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Battlefield 6 hands‑on: classes, destruction and kinesthetic combat

DICE is bringing the Battlefield franchise back to its roots with Battlefield 6, due on October 10blog.playstation.com. I got my hands on an early build across four of its nine launch maps and can confirm: it’s chaotic, explosive and brimming with new systems that reward team play. Here’s everything you need to know before the open beta hits on August 9–10 and August 14–17blog.playstation.com.

Character classes are back and deeper than ever

Battlefield fans have been clamouring for the return of the traditional class system, and DICE listened. The game introduces four core classes – Assault, Recon, Engineer and Support – but with a twist. Each class now uses a Training system that functions like a subclass. As you support teammates, capture objectives or rack up kills, your class “levels up,” unlocking buffs and eventually a special ability unique to your Training.

• Assault: The run‑and‑gun specialist wields assault rifles and combat stims; the Frontliner training grants faster health regeneration, more stimulants and improved accuracy while moving.

• Recon: Sharpshooters who excel at spotting enemy movement. Sniper training marks enemies longer and more quickly, and headshots cause immediate kills that can’t be revived.

• Engineer: The only class that can repair vehicles. With Anti‑Armor training, you can wreck tanks with extra rockets and reduce their ability to be repaired.

• Support: Traditionally the medic class, now better rounded. This class wields light machine guns, can place temporary cover, drop ammo and heal allies. Combat Medic training regenerates health while reviving teammates.

Weapon flexibility is also back. On closed playlists you’re restricted to class‑specific weapons, but on open playlists you can mix and match any gun you want. This system should please players who like defined roles while still allowing for experimentation.

Tactical destruction turns the environment into a weapon

Destruction has always been a hallmark of the series, and Battlefield 6 pushes it further. You can blast through doors or walls, or even level entire structures with grenades or a sledgehammer. Creative director Thomas Andersson emphasises that destruction is predictable enough to be used tactically; dropping a floor beneath an enemy or collapsing a building on their heads is a valid strategy. Watching a tank shell bring a skyscraper down while you scramble for cover is equal parts terrifying and exhilarating.

Kinesthetic combat: lean, drag and hitch a ride

New movement mechanics called Kinesthetic Combat make firefights more dynamic. Approach any corner and press R1 to peek and lean, letting you fire around corners without fully exposing yourself. When your squadmate goes down, you can now drag them out of danger while reviving them, which saved me multiple times. Vehicles also have new interactions: if all seats are full, you can grab onto the outside of tanks or trucks. A subtle but helpful tweak shows gun recoil visually by tilting the weapon, teaching you to compensate.

Massive maps and varied modes

The four maps I played highlight Battlefield’s scale. Liberation Peak is a mountainside ideal for snipers and vehicles; destroying buildings creates new sniping positions. Siege of Cairo is a dense city with destructible buildings and tight combat zones. Empire State takes the fight to Brooklyn’s streets and alleyways, where shotguns shine. Iberian Offensive features winding streets in Gibraltar and tons of walls to breach

Modes include staples like Conquest (team‑based control across huge maps) and Breakthrough (sector‑based offense/defense), along with Squad Deathmatch and Domination, which offer intense close‑quarters battles. The combination of giant maps with smaller Combat Zones ensures variety whether you love large‑scale chaos or tight skirmishes.

Verdict

With its modern 2027 setting and focus on destruction, Battlefield 6 feels like a spiritual successor to Battlefield 3 and Battlefield 4. The return of classes, new Kinesthetic Combat and map variety promise a fresh yet familiar experience. Mark your calendars for the open beta in mid‑August and the October 10 launch. 

New PS5 system update beta: DualSense pairing across multiple devices

Sony’s next PS5 system update, currently in beta, introduces a feature that multi‑platform gamers have wanted for ages: DualSense and DualSense Edge controllers can be registered across up to four devices simultaneously. No more unpairing and re‑pairing your controller every time you swap between PS5, PC or your smartphone for Remote Play.

Pair up to four devices and switch on the fly

Previously, you had to pair your DualSense each time you connected it to a different device. With the new update, you can register four devices simultaneously and switch between them using combinations of the PS button and the face buttons. For instance, pressing the PS button + Triangle selects Slot 1, PS + Circle selects Slot 2, PS + Cross selects Slot 3 and PS + Square selects Slot 4. Once registered, you can switch to any device – PS5, PS5 Pro, Windows PC or iPhone – by pressing the assigned combination.

Pairing itself is straightforward: turn off the light bar, hold the PS button and an action button for five seconds until it flashes, enable Bluetooth on your device and select the controller from the list. It might feel like entering a cheat code, but you only have to do it once per device.

Power Saver for Games and environmental impact

The update also adds a Power Saver mode (coming in a later version) that reduces power consumption by scaling back performance in supported games. Sony ties this feature to its ‘Road to Zero’ environmental plan, aiming for net‑zero greenhouse‑gas emissions by 2040. Although unavailable in the beta, Power Saver will let eco‑conscious gamers reduce their carbon footprint while still enjoying PS5 titles. Note that when Power Saver is active, VR mode is unavailable and some gameplay features may be limited.

Availability and cautions

Beta access is limited to invited participants in the U.S., Canada, Japan, UK, Germany and France. Sony intends to release the update globally “in the coming months”. Features in the beta may change or be removed before the final release. For readers outside the beta regions, just be patient – soon you’ll be able to switch your DualSense from your PS5 to your PC faster than you can say “where’s my USB cable?”