The Battlefield 6 beta really captured my attention and that of my friends in a way that few shooters have, and I know this because we’re passing the 46-day wait until its release by playing other Battlefield games. The obvious first option was Battlefield 2042, as it has aNew event featuring obtainable Battlefield 6 skins, but surprisingly, we have moved towards a game that most of us completely overlooked when it was first released: Battlefield 5.
PC Gamer enjoyed Battlefield 5when it was released in 2018, but there were many factors that caused it to be ignored by the broader FPS community.DICE’s controversial Battlefront 2 microtransaction controversywas still new. Additionally, battle royale games were the latest trend, and the huge success of free-to-play Fortnite was making traditionally paid multiplayer games seem outdated. In general, the genre was shifting towards intense competition rather than laid-back chaos—my most played shooters during that time were Rainbow Six Siege and Overwatch.
I need to apologize to Battlefield 5, as it’s actually very good. I bought it on sale a few years back, but I’m only now starting to enjoy its unique weapons, thoughtful class selections, and incredibly detailed maps. Thousands of players still enjoy it on Steam daily, and the excitement around Battlefield 6 has led to a recent increase in activity (its 24-hour peak on Steam was over 12,000 yesterday). It’s not currently on sale, but if you’re interested, it’s available through PC Game Pass.
I understand why it’s a favorite for some: Battlefield 5 feels quite different from the games that preceded and followed it. DICE took a lot of risks with classes, weapons, and vehicles—while not all of their bold moves paid off, some of its concepts were so impressive that I regret they weren’t carried over into BF2042:
Spotting
One of the most debated modifications in Battlefield 5 is a significant reduction in the effectiveness of spotting. Rather than using the Q key to mark moving enemies with a tracking diamond, spotting now relies on an imprecise ping by default. While there are methods to accurately ping enemies using certain gadgets, only the Recon class has a conventional spotting tool in the form of the spotter scope. This leads to fewer red diamond indicators, yet spotting remains an important aspect of gameplay.
It’s astonishing how much the gameplay of Battlefield changes when stealth becomes a real option. Smoke screens can effectively obscure enemy teams long enough to perform a few revives, and vehicles can quietly approach you if you’re not keeping an eye on the minimap. This version of spotting seems more balanced and deliberate compared to BF2042 or the Battlefield 6 beta. I’m completely convinced.
Bandages & ammo
To promote teamwork, Battlefield 5 imposed strict restrictions on ammunition and healing items. Healing occurs more slowly than usual, but each player starts with a single bandage that allows for quick self-healing. The limitation is that obtaining an additional bandage requires locating a medic or a supply station.
Ammo supplies are also reduced, but in exchange, both Support and Medics can now throw bandages or ammo packs to players from a significant distance. This is an excellent method to make the ammo carrier a more dynamic and consistently valuable role—we’ve all experienced teammates who never seem to use the ammo and health kits placed on the ground, so the automatically precise toss can be a game-changer.
Battlefield 2042 removed the bandage system, but the throwable pouches later returned as a secondary item—something that would easily fit into Battlefield 6 as well.
Classes
Unlike BF2042 and BF6, Battlefield 5 features class-locked weapons by default, (hurray). I appreciate how each class has a distinct purpose, but Battlefield 5 also demonstrates effective weapon overlap where it’s logical. For example, Medics specialize in SMGs, yet they also have a couple of bolt-action carbines available when close combat isn’t sufficient. That being said, Assaults can seem overpowering with their combination of powerful assault rifles and anti-armor RPGs.
This time, the standout class is Support, whose selection of repair tools, mines, and ammo boxes isn’t particularly thrilling. However, what makes them stand out are the heavy machine guns: these are unique to Support and considered some of the most powerful weapons in the game, though they are notably inaccurate unless their bipod is attached to a wall or the ground.
You essentially transform into a glass tank—securing entire areas with a laser beam capable of melting groups in an instant, while facing the genuine risk of remaining stationary during the process. It’s one of the finest examples of a class-specific weapon significantly shaping its gameplay, which is unfortunate since DICE is leaning towards a Call of Duty-style free-for-all in Battlefield 6.
The Pacific maps
In 2019, the last major update for Battlefield 5 introduced a new faction, multiple new weapons, vehicles, and a few Pacific theater maps based on Battlefield 1942. They have their own playlist that’s still available, making them the standout feature of the entire package, and all the evidence I need that nothing fully embodies the complete Battlefield experience (including infantry, boats, jeeps, tanks, and aircraft) like Wake Island. The only absence is helicopters.
The server browser
If you’re looking to play a particular map or game mode, you can quickly locate it. Battlefield 5 was the final installment in the series to feature a server browser that included official matchmaking servers, meaning there’s always a wide selection of servers available (even if you end up waiting in a queue for a while). Hopefully, you’ll be able to tailor your experience in theBattlefield 6 “Portal browser” will be as useful.
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