We've finally uncovered another Overwatch hero, and while we don't know her name yet, Hero 51 is looking cool as all hell in the bottom right corner of the new heroes image alongside Mizuki, Domina, Emre, Anran, and the infamous Jetpack Cat.

Hero 51 looks to be a modded human, kitted out in tactical gear with what looks like a high-velocity rifle. She's also got a braided ponytail that reaches the floor and is accompanied by an Omnic bird. Like I said, sick as all hell.

But not everyone is happy with Hero 51's looks. Some say that she seems a bit too derivative to keep up with Overwatch's original style. "I love Overwatch’s very original and distinct character designs," one player says. "I squinted my eyes and this literally looks like a preexisting, iconic design of another character. From another game IP at that." Others are simply calling her "Legally distinct Cammy".

I'll admit, I see the similarities. I think the beret and tactical gear don't exactly help her case. You can also compare her to Widowmaker's Cammy skin from the Street Fighter collab, which again looks similar. But no one brand owns army gear and berets, so while Hero 51 may have a lookalike from another game, I don't think it takes away from the fact that the character design looks sick.

We'll find out more about Hero 51, like her abilities and name, next week on April 8 when her hero trailer premieres, which will also coincide with the next chapter of The Reign of Talon kicking off. I wonder where the story will take us next. She could well be a new Talon recruit brought in to pad out the ranks after Reaper, Widow, and Sombra left the organisation due to Doomfist being deposed by Vendetta. But it's looking more likely that Hero 51 will be part of Helix, a peace-keeping force which is the replacement to Overwatch, due to the logo being on her jacket.

This wouldn't necessarily make her one of the good guys, though. Helix has a complicated reputation. They may officially be a peacekeeping force, but they're also known for using excessive force and having a disregard for collateral damage. Jack Morrison (Solider 76), has called them nothing more than mercenaries.

I'm certainly excited to find out more, but I also have to be honest and admit that the hero I'm most excited to see next is the mysterious figure located just behind Hero 51. Could it be an Omnic cowboy or even a noir spy? I hope so, because either would make for a legendary Overwatch character.

When a casual FPS enjoyer expresses a preference for a particular feature of Call of Duty, they are unknowingly picking a side. The way soldiers run, how attachments work, the shape of the maps—seemingly minor details are live ammo in a 20 year war between factions of gaming's strangest fandom.

A normal long-running game series is likely to have a singular direction—a continuity or consensus that determines what present and future iterations will look like. When Assassin's Creed shifted from stealth action games to lite RPGs in 2017, that became the direction for all of Ubisoft's studios making Assassin's Creed games. Not Call of Duty: it has a coalition of 11 studios working around the clock to produce a $70 videogame every 12 months, and those studios are rarely on the same page. Activision's fiefdoms collaborate to varying degrees to get the job done, but its two lead studios have very different, often opposing ideas of how Call of Duty should look, play, and evolve.

As Call of Duty attempts to rebound from its weakest year in a decade, it's worth examining this unusual arrangement. Activision's stringent schedule and widening creative differences, now spanning two decades, have created a splintered series mirrored in its increasingly tribalistic players. It's the Call of Duty schism, and it's fascinating.

The divide

Generally speaking, there are two studios steering Call of Duty's creative direction: Infinity Ward, the OG creators of the series and Modern Warfare, and Treyarch, the creators of Black Ops. The pair have taken turns with their takes on the bestselling military shooter since 2006, when Treyarch was tapped to make Call of Duty 3 (as well as 2005's Big Red One) while Infinity Ward took extra time on the first Modern Warfare (2007).

While it's fair to say Treyarch was the "secondary" Call of Duty studio in those early days, Black Ops (2010) changed that. With its campy Cold War spy story, non-traditional guns, and party modes, Black Ops established Treyarch as the "fun" Call of Duty studio. Maybe it couldn't match Infinity Ward in terms of raw craft, but the first Black Ops was an even bigger sales hit than Modern Warfare, and distinguished itself by loosening restraints and not taking these silly blockbuster shooters so seriously.

I didn't know it at the time (being 14 and all), but this was the beginning of the schism. Black Ops is the first time I can remember heated arguments at school over whether this Call of Duty was better than the previous year's Modern Warfare 2—a talking point that defines Call of Duty discourse in 2026.

The specific design choices that folks argue over have changed alongside the FPS genre over the years, but the core of the studio debate remains remarkably consistent. There's nuance to these perspectives, of course, and there are some folks who don't really care either way, but there's a much louder contingent of fans who firmly believe one studio is killing Call of Duty and the other is its savior. Let's talk about the two camps.

The Infinity Ward argument

Fans of Modern Warfare believe Infinity Ward's games:

• Look better
• Sound better
• Move Call of Duty forward
• Are more grounded and mature
• Produce standout campaigns

Those who prefer Infinity Ward's take on Call of Duty are likely to cite a higher qualitative bar. The Modern Warfare series tends to be less flashy and adventurous than Treyarch's Black Ops, but what you get in return are the best-looking and -playing versions of Call of Duty. Infinity Ward excels at the "little" things—weapon sounds, reload animations, bullet feedback—that make Call of Duty a fundamentally satisfying shooter. The Modern Warfare "level up" stinger is the iconic example:

This sticking point goes all the way back to the early 2010s, when a new Black Ops would arrive looking less impressive than the Modern Warfare that came before it, with the exception of Treyarch's superior fire tech. While Treyarch has narrowed the gap on sound and animations over the years (especially after it switched to Infinity Ward's engine in 2024) the difference is still plain enough to see that most Treyarch fans won't argue this point.

Modern Warfare enjoyers may also prefer the way Infinity Ward does a campaign, a style marked by international task forces, NATO alphabet barks, and Captain Price's dependable mustache. These, too, aren't as ostentatious as a Black Ops romp where characters hallucinate a zombie horde or infiltrate a Clinton rally, but deliver more grounded, often jingohistic fantasies—stealthy sniper missions, AC-130 bombardments, night vision raids in foreign countries, etc.

There's also no denying that Infinity Ward still sets the tone for Call of Duty's future. The first Modern Warfare established the series' blueprint in 2007, and even at the peak of Black Ops, you could argue Treyarch's games are largely variations on Infinity Ward's designs. When Call of Duty's relevance waned between 2016 and 2018, it was the technical advancements and excellent gunplay of the Modern Warfare reboot that reinvigorated the series.

Does Infinity Ward only achieve these leaps because Activision gives it a longer leash and more time?A fair question, but it nevertheless contributes to the perception that a new Infinity Ward game is a special occasion.

