This video features a streamer playing Battlefield 5 while providing a retrospective analysis of its design philosophy and comparing it to other titles in the franchise, particularly Battlefield 1, 2042, and the upcoming Battlefield 6.
The streamer argues that Battlefield 5 made several critical missteps by abandoning the accessible and widely praised formula of Battlefield 1. Key criticisms include its attempt to merge high-fidelity, graphically demanding visuals with competitive gameplay, its focus on obscure historical battles over iconic ones, and frustrating mechanics like the attrition system and inconsistent footstep audio. Despite these flaws, the streamer notes having played it significantly more than Battlefield 2042.
A substantial portion of the discussion focuses on the future with Battlefield 6. The streamer expresses concerns over vehicle balancing in its new Battle Royale mode, suggesting tanks should be disabled in the endgame. He also praises Battlefield 6's apparent shift towards prioritizing performance and accessibility over cutting-edge graphics like ray tracing, a lesson he feels should have been learned from Battlefield 5's demanding nature.
A Veteran's Take on Battlefield 5 & Hopes for Battlefield 6
0:00 A Flawed Sequel: The streamer argues that Battlefield 5 failed to capture the magic of its predecessor, Battlefield 1, by pursuing a confusing mix of high-fidelity graphics and competitive gameplay instead of simply applying the successful BF1 formula to a World War II setting. The game's focus on obscure battles rather than iconic ones like D-Day was also a point of confusion for the community.
2:48 Significant Playtime: Despite its flaws, the streamer reveals he has 1,200 hours in Battlefield 5, double his 600 hours in the more recent Battlefield 2042, indicating the game still offered an engaging experience.
4:48 Graphics vs. Performance: A major critique of BF5 is its emphasis on being graphically demanding with features like ray tracing, which made it less accessible. The streamer praises the developers of Battlefield 6 for prioritizing performance and accessibility for a wider audience by forgoing ray tracing.
7:51 Concerns for Battlefield 6: The streamer worries that the visual immersion of Battlefield 6 could be ruined by over-the-top cosmetic skins, a concern he notes was also raised by fellow creator JackFrags.
19:34 Praising a Key Mechanic: One of BF5's praised features is its quick and responsive secondary weapon swap, especially after firing a sniper rifle. This is contrasted with the sluggish weapon swap speed experienced in the Battlefield 6 beta.
25:53 Balancing Battle Royale Vehicles: A significant concern for the upcoming Battlefield 6 Battle Royale is the presence of tanks in the final circles. The streamer suggests a balancing solution where vehicles become disabled or unusable in the endgame to ensure an infantry-focused victory.
46:06 The Attrition System: The streamer expresses a strong dislike for BF5's attrition system, which forces players to spawn with limited health and ammo and constantly search for resupply stations, stunting killstreaks and momentum.
1:09:05 The Least Accessible Battlefield: He concludes that Battlefield 5 is one of the least accessible titles in the series for new players due to its complex mechanics, directly contrasting it with Battlefield 1, which he considers one of the most accessible first-person shooters ever made.
1:35:41 Inconsistent Audio: A recurring complaint throughout the gameplay is the poor and inconsistent footstep audio in Battlefield 5, where enemies can often run up unheard.