Battlefield 6’s Gibraltar Map Seemingly Fixes One of 2042’s Biggest Complaints

One of the biggest complaints about Battlefield 2042 back at release was its map designs, which often felt too large or empty, and led to frustratingly slow gameplay. Kaleidoscope, in particular, was easily the most problematic map of the game so far with little-to-no space for covers and even its rework wasn’t helpful. The same goes for Hourglass with its barren desert. Players would have to spend excessive time traveling between objectives and it made the game feel more like a walking simulator.

The franchise has most recently given fans a hint at upcoming Battlefield 6’s Gibraltar map through a concept art image and apparently, there’s going to be lots of chaos, smoke, and war, with probably little-to-no empty space except maybe in the green belts and jungle areas. The Battlefield 6 concept art, therefore, basically addresses one of the major complaints from 2042 — the excessive emptiness of the maps.

Circling Back To Battlefield 2042’s Biggest Complaints

The large, open map design in Battlefield 2042 was a major issue, and it affected most of the maps it launched with. For example, the map Hourglass is about 4.3 square kilometers. This massive size resulted in players spending up to 25-30% of a match running from objective to objective without encountering enemies. In some parts of maps like Breakaway, only 1-2 small objects provided cover in areas spanning several hundred meters. As a result, snipers and vehicle operators dominated, leaving those with aggressive gameplay vulnerable.

While Battlefield 2042 advertised its 128-player matches as a selling point, it soon became clear as day that the increase in player count was diluting the gameplay. With large maps and uneven player distribution, matches often lacked focus and made coordinated team play difficult. In contrast, previous games with 64-player matches had struck a far better balance between map size and player density. On top of it all, only 30-40 players would be in key combat zones at any time on average, and that led to long, uneventful stretches of gameplay.

How Battlefield 6’s Gibraltar Seems to Solve This Problem

In Battlefield 6 concept art, the Gibraltar map seemingly addresses these criticisms by focusing on more contained environments that encourage close-quarters skirmishes and constant strategic movement. The concept art suggests fewer open, barren spaces and more designed choke points, urban areas, and destructible environments, which could significantly enhance both the intensity and the tactical depth of the gameplay. This shift is crucial to fixing all the problems 2042 became notorious for.

Vince Zampella Has Confirmed a Return To ‘Back To Basics’ Approach for Battlefield 6

Vince Zampella, the Head of Respawn & Group GM for EA Studios Organization, has confirmed that the franchise is opting for a “back to basics” approach. The return of the four-class system and a focus on destruction mechanics (like caliber-based physics that influences environmental impact) also promise to bring back the chaotic, unpredictable moments that OG Battlefield fans love while learning from the missteps of 2042.

Overall, it’s safe to say that so far, Battlefield 6 is seemingly shaping up to address complaints about 2042’s empty maps, offering tighter, more engaging gameplay with improved destruction mechanics, a tight storyline about real-world scenarios, and a return to classic elements like the four-class system. This approach will also help reignite interest in the Battlefield franchise by bringing back what made previous titles successful.