The Treyarch argument

Fans of Black Ops enjoy that Treyarch's games have:

• Faster movement
• Longer time-to-kill
• 3-lane multiplayer maps
• Better campaigns
• Zombies

The Treyarch crowd undeniably skews hardcore. Many are especially active Call of Duty players, streamers, or content creators who take the competition seriously and are hungry for evolution specific to their interests. Treyarch has recognized these interests throughout the Black Ops series, designing and marketing its games around gameplay adjustments for high-skill players: fast movement, expressive sliding techniques, double jumping, jetpacks, and most recently non-skill-based matchmaking.

A Black Ops enjoyer might believe the Modern Warfare games are too slow, low skill, or less balanced while championing the strides Treyarch makes toward consistent and competitive Call of Duty multiplayer: less visual recoil, standardized 3-lane maps, and detailed weapon stats.

In recent years Treyarch has also distinguished itself by taking Infinity Ward's Gunsmith customization system and expanding on it with "prestige attachments" that dramatically change a gun's behavior. Revolvers can become sniper rifles. ARs can have underbarrel flamethrowers. There are few rules.

The casual Treyarch diehard also appreciates the Black Ops series' playful playlists—Modern Warfare will sometimes indulge in offbeat modes, but it's got nothing on Black Ops mainstays like Prop Hunt, One in the Chamber, Sticks and Stones, and Gun Game. Then there's Zombies: the beloved co-op mode of Treyarch's creation that's ballooned in scope over time to have its own lore and dedicated fans, all of which has no equal in Modern Warfare.

It doesn't go unnoticed by Treyarch fans that when the Black Ops series makes universally popular changes, Infinity Ward might ignore or drop them in its next game. This contributes to the perception that Treyarch makes games "for the fans" while Infinity Ward only listens to itself.

What about Sledgehammer and Raven?

Sledgehammer Games also makes its own Call of Duty games. Or at least, it used to: For a time, it was the "third" Call of Duty studio slotted into the rotation to accommodate ballooning development times across the industry. Its first standalone project, 2014's Advanced Warfare, was popular, but its two World War 2-themed followups were not. Since Call of Duty: Vanguard, Sledgehammer has seemingly been demoted to support studio, assisting on and co-developing yearly releases.

Recently, Sledgehammer stepped in to co-develop Modern Warfare 3 (2023), a rushed sequel to Modern Warfare 2 (2022) that Infinity Ward wasn't involved with. It reviewed poorly and didn't sell much better, but it was popular with hardcore players for the ways it backtracked on Infinity Ward's decision to slow Call of Duty back down a year prior.

Raven Software is the other major series contributor. The storied FPS developer behind classics like Hexen and Star Wars: Jedi Knight was conscripted to full-time Call of Duty work in the 2010s, serving as co-developers on all of Treyarch's recent Black Ops games and battle royale spinoff Warzone. The studio has never gotten the chance to lead a project, but the influence of Warzone and its integration into "premium" Call of Duty has catapulted into a free-to-play juggernaut.

The studio imbalance

Sledgehammer's fate is emblematic of an imbalance within Activision's Call of Duty factory. What used to be a predictable two-to-three year cycle with clean handoffs between studios has become a mad dash to make whatever is possible by a deadline—a workload that has disproportionately fallen to Treyarch, Raven, and Sledgehammer in the 2020s.

Look at the last six years of Call of Duty and you'll see what I mean:

• Black Ops Cold War: Treyarch (lead), Raven Software (Campaign), Sledgehammer (assisting)
• Vanguard: Sledgehammer (lead), Raven Software (assisting)
• Modern Warfare 2: Infinity Ward (lead), Sledgehammer/Raven (assisting)
• Modern Warfare 3: Sledgehammer (lead), Raven/Treyarch/Infinity Ward (assisting)
• Black Ops 6: Treyarch (lead), Raven (Campaign), Sledgehammer (assisting)
• Black Ops 7: Treyarch and Raven (co-lead), Sledgehammer/Infinity Ward (assisting)

So far this decade, Infinity Ward has made exactly one Modern Warfare sequel while Treyarch, Raven, and Sledgehammer have upped their pace. This is not how it used to work and, I imagine, not ideal to the frontline developers.

When I zoom out, I see that Call of Duty has actually been on two cycles all along: once a year there's a new Call of Duty, and once a decade there's a point where that unrealistic pace catches up to Activision, and the series adopts a posture of desperation—new features are less new, old maps are added to new games to pad out a many-boxed roadmap, and player sentiment tanks. We've been at that point since Modern Warfare 3.

From the outside, it's an arrangement that seemingly casts Infinity Ward as the flagship studio afforded as many years as it needs to make the next evolutionary Modern Warfare, while Treyarch, Sledgehammer, and Raven are tasked with keeping the lights on with quickly-made sequels that suffer diminishing returns.

This setup may work for Activision, which gets to sell boatloads of $70 boxes every Fall without fail, but it further fuels the schism. Nobody can agree on what "peak" Call of Duty is, and what used to be fun changings of the guard are now treated like existential threats—Modern Warfare loyalists can't wait for Infinity Ward to be back in control, while the loudest Treyarch fans believe Call of Duty has been better off without them.

That makes 2026 a big year for all involved. Four years since Modern Warfare 2, it's finally Infinity Ward's turn again. This year's Call of Duty will presumably have had the longest development period in series history, and it's coming on the heels of a Black Ops sequel that not even the Treyarch crowd is playing. That sets expectations sky high: Will Infinity Ward revive Call of Duty once more, or prove that Treyarch has become its new masters?

With its latest patch for Marathon, Bungie has decided that the haunting, derelict expanse of Tau Ceti IV is stressful enough without any adrenaline-crazed acrobats launching themselves across your screen like frenzied, gun-toting cybergibbons. Marathon is now, officially, a No Movement Freak Zone.

In its patch notes for Marathon update 1.0.5.2, Bungie says it's fixed a movement exploit that had been allowing players to generate unintended levels of momentum by sliding into and cancelling equipment or ability animations like the Thief's grapple device. And the studio says we should expect a similar zero-tolerance policy on movement exploits going forward.

Bungie said that by allowing players to launch themselves at high speeds with little drawback, the slide cancel exploit broke a central tenet of its design theory: Nobody gets to engage in freak behavior for free.

"One of our core philosophies for Marathon is that rapid repositioning and aggression must always have a meaningful cost. That cost can be an ability charge, heat buildup, or increased risk but it must exist and be understandable to an observer," Bungie said in the patch notes. "Unbounded movement, while expressive and clip-worthy, is ultimately unhealthy for the pace of play we want to maintain for Marathon. To set expectations early, we will be looking at any future movement exploits through the same lens."

