With nearly 400,000 players diving into Battlefield 6 during Beta Weekend 2, and that number expected to rise past 500,000, anticipation is sky-high. Especially thanks to the return of fan-favourite Rush mode, a Battlefield classic dating back to 2008’s Bad Company.
But here’s the twist: instead of being met with cheers, this version of Rush is getting roasted across the Battlefield community. From Reddit to social media, longtime fans are asking: “What happened to the Battlefield 6 Rush mode we love?” Let’s unpack why this iconic game mode isn’t hitting the mark.
The Return of Rush … but something’s off
EA and DICE reintroduced Rush in Battlefield 6 Open Beta Weekend 2 alongside a new urban battlefield set in Brooklyn named Empire State, and a Custom Search tool to help players fine-tune matchmaking preferences. On paper, those are solid additions. Rush especially had old-school fans hyped.
For those new to the franchise, Rush is a smaller, more tactical mode compared to Conquest or Breakthrough. Featuring 2 M-COM objective points per sector, the action revolves around defending and attacking these key areas. Teamwork, positioning, and clutch plays are what define the Rush experience. It’s intense, layered, and personal: when it works.
Unfortunately, in Battlefield 6, it’s not quite working.
Why 12v12 is killing the rush vibe
The biggest talking point? Player count. Historically, Rush has scaled to 16v16 on PC, offering a balanced and frenetic match pace. In Battlefield 6 Beta, team sizes are reduced to 12v12.
This eight-player reduction sounds minor, but it’s wrecking the rhythm of the mode. Matches feel claustrophobic, engagements devolve into chaotic close-range fights, and many players argue there’s no room to breathe, or flank. You’re either surviving with a shotgun or spectating. There’s very little in between.
The 12v12 with no vehicles and open weapons has somehow managed to turn into a shotgun fest, which has raised questions as to whether the developers even really wanted to bring the mode back to begin with.
This sentiment is growing amongst the Battlefield 6 community. Combined with dense map layouts and the lack of varied engagement styles, players are calling it one-dimensional.
Open weapons, open season?
Another contributor to frustration is the Open Weapons setting used in the beta. Any class can use any weapon. Sounds like fun, right? Not quite. This effectively means everyone is running powerful shotguns because they’re effective in the cramped map designs. Shotgun loadouts dominate every round as a result.
Without vehicle support or class restrictions, many say it no longer feels like Rush, it feels like a completely different game.
It appears as though they’re leaning way too hard into courting the Call of Duty crowd at the expensive of Battlefield’s much-loved DNA.
Map design: Where are the flanks?
Rush is built around dynamic positioning and strategic flanking. But players point out the Rush maps in Battlefield 6 lack sufficient flanking routes. You’re often funnelled through narrow quarters directly into enemy fire, which is not ideal for a mode that thrives on tactical surprise and manoeuvring.
Without inventive map design and larger teams to force rotation and split defenses, matches become linear and predictable. And predictability doesn’t sit well with Battlefield veterans.
Hope on the horizon?
Despite the backlash, not everything is doom and gloom. Rush mode may be under review, but the Battlefield 6 beta as a whole is being received quite positively. From improved soldier classes and gritty “boots-on-the-ground” realism, to ambitious destruction systems and classic franchise mechanics, it’s shaping up to be the sequel fans have been waiting for.
The lack of a server browser and some balance quirks — like underpowered vehicles and the double-primary Weapon Sling for Assault players — are drawing criticism, but they’re fixable.
Most importantly, this is exactly what an open beta is for. And given that DICE responded constructively to Battlefield Labs feedback earlier this year, the community is cautiously optimistic that the Rush issue can still be salvaged before the full launch on October 10.
Rush brought the nostalgia, but delivered frustration. Luckily, there’s still time to fix what’s broken. If DICE can clean up the map flow, tweak player counts, and rein in weapon balance, Rush might still earn a spot in Battlefield 6’s long-term roster. Until then, it’s back to Conquest for many players — or maybe, just maybe, another hopeful round of Rush, shotgun in-hand, dreams intact.
What are your thoughts on Battlefield 6 and the Rush mode so far? Sound off in the comments below!