Battlefield 6 developers have confirmed the compact maps seen in the beta were a deliberate choice, and that larger, more sprawling battlefields were planned for the full launch. Design director Salim Fasahat told PC Gamer Magazine that the smaller test maps were chosen on purpose.
“They were intentionally smaller than the ones we know are coming,” he said, adding that the choice helped the team check how different modes work at various scales and figure out what fits which map types.
Technical director Christian Buhl explained the beta maps also made it easier to focus on shooting and tuning. “In some ways it’s easier to test and focus on gun play when we’re doing the smaller maps,” he said.
Smaller arenas were the starting point for those tests, and some of the really big maps are planned to hit BF Labs later. Battlefield Studios‘ plan appears to be paying off. The shooter earned a strong Metacritic score, the best the series has had in years, although it doesn’t quite match Battlefield 3.