Thief players can still use the grapple ability for a one-off boost of momentum, but doing so will now incur an ability cooldown where the previous movement exploit hadn't.

While we should spare a moment of silence for those in the Marathon highlight reel ecosystem who must once again remain within intended velocity margins, I think I speak for many when I say: Thank god. Nothing turns me off a shooter like the idea of having to contend with high-intensity combat contortionists. I'm an honest man and I expect to be murdered in honest ways.

If I ambush you with a shotgun, I guarantee it'll be at a respectable, pedestrian pace. Hopefully you'll return the courtesy. It's only neighborly.

I don't know why, but there's nothing more tactical and cool than an MP5, and in Battlefield 6, that's the PW5A3. Not to be confused with the much faster firing PW7A2, based on the MP7, the best BF6 PW5A3 loadout is just a tad slower and more methodical.

The PW5A3 is certainly a strong early option, alongside the SGX, but it wasn't my cup of tea at first. With some smart attachment choices, this SMG grew on me a ton for mid-range maps like Iberian Offensive and Siege of Cairo.

Best PW5A3 loadout in Battlefield 6

I recommend using the following attachments for a PW5A3 build:

• Muzzle: Flash Hider (10)
• Barrel: Extended 245mm Custom (15)
• Underbarrel: Slim Angled (20)
• Magazine: 30RND Fast Magazine (10)
• Ammunition: Standard (5)
• Scope: Mini Flex 1.00x (10)
• Accessory: 120MW Blue (30)

The PW5A3 really doesn't have much in the way of recoil, and I've not found it particularly consistent at range compared to alternatives like the SGX, so I much prefer going for a stealthier, more flank-focused playstyle. That's where the Flash Hider muzzle comes in, hiding in-world spotting and reducing the range at which you're marked on the map when firing.

If you want to be even quieter, use the Standard Suppressor for 20 points, and change the 120MW Blue laser (more on that later) to the 50MW Blue laser. The only reason I don't use this option, as cool as it is, is that suppressors hurt hipfire accuracy, and that's important for an SMG.

Then, we use the Extended 245mm Custom barrel and Slim Angled grip primarily to increase ADS speed, though the former also increases bullet velocity (helpful, but still low) while the latter improves recoil control. SMGs are best when nimble, and these attachments make it so.

On a similar note, I use the 30-round fast magazines for speedier reloads. The large 40-round mag might be tempting, but it costs 25 points and hinders your mobility, so I don't think it's worth it. But we have the points to spare for an upgrade from the standard magazine, so this is a good compromise.

The last major attachment is the 120MW Blue laser. Coming in at 30 points, it's certainly pricey, but it's worth it for a big boost to hipfire accuracy and even ADS precision while moving. Again, if you want to use a suppressor, you'll want to trade this for the weaker 50MW variant or remove the optic.

My biggest gripe with the PW5A3 when I first picked it up was that the default 2PRO 1.25x red dot is horrible, and the iron sights aren't all that much better. Thankfully, it won't take long to unlock a handful of better picks, namely the Mini Flex 1.00x. Its clean sight makes it my go-to for pretty much anything, especially in close range.

Since this is an SMG, it's a no-brainer to use it with the Engineer class to take advantage of their signature weapon bonus to hip-fire control—even more important if you've opted for a suppressor. However, it feels like a bit of a waste playing Engineer on maps and modes with no vehicles. In those cases, Assault is a strong alternative thanks to the assault sling, which lets you carry a second primary weapon. You could use a carbine or DMR for a ranged alternative, or a shotgun for when you run out of ammo.

It doesn't look like it at first glance (it's just a renamed MP7), but the PW7A2 is one of the weirder weapons in Battlefield 6. It's got a blazingly fast 947RPM fire rate, making it one of the fastest-firing weapons in the game, and yet it has virtually no recoil. Seriously. The best BF6 PW7A2 loadout takes advantage of this to create a flanking menace.

While SMGs like the SGX and even the PW5A3 are capable of some pretty extraordinary feats at range, they pale in comparison to the PW7A2. Despite lower per-bullet damage, its significantly higher fire rate and unmatched handling more than make up for it. So, here's what you need.

Best PW7A2 loadout in Battlefield 6

I recommend the following attachments for a PW7A2 build:

• Muzzle: Single-Port Brake (5)
• Barrel: Basic 180mm Standard (10)
• Underbarrel: Slim Angled (20)
• Magazine: 30RND Magazine (5)
• Ammunition: Hollow Point (20)
• Scope: Mini Flex 1.00x (10)
• Accessory: 120MW Blue (30)

Since the PW7A2 has such impeccable default recoil control and accuracy, you really don't need to worry about expensive handling attachments. Instead, settle for the cheap-as-chips Single-Port Brake and Slim Angled grip to reduce recoil slightly, while the latter also boosts ADS speed. Use the Alloy Vertical grip until you unlock the Slim Angled upgrade at Mastery 17. We also don't need to swap to the Mastery 14 Heavy 180mm Prototype barrel, so you can stick with the default barrel for even faster ADS speed.

As much as I'd love a larger magazine given the PW7A2's rapid rate of fire, these upgrades are very costly and require sacrifices elsewhere. Instead, I prefer to stick with the standard 30-round mag and allocate those points to better close-range effectiveness. Plus, larger mags hurt your mobility. However, you could remove either the muzzle or scope, or swap the 120MW Blue laser to the 50MW version, and pick up a larger magazine instead if you'd rather.

With such sublime accuracy, it's really easy to make consistent use of Hollow Point ammo, which is important because it's a costly upgrade. This ammo slightly increases your headshot damage, which can sometimes decrease the shots needed to kill. Considering the PW7A2's decreased damage compared to other SMGs, this can come in clutch. If you'd rather have something that more consistently aids you instead, I'd swap this for a bigger magazine.

The most expensive attachment in this loadout is the 120MW Blue laser accessory. This provides a massive boost to hipfire accuracy and a minor bonus to ADS accuracy while moving, both of which are vital with an aggressive SMG. Now, you can run and gun without worrying about RNG deciding whether your shots are going to miss.

I quite like the PW7A2's iron sights, though I'd still recommend spending your final 10 points on an optic like the Mini Flex 1.00x. It's incredibly clean and perfect for close-range shootouts.

Given it's an SMG, I recommend using it with the Engineer class to take advantage of their signature weapon bonus to hip-fire control. The SMG already has a tasty 71 stat for hipfire, so why not take some more? However, on maps and modes with no vehicles, Assault should be your go-to solely due to its assault sling, which lets you carry a carbine or DMR in your back pocket for when you need something with more range, or even a shotgun if you want to really be your enemies' worst nightmare.

