Battlefield 6 has been one of the biggest launches of the year, and while its status as one of 2025’s most celebrated releases is impressive, it still has competition within its own franchise. Of course, Battlefield 6 has made waves since launch due to it giving Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 a run for its money, but there are still some features in the game that feel out of place, at least when it comes to immersion.
It’s not been an easy few years for the Battlefield franchise. After the poor reception Battlefield 2042 received, Battlefield 6 had a lot riding on it, and DICE was thankfully able to return to the series’ winning formula, for the most part. Battlefield 6 feels far more grounded than its divisive predecessor, but when comparing the new title to the still-beloved Battlefield 1, it’s slightly lacking in the gripping realism that the latter excels at even years after its launch.
Battlefield 6 Has a Few Immersion-Breaking Features That Can Take Players Out of the Experience
- More experimental skins
- Unrealistic weapons in REDSEC
- Floating weapon drops in REDSEC
One of the main features that is bound to break immersion for some Battlefield 6 players is the game’s skins. Granted, Battlefield 6 skins are far away from being as wacky as the skins Call of Duty has grown to embrace, but there have still been some cosmetics added to the former that have already caused controversy within the community. The Battlefield 6 community has taken its dislike of non-immersive skins quite seriously, but that hasn’t stopped EA from trying to add these less realistic cosmetics.
Also, when it comes to Battlefield REDSEC, there is more freedom to make outlandish choices with its weapons. Since Battlefield REDSEC is Battlefield 6‘s battle royale counterpart, it makes sense for some of the guns to be over-the-top, but specific players may still prefer a far more straight-laced experience. Two of Battlefield REDSEC‘s wildest weapons are the Rorsch Mk-2 SMRW and the MP-RMG. The Rorsch Mk-2 SMRW is a chargeable railgun, while the MP-RMG is a mini-gun that boasts an insanely high rate of fire. These two are rare, but when found in a match, each weapon can feel like living out a power fantasy, especially when considering classic Battlefield standards. Add on the fact that they’re displayed in an immersion-breaking way — floating slightly above the ground and being highlighted with a bright-colored outline — and the experience starts to feel a bit more arcadey than some would like.
In Battlefield 6‘s defense, its modern setting definitely calls for weapon innovation, and it’s not entirely realistic for some rare weapons to feel like they’re from the very near future. Also, from the beginning, Battlefield 6‘s marketing has made it clear that it’s geared more toward action-packed matches, which is much more appealing to some FPS fans. Still, for players who want something more grounded (or miss the highs of immersion in previous entries), it’s understandable why the latest entry is a bit of a letdown to them.
Battlefield 1’s Slower Pace Automatically Brings a Deeper Level of Immersion
Across the franchise, Battlefield 6 has some of the smallest maps in the whole series. Battlefield 1 may not have the largest maps across the board, but its big maps are incredibly expansive, which requires more strategy and planning. This immediately enhances the immersion, because not only does that require more brain power from players, but it also forces them to take their time. The slower pace makes a major difference, so FPS lovers who really love feeling like they’re in the trenches tend to feel more drawn to Battlefield 1.
Beyond that slower pace, Battlefield 1 has some of the most realistic dialogue in the franchise. In-game soldiers speak their own language by default, whether it be English, French, German, or Turkish. The dialogue is also far more dynamic and contextual, which adds an even deeper layer to the realism that the FPS boasts.
Battlefield 6 and Battlefield 1’s All-Time Peak Player Count on Steam
- Battlefield 6 – 747,440
- Battlefield 1 – 53,714
It’s clear that these numbers are drastically different, but despite being nearly a decade old, Battlefield 1 is still quite active. At the time of writing this article, there were still around 5,000 active players on Steam. At the same time, Battlefield 6 was pulling in around 112,000 players, which is a huge difference, but it’s fascinating that Battlefield 1 fans are still hanging on regardless of the new title. Battlefield 6 has proven to be an FPS powerhouse, but the pull of Battlefield 1 for gamers who love realism can’t be taken for granted. Its heavily-grounded gameplay and embrace of immersion over non-stop action is incredibly appealing to a lot of people, and while that isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, longtime fans continue to revel in it. Battlefield 6 has far more content and a more broadly palatable setting, but that doesn’t always capture the attention of players.
Is Battlefield 6 or Battlefield 1 the Right Fit for You?
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Battlefield 6 |
Battlefield 1 |
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Ultimately, it’s up to personal preference. Battlefield 6 has more content to look forward to and is by far the flashier and technically more “exciting” of the two, but there is definitely a special spark to Battlefield 1 that plenty of players aren’t ready to step away from. Battlefield 6 players still emphasizes a grounded experience, even when the game can steer a little bit away from immersion, but ultimately, the newest entry in the series maintains the franchise’s reputation for being a realistic FPS. However, for the most hardcore immersion lovers, Battlefield 1 may be the ideal choice. Regardless, the two military shooters showcase different reasons why the Battlefield franchise has achieved such longevity.
- Released
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October 10, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, In-App Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
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Battlefield Studios
