Battlefield Studios has shared a few key details about what to expect from the next Battlefield Labs test. Unfortunately, Labs remains closed to most of the public, meaning it’s technically not a second Battlefield 6 beta.
The focus of the test, however, is very much informed by a lot of the feedback players shared during the beta’s two weekends.
First off, the next Battlefield Labs test begins today. You can still sign up if you never have, but know that spots are limited and there’s no guarantee you’ll be given access. Battlefield Studios revealed in a blog post that future sessions will also follow a more varied schedule at different intervals.
The most interesting part of this next session is that it features the first iteration of the in-game server browser. This has been one of the most requested features by many veteran players, and though I’m glad to see its return, it’s only limited to Portal.
The goal is to test the basic functionality of the server browser, especially when it comes to UI and stability. The browser lets players host matches, including the ability to make them persistent.
While you’ll be able to see some features of Portal’s Community Experiences, you won’t be able to create your own. Expect a lot of filters and tags, and a library of verified experiences that should resemble what everyone will have access to at launch.
The other exciting feature of this upcoming test is that it’s going to be players’ first hands-on with two of the largest maps in Battlefield 6. Myself and many others felt that the beta’s maps were simply too small, and played quite similarly to each other. While Battlefield Studios addressed several points of feedback following the beta, the developer maintained that it only featured a small selection of maps, and that larger spaces will be shown off in the next Labs test.
We’re here now, and as promised, Labs testers will be able to play the Operation Firestorm remake, as well as Mirak Valley during this test. Battlefield Studios is also looking for feedback around vehicular combat, gadget interactions and gameplay, and how things flow in large-scale environments.
Finally, the developer is going to perform early testing of Hardcore mode to determine the official set of settings (HP, damage etc.).
Though we’re closer than ever to the game’s launch, some of the content in Labs will continue to be in an unfinished state. This will make it easier for developers to alter and tweak as each session progresses.
The blog post confirms that there’s going to be more than one upcoming Labs session, as expected. Indeed, we know that Battlefield 6’s mysterious battle royale mode will first be playable in Labs, even if we still don’t have even a rough date for that