Battlefield 6 has a whopping 45 weapons to unlock across all its categories (including sidearms), so you're spoilt for choice—plus, they can be used on any class in standard Open Weapons playlists. It's a big improvement over the measly launch offerings of BF1, BF5, and BF2042, and it makes progression significantly more rewarding.

With so many weapons to unlock, both through career ranks and assignments, it's a no-brainer to sort the wheat from the chaff to find out the best guns. So, I've put every weapon to the test, including playing around with attachments, to help you out in the field.

Best Battlefield 6 guns

The best guns I've used so far in BF6 are:

• M4A1 (rank 2, carbine)
• M87A1 (rank 0, shotgun)
• PW7A2 (rank 19, SMG)
• DRS-IAR (rank 9, LMG)
• M277 (rank 11, carbine)
• SG 553R (Danger Close assignment, carbine)

M4A1

The M4A1 carbine, unlocked at just Rank 2, is one of the best weapons in the entire game. Thanks to its high fire rate and solid damage, the M4A1 is capable of dropping enemies blazingly fast.

Now, you might think that these positives must mean the M4A1 is weak at range. It should be, but it's not. With just a converter and vertical grip, you can negate most of the recoil without hurting your accuracy. In other words, you've got the raw firepower and mobility of an SMG with the range of an assault rifle.

M87A1

The killer shotgun from the beta returns with a vengeance. Despite a nerf, the M87A1 is still a reliable one-hit kill in close range, and has access to slug rounds for picks at further ranges.

It's strong in its own right given how many of BF6's maps are relatively small and dense, but it really shines as a backup for the Assault class. Using this class's unique assault sling 'gadget', you can carry a long-range primary like an assault rifle, with the M87A1 in your back pocket for when things get messy. Let's just say I wouldn't disagree if people called for this synergy to be dialled back somehow or removed entirely.

PW7A2

Based on the MP7, the PW7A2 (not to be confused with the PW5A3, based on the MP5, though that's still good) is a very odd SMG. It boasts a brisk 947RPM fire rate, outpacing even the M4A1, and you'd think that would come with a boatload of recoil. However, it's the exact opposite: the PW7A2 is one of the most accurate, controllable weapons of the bunch. Despite its low damage per shot, this SMG's superb accuracy and fire rate mean you can burst people down at further ranges than you'd expect.

Of course, this high DPS, paired with very good mobility, also lends itself to close quarters, where the PW7A2 is similarly devastating. Plus, since you don't need to use any attachments to rein in the recoil, you're free to focus on even more mobility, or chuck on a suppressor for easier flanking.

DRS-IAR

The DRS-IAR is a very odd LMG in that it's basically an assault rifle. With more sprightly handling and a typical 30-round magazine, this gun effectively blurs the boundary between the categories, and it's all the better for it.

The DRS has the stopping power of an LMG, but it's much more nimble and versatile, which is better suited to Battlefield 6's often smaller maps. Once you get rid of the god awful default 3.5x scope and attach a Double-Port Brake and Vertical Grip, much of the kick is gone too, so it can hold its own at range as well.

M277

Like the M4A1, the M277 carbine unlocked at Rank 11 is the perfect blend between an SMG and an assault rifle. It hits incredibly hard even at further ranges, though it does have more recoil than the M4A1 even with optimised attachments, and it has a smaller magazine size.

With that in mind, I recommend reining in the recoil with a converter/brake, vertical grip, and 50MW blue laser, and then bumping up the magazine size to standard levels. Admittedly, it does take quite a bit of effort to fully gear up, but it's still a cut above the rest with just a muzzle and grip.

SG 553R

With damage on par with assault rifles (higher than every carbine except the M417 A2, which it ties with) but better mobility, and still a relatively high 720RPM, the SG 553R can throw a lot of damage down range. Even better is that it's designed for mid-ranges, so it's not sacrificing a great deal of precision or control either—both of which you can improve with attachments as well, anyhow.

The hurdle you'll run into is that the SG 553R is locked behind a lengthy grind, as it's the reward for the Danger Close 2 assignment. Using carbines, you'll need to get 250 ADS kills and 10,000 damage, then 300 headshots, and 100 kills with the QBZ-192 or M277 specifically. It's a lot.

All Battlefield 6 weapons

Here are all 45 weapons you can unlock in Battlefield 6 and what level you need to reach to add them to your arsenal, organised by category. It's worth noting that this doesn't include weapon packages, which are essentially different versions of these weapons with pre-allocated attachments (though you can still change them).

Remember that Battlefield 6 features both an Open Weapons and Closed Weapons playlists. Open weapons means all four classes can use any weapon, but each class has a preferred weapon type, for which they'll gain unique benefits when using. Closed weapons, on the other hand, locks certain weapon types to specific classes.

The L110 is the starter LMG (or light machine gun) in Battlefield 6, and as you'd expect, it's capable of spitting out an absolute storm of bullets before having to reload. The best BF6 L110 loadout is all about trying to control that torrent of projectiles, shackling the gun with some recoil control, while trying to keep it competitive with a fast aim down sight speed.

The LMG is a bit of a weird gun in Battlefield 6, trumped at close range by SMGs, assault rifles, and carbines, but also at longer range by DMRs. So what does the L110 have going for it? Well, it's got a whole lot of bullets for one. While your opponent's mag might run dry quickly, you'll still be blasting away.

If you can keep it accurate, it also has a decent TTK, especially if you manage to land headshots with the Hollow Point ammo I'm recommending. If you're using an LMG as Support (which you should be), you'll also get additional bonuses to ADS and sprint speed, helping to make things a tad more competitive.

Best L110 loadout in Battlefield 6

Here's the build I've been using for the L110:

• Muzzle: Compensated Brake (20)
• Barrel: 465MM LB (10)
• Underbarrel: Stippled Stubby (35)
• Magazine: 100RND Belt Pouch (5)
• Ammunition: Hollow Point (20)
• Scope: RO-M 1.75x (10)

First off, you're not going to be doing all that much hipfiring with the L110 if you hope to hit anything, which means our primary goal with this loadout is to buff our precision, control, aim down sight speed, and bullet velocity, letting us tame the unrelenting stream of bullets that this 100-round machine gun can spit out.

Our first step is taking the Compensated Brake for the muzzle, since this offers the best recoil and control, so it's well worth the 20-point allocation. For the barrel, I suggest the 465MM LB, which boosts bullet velocity. While the 349MM Fluted actually has better aim down sight speed, it decreases our valuable precision, plus its mobility buff is a little pointless when Support (the class you should be using the LMG as) doesn't get sprint speed penalties when using an LMG.

