Hardcore Mode in Battlefield 6 Main Menu – A Request from Veteran Players

ghostflux​ 

Let’s be real here: Hardcore deserves a permanent place in the main menu. Spotlight rotations are not enough  they come and go, and then the mode disappears again like it doesn’t matter. That’s not how you treat a community that’s been asking for this for years.

It’s not about being a veteran or waving some vague status. It’s about the fact that Hardcore offers a completely different gameplay experience that many players specifically want. And hiding it in submenus or temporary rotations makes the player base look smaller than it really is.

If the devs truly want to measure popularity, the only fair way is to give Hardcore the same visibility as other core modes. Otherwise, it’s just artificially suppressing demand. I don’t care how many excuses are thrown around Hardcore has earned its spot in the main menu.

ghostflux​ Hello. If you look at the beginning of this discussion, several players expressed their opinion that they want to add Hardcore mode to the main menu. Not only in this discussion, but also in other discussions, I have seen many others asking for the same thing as in this discussion. So I can confirm that there are indeed many who want Hardcore mode to be added to the main menu. I am one of them. I also think that there should be no problem with Hardcore being on the main menu. It will not harm Battlefield and your concern about this issue is very strange and pointless.

The way I see it, is that the community should choose what is on the main menu. Space on the main menu is limited, so it should be reserved for game modes that will attract the largest number of players. Having said that, they should make sure that the main menu is designed in such a way that it gives room for plenty of game modes to shine.

If there's one tiny point of criticism I'd like to make, is that you can't determine the popularity based on forum posts. It's Battlefield Studios that has the exact statistics, or is able to collect the statistics necessary to show whether hardcore is popular enough.

As I've mentioned in my previous responses, it should be given a chance where it receives sufficient visibility, like a limited-time event on the main menu, for them to collect these statistics. If it turns out that the statistics show that there's enough interest, then by all means, make it permanent.

If you're confident that it's a popular game mode, then I struggle to see where our disagreements are.

ghostflux​ 

To those who oppose having Hardcore mode in the main menu  let’s be clear: your arguments are weak and baseless. You simply don’t want others to enjoy a feature that brings more realism and challenge to the game. If Hardcore is too difficult for you, that’s your personal problem, not a reason to limit everyone else.

No one is forcing you to play Hardcore, but players who want true challenge and immersion deserve direct, quick, and easy access. When the mode is in the main menu, it shows everyone that the game has depth and freedom of choice.  If you don’t want to play Hardcore, then simply don’t. But demanding that others also be denied immediate access is childish and only holds the community back. The only right decision is to have Hardcore mode in the main menu simple, clear, and visible to everyone.

Let's be fair here, I'm here for civil discussion and you've resorted to personal attacks despite there being a big overlap on where we agree. I'm fine with you attacking my arguments as fiercely as you want, but if you're unable to keep yourself from making personal attacks, then this will be my last response to you and I will just ignore you.  

ghostflux​ 

You can call it “personal attacks” if you want, but the reality is this: dismissing Hardcore in the main menu is not just a weak stance, it’s harmful for the game and the community. When you argue against direct access, you’re not defending choice  you’re denying it. That’s the plain truth.  Hardcore doesn’t take anything away from you. It doesn’t block you, it doesn’t force you, it simply offers a fair and visible option for players who want the real challenge. Hiding it in some submenu is nothing but sweeping it under the rug, and pretending that’s fine is dishonest.  So no, this isn’t about me being uncivil. It’s about me being blunt. If that makes you uncomfortable, maybe it’s because deep down you realize the argument against Hardcore in the main menu doesn’t stand on its own legs.

It's good that you've managed to refrain from personal attacks in this response, though your "blunt" tone is not necessary nor conductive to a proper conversation. I'll answer this quite simply. I'm not against hardcore in the main menu, nor did I say I was. I have also not argued against direct access. If at all possible, I'd like to argue about the things that I've actually said, rather than having to defend against things I haven't said.

ghostflux​  

I see where you’re coming from, but let’s be honest here hiding Hardcore behind limited time events is nothing more than burying it. If a mode is good enough to exist in the game, it deserves proper visibility from day one, not to be treated like a trial run that needs to “earn” its place.

Main menu space isn’t “limited” in the way you’re suggesting. Other Battlefield titles have featured multiple playlists, rotating modes, and seasonal content all front and center without issue. The truth is, it’s not about space  it’s about priority. And Hardcore, as one of the most defining and long-requested experiences, deserves that priority.

As for statistics  players shouldn’t have to beg for visibility just so numbers can be collected. If the devs need data, they’ll get far more accurate results when Hardcore is in the main menu where players can actually see and access it, not hidden away where only a fraction will ever notice it.

So no, Hardcore shouldn’t be treated like some side experiment. It’s a core identity of Battlefield for a large part of the player base, and pretending otherwise is exactly why the community gets frustrated.

hiding Hardcore behind limited time events is nothing more than burying it. 

How would limited-time events be any different from any other game modes in the main menu? Is it a matter of visibility or placement?

The truth is, it’s not about space  it’s about priority. And Hardcore, as one of the most defining and long-requested experiences, deserves that priority.

We're practically saying the same, just worded differently. In theory you could fit an infinite number of game modes on the main menu (aside from any technical limitations), but the ones that don't require any scrolling will gain more attention than the ones that do. Similarly, the ones that are first in the list will gain more attention than the ones last in the list. Let's assume you're right about hardcore being as requested as you say it is, then it should certainly be given a very prominent spot.

As for statistics  players shouldn’t have to beg for visibility just so numbers can be collected. 

I think that's a misunderstanding of what I'm suggesting. Players shouldn't have to make any sort of conscious effort to beg for anything. They can just play the game modes that they enjoy the most, just like they always do and the main menu should reflect that preference.

So no, Hardcore shouldn’t be treated like some side experiment. It’s a core identity of Battlefield for a large part of the player base, and pretending otherwise is exactly why the community gets frustrated.

Hardcore hasn't been given enough attention in previous Battlefield titles and has suffered from limited popularity because it. Let me be clear, I fully believe hardcore could be a core game mode of the Battlefield experience. If you want to truly make hardcore work, you can't just slap a 40% health reduction on soldiers, enable team killing, disable some HUD elements and health regeneration and be done with it.

Battlefield Studios needs to spend time on it, to make sure that the entire weapons roster and vehicle roster receives its own custom balance, so that no weapon or gadget feels out of place. Because let's be honest here, what's the point of putting down a T-UGS, when there's no minimap?

ghostflux​ 

You’re right about one thing Hardcore hasn’t been given enough attention in past titles. But let’s not twist the cause and effect here. It’s not that Hardcore was  unpopular, it’s that it was buried, half supported, and treated like an afterthought. Of course the numbers will look low if the mode is hidden in the menus and given zero promotion.

As for your balance argument: that’s exactly why it belongs in the main menu. When a mode is treated as a core feature, it actually gets the developer attention and balancing it deserves. When it’s hidden away like a side experiment, it gets neglected. Blaming Hardcore for that is backwards.

And on gadgets like T-UGS or minimap related tools you’re proving my point. Hardcore needs proper integration, not half-measures. If the studio invests in it as a mainline mode, those elements will get redesigned or adapted. That only happens if the mode is front and center.

So no, the solution isn’t to keep Hardcore sidelined until it’s perfect. The solution is to put it in the main menu where it gets the visibility, support, and development it’s always been missing. Without that, you’re just repeating the same cycle of neglect that made it less popular in the first place.