A few thoughts from a veteran of BF.

I am enjoying BF6 more than anything since BF1 and the best times I have had in any game} BF4 / Bad Company 2, etc etc.   It has managed to shrug off the connotations of the last installment.

But it has not yet, for me, or those I know, quite hit the mandatory purchase, state of the art, must have status of say, BF4 or BF1.  

When EA decided to lock out Realtime managed community run servers, they literally cut their own throat and threw open the the door to hackers. No, this isn't n 'I am angry that there are so many hackers' post. So let me get that out of the way.

There is no system present in the world that is as diligent, as focused, and well resourced, as sever run admin. People that had and paid for their servers, that then wanted to make those servers successful and have a population. Yes, there were some awful people. For example, the notorious hacker clan begging with F and ending with E that plague a bunch of games today. 

But when it was community run, they just got banned and you could have a decent night of gaming without morons harassing people via their hack of choice. 

As importantly, these servers built amazing communities around the game. Creating a commitment to the game itself. Expansions. Next version, etc  It boggles my mind that the EA geniuses of product development did not jump on that.  People met in those servers and games and became life long friends. It should have been an absolute gift to the company that made and owned the game. 

Instead; We moved on, and outgrew BF when it decided that our communities didn't matter.  That was a mistake for EA.

Why?

1. A lack of an open map / sandbox feel.  In the past you would work with your clan / team / group to make strategies. Using the map.  ie. The verticality, the ability to free roam anywhere on the map.  So much of these maps are not accessible in some weird way despite the fact you just tried to drop in or jump up, it is a massive block upon immersion.  I saw a little of that in BF1, but this went further down that path. That sandbox aspect is lacking.   I don't want a map where there is something I cannot access or has been designed by someone totally lacking understanding. I am not an expert myself. But I could do better.  You have the resources to hire some people that have actually fought.  I do know this. You don't draw a tiny line around the to-ops.  This is where this goes wrong. OMG, I just stepped 2 meters outside of this tunnel vision map.  Take the BF1 model and build on it. Certainly do not limit that further. 

2. The maps feel small.  Personally, if I want a small close quarters thing. There are other games that only do that.   Fast, small, casual and ultimately, unsatisfying.  I want large maps that present strategic options.  With the means to traverse those maps so that vehicles are not just an afterthought, but strategic.  I see these maps and I see jets active on them and it is like a joke.   BF1, sort of got this right.  But I think it created a false sense of scope in a way.  Because of the rush across an operations map set into segments.   I would like more, as a generational enhancement, rather than, the same, or less.

3. Guns and loadout.   If you read anything by Nick Yee of Quantic Foundry, whose field of study is in the psychology, motivations, and latterly, how they change us, or don't, is pretty good reading.  I am sure anyone working in gaming probably has.   He pointed out that based on his 'Daedalus project' data, that a constant drip feed of effort for reward was key to the success of otherwise torturous experiences of all of the early MMO / online games.  I must admit we have had several direct online conversations via various platforms. Not paid for, and nor do I agree with every conclusion he has come to. But the data is hard to deny in most cases. 

For example... when it comes to the constant drip feed of effort for reward. This is not quite working for me here. I used to get that drip feed from unlocking guns and feeling like I could be individually customizable and my choices mattered. In this game. I look mostly the same. (I am not talking beavis and butthead level stupidity. I mean individuality to a reasonable extent. But my loadout is probably the same as everyone else.  Meta is the only thing that matters.  The choices and ability to create a new playstyle to catch enemies off guard isnt there to the same extent.  More weapons, more choices. But meaningfully done. Not just a different skin on something. If something isn't different, you cannot adapt. As people actually did during war time.

I don't want to be a critic. It is nice to see a game that feels a bit like Battlefield of old.  I just wish it was as good as those wonderful moments when it was a unique thing.  This was a good start though. I just wanted to stick my penny worth in, in the hope that someone might see it that understands what I am getting at.