Underbarrel is perhaps the most important attachment on the LMG, and you'll want to take a stubby for even more precision, control, and ADS. I recommend the Stippled Stubby you get at mastery 35, but in the meantime you can use the Folding Stubby or Ribbed Stubby.

Despite how fun it is having 200 rounds in a magazine, it sadly affects ADS quite heavily, so you'll want to stick with the standard 100RND Belt Pouch, though I'd suggest upgrading your ammunition to Hollow Point, giving any headshots that you do land an extra damage bonus.

Finally, the standard scope is a 2.00x, but personally, I find it a little too much magnification relative to the range at which the LMG performs best. I use the RO-M 1.75x and think that's about right in terms of distance.

Carbines are perhaps the single best weapon type in Battlefield 6, with the M4A1 and M277 continuing their domination from the beta. With weak default attachments, the best M277 loadout does take a bit of work, but it's worth it in the end.

By default, the M277 has some of the worst recoil deviation of any weapon. When combined with a frustratingly small 20-round magazine, it's hard to consistently score kills at range or multi-kills. The M277's stock attachments look very cool and tactical, but it's not all that optimal to have a suppressor and large optic on a weapon with so much kick and so few bullets. So, here's what you need to do.

Best M277 loadout in Battlefield 6

Here's the build I recommend for the M277:

• Muzzle: Double-Port Brake (10)
• Barrel: Heavy Extended 16" Custom (10)
• Underbarrel: Alloy Vertical (20)
• Magazine: 25RND Fast Magazine (25)
• Ammunition: Standard (5)
• Scope: Mini Flex 1.00x (10) or RO-M 1.75x (10)
• Accessory: 50MW Blue (20)

The Double-Port Brake and the Alloy Vertical grip are the two most important attachments on the M277, so it's good that you unlock them relatively early. These combine to significantly reduce the recoil of sustained and burst fire, making fighting at range much easier. The Compensated Brake muzzle might sound tempting, but it's not as useful as the Double-Port in practice, given the small mag size and moderate rate of fire.

Then, there's the surprisingly cheap Heavy Extended 16" Custom barrel. Combining the effects of the Heavy and Extended barrels, this improves the accuracy of sustained shooting and increases projectile velocity to further improve the M277 at mid-range.

As much as I'd love to use the 30-round magazine, the largest available on the M277 (and still only bog standard, at that), it costs a whopping 40 points to equip. Instead, use the 25-RND Fast mag. You'll gain five extra shots, but also faster reloads at a slow cost to draw speed and movement speed while aiming. With such a small magazine, the sub-two-second reload speed is vital. If you're not using an optic (I actually really like the M277's iron sights) or while levelling, slap on the Improved Mag Catch, too.

To tackle the M277's last weakness, its spread, all you need is the 50MW Blue laser. Unlocked at Mastery 26, this laser improves both hipfire and ADS accuracy while strafing, and you'll notice it immediately.

You can spend your last 10 points on an optic like the Mini Flex or RO-M, depending on the map and mode you're on. I can personally vouch for the M277's iron sights, which'll free up 10 points to spend on either the Mag Catch or a basic suppressor.

None of the classes gain any unique benefits while using carbines, so you're free to use the M277 with any of the classes. You can be very aggressive with it, so it's fun to pair it with the Assault, especially since the assault sling, which lets you carry a second primary, is a great backup for when you inevitably need to reload mid-shootout. On the other hand, Recon has some great gadgets for intel, like motion sensors, mines, and a drone.

So, you've decided to become a sniper in Battlefield 6. It's certainly one way to escape the rat race of TTK escalation and, if you're a rifle lover, the poor performance of DMRs relative to absolute murder machine SMGs, assault rifles, and carbines. Snipers can set up their own little spot and plink away, enjoying the atmosphere of the battlefield while ideally not drawing too much attention.

The best BF6 M2010 ESR loadout is very different to its other weapon counterparts, where recoil control is one of the most important things. Instead, this setup focuses on adding handy tools to the rifle that speed up round rechambering, but also reduce weapon sway so you can land a long-range shot with more precision.

Some of the best M2010 ESR attachments aren't available until a relatively high mastery (such as the DLC Bolt that allows scoped-in round rechambering), so you'll have plenty of points to spend as you're levelling to experiment with attachments either way. All that said, here's my preferred setup for the starting sniper rifle in Battlefield 6.

Best M2010 ESR loadout in Battlefield 6

Here's the build I suggest for the M2010 ESR:

• Muzzle: Compensated Brake (20)
• Barrel: 26" Carbon (15)
• Underbarrel: Bipod (10)
• Magazine: 5 RND (5)
• Ergonomics: DLC Bolt (30)
• Ammunition: Long-Range (10)
• Scope: SSDS 6.00X (10)

Since sniper rifles have such a focused role on the battlefield, our main concerns with this build are sway reduction, bullet velocity, and rechambering so you can follow up on any enemies you tag but don't finish.

For starters, the Compensated Brake may be costly, but it's worth the price for its sway reduction versus the Single Port Brake. While the starting Light Barrel is decent enough, I definitely recommend swapping to the 26" Carbon at Mastery 16 for the bump to projectile velocity, as well.

In terms of underbarrel, I personally love the Bipod. You can fold out this tool when you're prone and it makes the gun absurdly stable. You can also reload the clip while still scoped in provided your bipod is down. The only disadvantage it has is that you can't really aim up when it's deployed, so you'll want to find an elevated sniper's nest to shoot down, which is ideally what you should be doing anyway.

I personally use the 5 RND magazine since paying 20 points for 3 extra rounds doesn't seem worth it, and I opt for the Long-Range ammo—a tiny cost increase for more precision due to less bullet drag. Scope is down to personal preference, but I like the SSDS 6.00X, though any 6X scope, including the starter one, will do the job.

Last but not least, the DLC Bolt is our most expensive attachment and unlocks at Mastery 13, but it lets you rechamber while scoped-in, so you can quickly follow-up on a wounded enemy.

You could also swap something else out for the Anti-Glare Coating in the Optic Accessory slot at Mastery 36, but just like suppressors, I think it's kind of pointless to be honest (people know where you are once you've killed them). The best sniper practice is to spot and then scope in to snipe, exposing your scope glint for the shortest time possible, so it's better to choose attachments that will buff the gun's actual performance. Repositioning a bit after one or two player kills is also a good way to avoid swift reprisals from other revenge-seeking players, though the Recon's Claymore can give you some defence here.

