After the first beta of Battlefield 6 there was criticism that the game and its movement is too fast. MeinMMO editor Dariusz Müller believes, however, that this is a boomer problem.
Battlefield 6 relies on a modern, relatively fast, and flexible movement – and that is a good thing, because it feels really good. I recently played a few rounds of Battlefield 4 again, and oh boy – that is not a movement that I like in a shooter today.
Particularly bad was the so-called “strafing”, that is, moving sideways while aiming through the sight. It was slow, so incredibly slow. In Battlefield 6 it is faster, more direct, but not exaggerated. It feels natural and is another mechanic that players can master. It is another skill test that separates the best players from the good ones and, above all, takes importance away from pure aim.
I always find it good when I have to do more in a shooter than just click as fast as possible on the opponent’s head with the crosshair. After all, I want to play Battlefield, not Aimlabs.
The general sprint speed does not differ that much between Battlefield 6 and older games, by the way. However, the old parts are very sluggish, imprecise, and slightly delayed in movement. Battlefield 6, on the other hand, plays like a shooter that comes out in 2025.
The direct, unimpeded movement is often the standard in many games today. If Battlefield 6 played like Battlefield 4, it would feel strange for shooter fans who also play other new games. However, it is good if Battlefield attracts many new players. The Battlefield veterans would also benefit from that. A great success could mean that EA wants to provide Battlefield 6 with new content for as long as possible.
Battlefield was never a simulation and should not become one
There is a part of the Battlefield community that is boiling with rage at this text. They find that Battlefield 6 is too fast, too unrealistic, and too much like Call of Duty. I suggest you play a round of Black Ops 6 and consider whether the movement is really comparable.
Black Ops 6 is much faster and offers truly extreme movement possibilities with the new Omnimovement – especially the dives and sliding in all directions are not for gray-haired gamers.
Battlefield 6 is not slow and not hyper-realistic, but it is also far from Black Ops 6. Much more importantly: Battlefield 6 does not want to be realistic – just like Battlefield 3 and 4 didn’t.
Battlefield has always been a hybrid of arcade shooters like Call of Duty and a military simulation. The latter, however, have a significantly stronger focus on hardcore gameplay and realism and are correspondingly slow and sluggish.
In previous Battlefield titles, you could – unlike in military simulations – beautifully drop-shot and bunny-hop. Battlefield 6 is not worse, on the contrary, it stays true to the series.
Overall, Battlefield 6 has found a way to make the game fast enough for younger players to have fun without incorporating movement techniques that would cause boomers to break their wrists or fingers.
For the movement of some CoD professionals, my mousepad is too small. Battlefield 6 is still very much within the limits.
The hate towards the movement is a skill issue
I am convinced that there are only 2 points of criticism regarding the speed of Battlefield 6’s gameplay:
- It is not realistic – then you are playing the wrong game
- It is too fast FOR YOU – I would call that a classic “skill issue”
If I, as a gamer, notice that I cannot hit an opponent due to his movement, then I am to blame, not the game. Especially since the game gives me the same opportunities as my opponent.
Rather than criticizing the game for that and demanding changes, I can simply admit that I am too old, my reflexes are too slow, and my aim has become too bad to hit my opponents. Fortunately, this is currently only hypothetically the case for me, I am still doing well in Battlefield 6. But I am also already 27, belonging to the older part of Generation Z, and I notice that I do not possess the precision or reflexes of a 16-year-old.
In a few years I will likely reach my limits and will no longer be able to keep up with the movement of younger players and will be overwhelmed gameplay-wise. That is not a bad thing, neither for me nor for gamers who are already older. However, I will not demand that a well-implemented gameplay mechanic be changed just because I can no longer keep up. And if I complain about movement being too fast in 10 years, feel free to write #SkillIssue in the comments. I would have deserved that.
But with Battlefield 6, I am convinced: let the young and talented players have the same fun we had at 16.
For boomers and reality fanatics, there are alternatives
If you are among the players who now say that Battlefield 6 is too fast, unrealistic, or hectic, I recommend testing another game. Military simulations in particular might appeal to you.
Games like Squad, Arma 3, and Arma Reforger are noticeably slower and give you the feeling that you are really carrying heavy equipment and that you also have to consider that in your movements during battles. The movements are sluggish, take time, and you cannot quickly jump for cover if an opponent should surprise you. You also do not have to give up the vehicle gameplay or strategic action in large teams.
In military simulations, communication is even more crucial than in Battlefield. You are constantly in exchange with your comrades and discuss the approach. Interaction within the community is essential, and it is not enough to just chat with your 2-3 best friends on Discord. For that, you get an extremely immersive online shooter with PvP in Squad, which offers a gaming experience that implements military actions so well that it is also suitable for roleplay fans. And the sound is also amazing.
In Battlefield 6, I like not only the movement. A new feature that did not exist in the predecessors is for me the real star of the shooter and already brings me a lot of joy in the beta: A small mechanic is the best innovation of Battlefield 6, laying the foundation for unforgettable moments with your friends
