,Battlefield 5’s failed Firestormbattle royale mode served as a final blow to the game after its release, making it a wise idea to give the setting some room to breathe. WhileBattlefieldmay one day find success in a return to the greatest conflict in mankind’s history, some distance should be put betweenBattlefieldand World War 2 for the time being.
The Cold War (1947-1991)
With DICE supposedly havingambitious ideas forBattlefield 6and its large scale gameplay, it is hard to imagine a worse potential setting than the Cold War. While there are plenty of interesting aspects to the time period, such as spies, experimentation, and conspiracies, the Cold War lacks significant battles to build from. While the Vietnam War and Korean War took place during the period and could be deserving of a game of their own, the Cold War itself is a poor fit forBattlefieldfor a few key reasons.
Not only does the setting go againstBattlefield’s core values of large-scale warfare with high player counts and a mix of vehicle and infantry play, but the recentrelease ofCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold Warwould likely lead to too much of the same. With many players preferring variety in their FPS games, seeing two of the biggest names in the genre dabbling with the Cold War would lead to some feeling that the setting was overdone. As such, DICE should avoid this time period along with the Civil War and World War 2.