As you'd expect, the best class to bring a sniper rifle with is Recon, since they get bonuses to handling like reduced weapon sway, faster rechambering, and better breath control. You also prevent anyone who you headshot from being revived and mark enemies you damage. That said, if you're tired of getting gunned down by SMGs and assault rifles on your way to your spot, you could take the Assault class and use their sling to bring a second close-range weapon, such as the M4A1 carbine, or the M87A1 shotgun, also handy if anyone comes seeking vengeance.

While it's so compact that it could fit in your pocket, the SGX is a powerful SMG in Battlefield 6. It's also the starter SMG, so you can hit the ground running with a strong contender, which arguably isn't the case for the assault rifle category. The best BF6 SGX loadout might make it look rather silly, but you can't argue with the performance.

The SGX is described as aggressive and close-range with a high fire rate, and that's certainly true, but it's more reliable than it implies. This build tightens its recoil and handling to make it surprisingly versatile, though it's not quite to the same level as the M4A1 loadout or AK-205.

Best SGX loadout in Battlefield 6

I recommend the following attachments for an SGX build:

• Muzzle: Double-Port Brake (10)
• Barrel: Light 6" Fluted (20)
• Underbarrel: Slim Angled (20)
• Magazine: 36RND Magazine (15)
• Ammunition: Standard (5)
• Scope: Mini Flex 1.00x (10) or OSA-7 1.00x (10)
• Accessory: 50MW Blue (20)

Thanks to the SGX's already pretty superb handling straight out of the box, you don't need to do much in the way of recoil reduction. The Double-Port Brake and Slim Angled grip reduce overall recoil a tad, while the latter also speeds up ADS time. You'll do just fine using the Single-Port Brake and Ribbed Stubby until you unlock these higher-level attachments.

With the SGX's impressive handling in mind, you could also swap the muzzle to a suppressor, though these are more expensive and would mean sacrifices elsewhere, such as removing a sight.

As for barrels, your end goal is the Light 6" Fluted at Mastery 34 to improve ADS speed and accuracy, making the SGX more effective at both close and medium ranges. Given it's a high-level attachment, stick with the 8" Extended until then, as it'll still give you faster ADS and improved bullet velocity.

The SGX has a moderate 830RPM fire rate, so you don't need the biggest magazine. Plus, these will only slow your handling. I use the 36-round magazine for just a few extra bullets since it only costs an extra 10 points over its default counterpart.

Your last big-ticket pickup is the 50MW Blue laser unlocked at Mastery 27. This improves both your hipfire and ADS accuracy, so what more could you ask for? You could swap it for the 50MW Green for even more hipfire accuracy, but I much prefer the versatility of the blue laser.

Spend your final 10 points on an optic (unless you're using a suppressor, in which case you're broke at this point). This is largely down to personal preference, though I'm a big fan of the Mini Flex 1.00x and OSA-7 1.00x for close-range shootouts.

Given it's an SMG, I recommend using it with the Engineer class to take advantage of their signature weapon bonus to hip-fire control. However, on maps and modes with no vehicles, Assault is a better pick thanks to its assault sling, which you can use to carry a carbine or DMR in your back pocket for when you need something with more range.

It's been three years and 11 months since a Battlefield game came out, and if you ask me, that's the sweet spot. It was long enough that DICE's last entry, Battlefield 2042, had time to live up to its potential (eventually), and not so short a gap that the coming of a new Battlefield is just another Friday.

Battlefield 6 feels like an event. It's quickly become the most-anticipated FPS of the year, fueled by an extremely positive open beta in August and promises of a return to what made Battlefields 3 and 4 really good (simple classes, pretty maps, 64-player lobbies).

I've had a great time in multiplayer this past week, but I'm eager to play more humans and fewer bots. I'll be here chronicling Battlefield 6 happenings all launch day, so check back often to see what's new.

One hour until Battlefield-o'clock

Battlefield 6 launches globally in one hour. Here's the exact release time for your region:

• West Coast US: 8 am PDT
• East Coast US: 11 am EDT
• UK: 4 pm BST
• Europe: 5 pm CEST
• Australia: 2 am AEDT (October 11)
• New Zealand: 4 am NZST (October 11)

Everything set? Let's go over the ready-up checklist:

• Game pre-load complete?
• System requirements reviewed?
• Install that Battlefield 6-specific video driver?
• Headset charged?
• Sick day secured?

EA is warning players via X that Battlefield 6 is likely to have a login queue when it goes live in less than an hour.

"Battlefield 6 launches today at 15:00UTC and we anticipate many of you to login at the same time during this initial moment. To help ensure a smooth and stable login experience for everyone, we’re adding a queue system during this and other peak moments."

We also had to contend with a login queue during the busiest hours of the August beta, though it wasn't the headache that queues typically are. The line moved quite fast, so maybe we can hope for the same today.

Read our Battlefield 6 review-in-progress

While we wait for servers to go up (and subsequently melt), be sure to check out the Battlefield 6 review-in-progress we published yesterday. We won't be giving our final, scored verdict until we've played more multiplayer with actual humans, but there's still plenty to talk about.

TL;DR? Multiplayer rocks, campaign stinks, and Portal has promise (but we haven't gotten to play with it yet):

"Place your palm on the pavement, and you can feel the low rumble of a hobby yearning for the return of what we loved 15 years ago: the spectacle of scale, the unserious chaos of vehicular warfare, red grunts vs. blue grunts, the permission to make your own rules, and an environment where the guy obsessed with metas is having the least fun. That is the pitch of Battlefield 6, and so far, it's a bullseye."

'This is what a well-optimized game looks like in 2025'

"After all the furore surrounding Borderlands 4's performance woes last month—and a year that seems filled with games designed to give mid-range machines a thorough kicking—it's truly refreshing to test something that feels like it's been designed from the ground up with smooth frame rates in mind."

PC Gamer's Andy Edser placed Battlefield 6 under the microscope in our performance analysis and found that yes, it's impressively optimized for a big-budget game that looks this stunning.

Servers are live, go go goooooooo

Uh oh

The bad news: Login queues are big

The good news: They seem to be moving pretty quick?

News writer Lincoln Carpenter managed to get through a 100k queue in just a minute or two. Hopefully, you'll be as lucky.

Tracking down all dog tag locations in Battlefield 6 is a lot harder than you'd expect from your average AAA FPS campaign, but some of them are super well hidden, or at least, very hard to spot. The fact that the campaign uses multiplayer maps with tons of destructible houses, shops, and little locations, makes it kind of a nightmare for finding collectibles.

Why would I bother? You might ask. Well, there are four very good reasons to grab these dog tags, and those are the unique skins you can earn for multiplayer (the real reason most of us are here). There are two Pax Armata skins and two NATO skins, which you'll earn for finding every dog tag in Night Raid, No Sleep, Operation Ember Strike, and Always Forward.

