Battlefield 6 Update 1.1.3.0 Fails to Check One Item Off Players’ Wish Lists, and the Clock is Ticking
Battlefield 6 is marching forward with its live-service journey. While the early days of Season 1 brought a flurry of criticism, from cosmetics and RedSec to battle pass progression and game mode changes, the Winter Offensive update dropping on December 9 aims to address various complaints from the community. Otherwise known as Update 1.1.3.0, there’s a lot to look forward to in this patch. Breakthrough and Rush are poised to become more balanced through some objective reworks and vehicle adjustments, while RedSec is beginning to address its tank problem. Prone enemies being too hard to see, a lack of recoil, hit registration, and netcode are all being tackled as well. Though while all these changes are welcome, Battlefield 6 is failing to touch on the map size controversy.
Battlefield 6’s Map Size Remains a Point of Contention
Battlefield 6’s maps being too chaotic and close quarters have been a talking point since the game’s first beta. While some players adore this type of map, pointing to the likes of Operation Metro and Grand Bazaar as some of their all-time favorite Battlefield locales, there are just as many (if not more) gamers who think large maps are crucial to Battlefield’s DNA. Caspian Border, Sinai Desert, El Alamein—the only Battlefield 6 map that compares to these offerings is Mirak Valley, with the vast majority of arenas being on the small side.
Season 1’s debut only added to this controversy, as the community immediately shunned the addition of Blackwell Oilfields to BF6 for being more of the same map style. While fans of infantry gameplay are feasting, vehicle lovers and those who find the longer journeys from point-to-point immersive are lacking content that caters to their playstyle. Old school members of the Battlefield community have taken offense to the continued release of hectic maps, feeling that the focus is on retaining ex-Call of Duty fans as opposed to veteran Battlefield players. Naturally, a lot of backlash has been sent Battlefield Studios’ way, as if there’s one thing Battlefield fans hate more than anything else, it’s content resembling the Call of Duty IP.
To BF Studios’ credit, it has told the community that larger maps are being looked into, as are naval maps that have been sorely missed thus far. Players know that map size is “under review,” but the same community blog post mentioned that there will be a “variety of map types” going forward that continue to emphasize “constant action,” phrasing that hasn’t filled fans with confidence. Though Eastwood was a step in the right direction, players not only want to see large maps for the next several seasons to create a more balanced pool of locations, but they also want existing map boundaries to be altered and expanded. Whether they get their wishes is anyone’s guess, but Battlefield Studios desperately needs to provide an update on how its “review” of map size is progressing. If it doesn’t, then large map enjoyers could move to a different game or return to an older Battlefield game like the ever-popular Battlefield 1.
Battlefield 6 Season 2 Has to Address the Elephant in the Room (and Hopefully With Some Elephant-Sized Maps)
Realistically, there’s a chance that Battlefield 6 continues treading forward with medium-sized maps full of constant engagements, only releasing the bare minimum of large maps to keep that part of the community quiet. It’s worked well so far, given the impressive sales numbers of BF6, so catering to what very well could be a vocal minority may not be the best move from a business standpoint. And if that’s the case, then so be it, but some kind of communication is a must. After promising that the map size of BF6 was being examined weeks ago, and missing a chance to share some insight with the Winter Offensive community update, Season 2 making BF Studios’ stance clear is a must. Whether BF6 plans to stick to its guns or change course, fans need to know what’s happening before they lose interest.
A best case scenario would be to promise one new large map a season, one smaller map, and one launch map variant reworked to be larger than it currently is.
Even if Battlefield 6 wants to keep embracing smaller maps, clarifying that goal and telling large map fans directly that they can check back in for the occasional large map here and there would be preferable, as leaving that audience on the hook if there are no plans to cater to them wouldn’t be respectful. Plus, there are ways that players could be given the power to “fix” the maps to their liking through Battlefield Portal, with extra tools like full control of map boundaries and more editable terrain allowing large map lovers to create the content they feel the game is missing.
In addition to Portal tools, a best-case scenario would be to promise one new large map a season, one smaller map, and one launch map variant reworked to be larger than it currently is. By this time next year, that hypothetical approach will have solved the large map problem in Battlefield 6, so hopefully something like that is in the cards. Regardless, some kind of official word on map size in the near future is a must, as Update 1.1.3.0 for Battlefield 6 is seemingly staying radio silent on the topic.
- Released
-
October 10, 2025
- ESRB
-
Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, In-App Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
-
Battlefield Studios