EachBattlefieldentry has tried to add at least one major new feature to the series, often to mixed success.Battlefield 2142took players into the future,Battlefield: Bad Companyintroduced realistic environmental destruction,Battlefield 4doubled down on that with its Levolution system,Battlefield 1added Operations mode, andBattlefield 2042added Specialists.
These new features have often been a good way to refresh a familiar formula, but they can sometimes change that formula a bit too much. AfterBattlefield 2042’s identity-altering changes, many fans wantBattlefield 6to feel like a return to basics. But that doesn’t mean it should completely forget some of the franchise’s best additions over the years, and there’s one pastBattlefieldmechanic that deserves a revival.
Battlefield 6 Should Bring Back The Series' Commander Mechanic With Modern Tweaks
Battlefield’s Commander Mechanic Explained
2005’sBattlefield 2was the first entry in the franchise to include the “Commander” mechanic. In this first iteration, one player on each team would take on the role of Commander. As a Commander, players could access a unique overhead map, issue specific orders to teammates, deploy powerful Commander Assets like artillery strikes, and start voice chats with squad leaders to better direct them in battle.
To become a Commander, players would need to apply for the position at the start of the match. The player with the highest experience would be picked. Players could also exit the Commander’s overhead map at any time and join the action themselves. The Commander feature returned inBattlefield 2142, where it was virtually unchanged aside from a few Commander Asset changes to reflect the futuristic setting.
The Commander feature then disappeared for seven years, before finally returning in 2013’sBattlefield 4.Battlefield 4’s Commander mechanic carried forward many of the same gameplay features as its previous iterations, though players who took on the role of Commander were no longer able to participate in the battle themselves. Another major change inBattlefield 4’s Commander modewas that players could use a mobile companion app to control the game, using touch-screen controls to issue orders and deploy Assets.
How Battlefield 6 Could Revive Commander Mode
Generally speaking,Battlefield’s Commander mechanic was a nice inclusion, offering experienced players a brief change of pace that still felt impactful. It would be nice to see this Commander mechanicreturn inBattlefield 6, though it might need a few tweaks to feel properly rewarding.
The most important changeBattlefield 6’s Commander mechanic would need to make is to allow players to participate in the battle themselves rather than view the action via an overhead map,similar toBattlefield 2and2142’s version of the mechanic. This is where a new mobile companion app could come into play, letting Commanders quickly issue orders and deploy powerful Assets via a tablet or phone, then get back into the action straight away on the TV screen or monitor.
Some improved incentives would also be nice to see ifBattlefield 6resurrected the series' Commander mechanic. For instance, players could be encouraged to take on the demanding leadership role if it offered exclusive cosmetic rewards such as a unique skin, dog tag, or emblem. Similarly, Commanders could be given an in-game bonus, such as increased health, thus giving them a slight advantage and encouraging them to continue being an efficient leader.
Battlefield 4
WHERE TO PLAY
Battlefield 4™ is the genre-defining action blockbuster made from moments that blur the line between game and glory. Fueled by the next-generation power and fidelity of Frostbite™ 3, Battlefield 4 provides a visceral, dramatic experience unlike any other.Only in Battlefield will you blow the foundations of a dam or reduce an entire skyscraper to rubble, or lead a naval assault from the back of a gun boat. Battlefield grants you the freedom to do more and be more while playing to your strengths and carving your own path to victory.In addition to its hallmark multiplayer, Battlefield 4 features an intense and dramatic character-driven campaign that starts with the evacuation of American VIPs from Shanghai and follows your squad’s struggle to find its way home.There is no comparison. Immerse yourself in the glorious chaos of all-out war, found only in Battlefield.