There are other rewards for the rest of the missions, too, such as a dog tag, a player card, a vehicle camo, and an XP consumable. There's also a special dog tag up for grabs if you collect all 30 dog tags during the campaign. Below, I'll run through the dog tag locations in order, plus I'll preview all four skins you can get at the bottom of the article.

All 30 Battlefield 6 dog tag locations

As mentioned, there are 30 dog tags to find across Battlefield 6's nine campaign missions. Some longer missions have four, some have three, and one mission just has two (since you spend most of it in a tank). Here's where to find them.

Battlefield 6 Always Faithful dog tag locations

• Reward: Dead Center Dog Tag

1. You can find the first dog tag in Always Faithful once you've escaped the base in the vehicle. Get out, wander through the woods a short way, and you'll find the dog tag on top of a container between the two ammo boxes directly in your path.

2. After you place the first C4 block on the pillar in Site 2, go up the stairs to the next floor. Go towards the pillar where you have to place the second C4 block and look left to see another pillar near the windows. On the other side is a notice board with a knife stabbed into it and the dog tag hanging down.

3. The third dog tag is right after you place the second C4 in Site 2 and rappel up the lift shaft to the roof. As soon as you emerge, look to your left to find it on top of a concrete block next to some barrels, right next to an ammo box, with coffee cups scattered around.

Battlefield 6 The Rock dog tag locations

• Reward: Danger Ahead Player Card Background

1. As soon as you land on the rock of Gibraltar, turn around and head towards the artillery emplacement behind you. Go around its right side towards the radio tower to spot the dog tag on top of an upturned blue plastic crate on your left.

2. After blowing up the radar installation and heading down into the tunnels, you'll arrive at an underground Second World War museum. Head through the main exhibit and go down the stairs to spot a mannequin radio operator on the left. The tag is just to the left of where he's sitting, on the desk.

3. Just after you reunite with Lancer, you'll head into the final two AA batteries. Go left down the stairs, then look to your right at the bottom to see an open beige-coloured shipping container. The dog tag is hanging from a knife stabbed into the left side door. I've included a video because this one gave me a lot of trouble.

Battlefield 6 Operation Gladius dog tag locations

• Reward: Elite Raider Player Card Icon

1. Near where you first exit the tank into the car park. Head to the far end, where the TOW and MG emplacements were, go up the stairs on the left side, turning right to reach the stone terrace at the top. As you emerge, the dog tag is immediately to your right and behind you on a table by a radio. You should hear Kincaid talking through this to the troops you just killed as you get close.

2. After you escort Charlie 5 (the tank) through the streets, you'll leave it to find a route through some houses. You'll climb to the first floor, where an emergency broadcast will be playing on a TV, and Lopez will wonder whether the occupants got out in time. Continue through into a first-floor courtyard with garden furniture. The dog tag is on a wooden table on the right side by some wine bottles and potted plants.

3. When you reach city hall at the end of the mission, go through the main entrance and turn left to find a small room. The dog tag is hanging from a knife stabbed into a "Do not feed the macaques" poster.

Battlefield 6 Night Raid dog tag locations

• Reward: Urban Sprawl (Scout) Pax Armata skin

1. The first dog tag is quite far into the mission. When you climb upstairs into the first floor of the embassy on fire, you'll reach a door that Carter tells you to breach (you get the "Breach the Door" objective). Instead of breaching, head left down to the far end of the corridor and into the office on the right. Go into the bathroom in the far corner to find the dog tag hanging from a frame by the toilet at the far end.

2. After you exit the embassy and head towards the exfil point through the streets, you'll reach an open area with two wooden football goals, houses on each side, plus a table with a parasol on the right side. Head to the far goal and then towards the little stairs to its right. Just next to it, above the graffiti of the woman saying "Together we are stronger", is the dog tag by some spray paint cans.

3. This one is hard to describe, so I've included a video above. After the helicopter attacks you and you fight through the market with enemies on the rooftops, you'll head through into another area on your way to the plaza. Your squadmates will note that the helicopter is leaving. You'll head through a building into an alley (with a fallen bin) and a shisha store with a pharaoh statue on your right. The dog tag is in the clothing store on your left on a table next to an army canteen.

4. The last dog tag is in the basement arms stash, where Carter directs you to get the rocket launcher to take down the helicopter. Look at the No PAX poster on the wall next to the computers to see it hanging from a knife.

Battlefield 6 No Sleep dog tag locations

• Reward: Gridlock (Support) NATO skin

1. The first dog tag is immediately on the left as you enter Acre's briefing right at the start of the mission. Look left as you go in to see the dog tag glinting on a table—activate night vision if you're struggling to spot it.

2. After you speak to Kincaid on the tablet in his war room, look in the far right corner of the room to see the dog tag hanging from a knife stuck in a board behind a sofa. You can actually see this one glinting in the background during the cutscene.

3. After you crash your car in the underground train chase, you'll spot an open shipping container (with Walker-Senex written on it) directly in front of you on the way to the construction site. Walk inside and look to your right to spot the dog tag on a crate. It's quite dark so you might have to enable night vision to see it.

Battlefield 6 Moving Mountains dog tag locations

• Reward: Career XP Booster

1. After you meet President Fernandez upstairs in the fire station, instead of going up to the roof, go right towards the room marked cafeteria and enter to find the dog tag on the kitchen counter to your right.

2. After you enter the park and take out the first two drone operators, you'll find yourself in a construction site just before the drone command center at Endale Arch. The dog tag is inside the one-room building in the construction site, on the floor by some boots towards the middle.

3. After you fall into the subway, you'll have to fight through some tunnels with enemies throwing red flares. After this, you'll reach a subway station and climb onto the platform. Head left into the station and turn immediately right to head between the pillars on either side. On the left side of the concrete block ahead of you with the subway boards, you'll see the dog tag next to a toy rabbit and a green sports bag with Crowe written on it.

4. After you exit the subway, head down the street towards the Brooklyn Bridge and then cross to the park on the other side of the road. Take the path to your left with the stairs at the far end, at the top of which, you'll find a corpse on the left with the dog tag just next to it.

