Battlefield 6andCall of Duty2021 are set to go head-to-head for the first time in years, and many fans are hoping tosee the rivalry reignitedvia two great games. While that certainly could happen, the two projects are shaping up to be vastly different from one another. Not only have leaks for both indicated two contrasting design philosophies, but the two games’ likely settings are complete opposites.
Intriguingly,Battlefield 6andCall of Duty2021 seem to be flipping the 2018 releases of each series on their head. While this does make sense from a business standpoint, as it allows each game to further differentiate itself from its competition, the role reversal is certainly interesting. Come the end of 2021, gamers will likely be enjoying versions ofCall of DutyandBattlefieldthat look entirely different from the games seen last time the two juggernauts battled it out.
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2018: Battlefield 5 vs. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
Back in 2018,Battlefield 5released. The game was set in World War 2, and while it featured great visuals, it was not as well received as its predecessors. The return ofBattlefield’s War Stories campaignproved less successful than its debut inBattlefield 1, while multiplayer proved to be less enjoyable due to a weaker map lineup and unnecessary changes to Operations. A lack of historical accuracy also proved controversial, with the game failing to bring the same level of excitement seen when otherBattlefieldgames launched.
Still, there are things thatBattlefield 5did which may return inBattlefield 6. The first entry in the series to introduce free DLC, new maps, weapons, and cosmetics were added without any additional costs. Further,Battlefield 5’s easter eggswere just as wild and complex as the ones in previous entries, something that will hopefully continue in Battlefield 6. Lastly, the game introduced Firestorm, the franchise’s first foray into the battle royale genre. While the mode ultimately failed, it may have taught DICE some valuable lessons about making such a mode, ensuring that a possibleBattlefield 6battle royale succeeds.
In 2018,Battlefield 5’s direct competition wasCall of Duty: Black Ops 4. Another divisive game, this title had a near future setting of 2045, and its most controversial aspect was a lack of a campaign mode. While multiplayer was solid, it made use of the “love it or hate it” Specialist system.Call of Duty: Black Ops 4’s Zombies offered the most content on launch day for any appearance of the mode, thoughthe new Chaos Storyfailed to capture player interest. Several bugs also plagued the game mode, killing lots of the hype for Zombies that year.
While the settings, weapons, and gameplay styles were massively different, one similarity betweenBattlefield 5andCall of Duty: Black Ops 4is their use of battle royales. Much like Firestorm wasBattlefield’s first attempt at the genre, Blackout wasCall of Duty’s. Proving to be far more successful, Blackout’s unique map full of classic Treyarch locations quickly won fans over.The use of Zombiesin specific areas also gave it a unique style, while unlockable characters gave players challenges that offered a fresh style of gameplay. While the mode eventually lost popularity due toCall of Duty: Warzone’s success as a free-to-play game, Blackout was a major highlight of the fourthBlack Opsrelease.
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2021: Battlefield 6 vs. Call of Duty 2021
2021 marks the first year since 2018 where aBattlefieldtitle will release, and as such, it is the first time since that the two biggest FPS franchises will be launching games in the same year. Intriguingly, rumors for the games indicate that they will be the exact opposite of what happened in 2018. ForBattlefield 6, this meanstaking on a near future setting— the same thing thatCall of Duty: Black Ops 4did back in 2018. While the exact year has not been specified, a Kazakhstan and World War 3 setting have been specified.
As for the gameplay, players know a fair bit about the game via various leaks. A 128-player count seems all-but-confirmed, as EA has publicly stated that matches will be larger. The game’s destruction will supposedly be taken up a notch, with fully destructible cities andnatural disasters that destroy maps. With both lining up well with theBattlefield 4concept of Levelution, this rumor would make sense. Other leaks have indicated that War Stories will return and that the game will serve as a hub for pastBattlefieldgames.
As forCall of Duty, the exact opposite has been rumored. According to leaks, the game will be set during World War 2 — the same era thatBattlefield 5occupied back in 2018. While leakers are divided on whether this setting will be traditional ordelve into alternate history, most sources seem to believe thatCall of Dutywill indeed be returning to the 1940s. WithCall of Duty: Black Opstaking on the Cold War andCall of Duty: Modern Warfarecapturing today’s battles, this decision would make sense, as it allows each year’s release to feel varied.
As for howCall of Duty2021 will play, fans know a bit less about this game thanBattlefield 6. Supposedly being gritty and controversial, the 2021 game is rumored to include theconcept of skill-based matchmaking.Call of Duty: Warzoneintegration of some kind is also set to occur, which makes sense given recent comments from Activision. The game will apparently run on the IW8 engine fromCall of Duty: Modern Warfare2019, ensuring that the game has the most up-to-date graphics of anyCall of Dutytitle released thus far. Though no specific details have been provide, it can be expected that it will rely heavily on traditional 6v6 gameplay, though a large-scale mode like Ground War or Fireteam is also possible.
With World War 2 not working as well forBattlefield 5as it did in past game, it makes sense that DICE would want to stray far away from the setting with a near futureBattlefield 6. Likewise,Call of Dutyhas near future covered withCall of Duty: Modern Warfare, makinga return to World War 2a logical next step. While both franchises have their own reasons for going in a different direction, it is interesting that 2018’s pattern has repeated itself. However, with both franchises seemingly featuring different tones, weapons, and settings, this role reversal could prove beneficial for bothBattlefieldandCall of Duty.
Battlefield 6is rumored to be in development for unspecified platforms with a target release of Holiday 2021.Call of Duty2021 is rumored to be in development for unspecified platforms.
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