Battlefield 6 Nile Guard dog tag locations

• Reward: Canopy Drop (tank) Vehicle Camo

1. After you exit the tank, you'll head through a room with two computers, into a small courtyard with a tree on the right side. Look at the base of the tree to spot the dog tag on top of some cardboard by a disposable cup with a straw

2. From the previous tag, you'll move through into a courtyard market area with lots of enemies. Head over to the right side of the courtyard into the tall building with the signs, and turn right once inside to see the dog tag hanging from a knife stabbed into the wall by a No Pax poster

Battlefield 6 Operation Ember Strike dog tag locations

• Reward: Gridlock (Assault) NATO skin

1. After you drone bomb the soldiers, drive down the valley, looking for a group of ruined houses on the left side. In the biggest/farthest away of the three houses (the one that still has a door), you'll find the tag on the left side on the floor

2. This one is quite hard to give instructions for, so I included a video. From Datalink Charlie, drive left along the road towards the bridge back to Datalink Alpha, but just before the bridge, turn right and head up into the small village. On the left side of the village, you'll see a small concrete building with a white goat head painted to the left of the entrance. The dog tag is just through the door on top of a weapon container

3. After you destroy Datalink Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie, you'll head through a hydro plant towards the final datalink. When you're about to exit, a sniper will shoot at you and you'll get an objective to take him out. This is also a notable moment because Lopez will freak out and fire continuously into the sniper's nest. The dog tag is in that sniper nest on the cliff, on top of a container. You can access it by heading across the bridge then backtracking up a trail on the left side of the road.

4. After you destroy Datalink Delta on the far side of the dam, you'll be tasked with heading to the top of the dam to destroy some anti-air defences. Just up from Datalink Delta, there are two quadbikes (that you're supposed to use to drive to the top of the dam) and to the left of them, the dog tag is on top of a weapon case behind the forklift truck, next to a canteen and a clipboard.

Battlefield 6 Always Forward dog tag locations

• Reward: Urban Sprawl (Engineer) Pax Armata skin

1. While fighting through the first PAX outpost right at the start, you'll spot a big hangar towards the end of it with CA-01 written on it in big blue letters. Head inside and look to the right of the middle truck to see the dog tag on the floor nearby, next to some stacked papers and a duffel bag.

2. After you fight through the base, you'll head through an oil refinery area and then out the other side, where you'll see a road heading up into the mountains. This is just before the jet attacks you. Before you head up that road, there's a white truck on the left side with a load of weapons and ammo boxes, and on the right there are wooden crates, sandbags, and a concrete block which has the dog tag on it.

3. At the back of the bunker containing NXC Launcher Alpha, the first one you visit after you fight through the base, destroy the jet, and fight your way into the bunker entrance. Simply enter the bunker, climb the stairs on either side, and head to the back wall, where you'll find the dog tag on a container next to a pilot's helmet.

4. After the NXC missile detonates and Murphy gives his rousing speech in the bunker entrance, look towards the boxes on your left. On top of one quite close by, you'll see the dog tag next to a glow stick, a laptop, and a helmet.

Battlefield 6 dog tag rewards

While I've listed all the relevant rewards above (and you can view them in campaign challenges also), here are what the four skins you can earn actually look like. Two of the skins are for NATO (Assault and Support), while the other two are for Pax Armata (Scout and Engineer).

Battlefield 6 may have 45 weapons to unlock, but there's only one you'll ever need: the trusty M4A1 carbine you unlock at Rank 2. Just a few minutes into your first game, and you'll be well on your way to having the best M4A1 loadout, dominating close range and often outmatching even assault rifles at range (provided you're burst firing, of course). It's my most-used weapon so far, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

If you played the beta back in August, then this might not come as a surprise to you; the M4A1 was arguably the best gun then, and it still holds strong despite some changes since. So, here's what attachments you need for a solid M4A1 build.

Best M4A1 loadout in Battlefield 6

Here's the build I've been using for the M4A1:

• Muzzle: Double-Port Brake (10)
• Barrel: 14.5" Carbine (15)
• Underbarrel: Alloy Vertical (20)
• Magazine: 36RND Magazine (15)
• Ammunition: Standard (5)
• Ergonomics: Improved Mag Catch (5)
• Scope: Mini Flex 1.00x (10) or RO-M 1.75x (10)
• Accessory: 50MW Blue (20)

The M4A1 is an absolute bullet hose with a 900RPM fire rate, so this comes with quite the kick. The Double-Port Brake muzzle and Alloy Vertical grip are your best options to reduce this recoil to a more than controllable level, without killing your accuracy in the process. You unlock the Double-Port Brake at Mastery 15, so I suggest using the Single-Port Brake or Convertor until you've got it, since these are effectively weaker versions.

With the recoil under control with just these two attachments, you'll want the 14.5" Carbine barrel next, as this improves projectile velocity to 787m/s and a much faster ADS speed. The M4A1 is a carbine, after all, so it's nice and nimble at close range. Until you've unlocked this, I'd just stick to the standard 12.5" Mid barrel.

A fast fire rate also means the M4A1 burns through ammo. To fix that, use the 36-round mag, taking a small hit to movement speed. While the larger 40-round magazine might sound tempting, it's more expensive and isn't really worth it, especially if you use the Improved Mag Catch for a faster reload anyhow. 36 bullets and a better catch are more than enough to kill a handful of enemies without needing to frantically reload during a gunfight.

Last but by no means least is the 50MW Blue laser accessory. Unlocked at Master 26, this accessory takes a while to unlock, but it's a fantastic attachment on nearly every weapon, especially on close-range weapons. The 50MW Blue handily increases hipfire accuracy, but, more importantly, it also gives a minor boost to aiming accuracy. Since our muzzle and grip attachments don't hinder accuracy, this is a straightforward upgrade to ensure your barrage of bullets more consistently go where you aim. Use the 5MW Red until you've unlocked the 50MW Blue.

The last 10 attachment points go to your optic of choice. This is almost entirely down to personal preference, though I'd recommend checking out the Mini Flex 1.00x or RO-M 1.75x, depending on the map. The Mini Flex is the clearest close-range red dot, while the RO-M's enhanced magnification is great for slightly larger maps.

Since the M4A1 is a carbine, none of the classes gain any unique benefits while using it. With that said, its very aggressive nature makes it the perfect fit for an Assault using a shotgun on a sling (for a second primary weapon), or a Support as a combat medic, especially since you can resupply your own ammo.

Despite the M433 being the first assault rifle in Battlefield 6, and likely the very first weapon you'll use, full stop—ARs are supposed to be simple, after all—it's far from easy to use. I hated it at first, but after some trial and error, the best M433 loadout has grown on me immensely.

The M433 is a hard-hitting, fast-firing assault rifle, but it pays the price with poor recoil control and accuracy. Because of this, it's an AR generally best used at close range, which is a hard sell with so many strong SMGs, the dominant M4A1 carbine, and no attachments to help you out at first. Level it up a bit to use the build below, and you might just change your mind. Just remember to burst and tap fire at any enemies further than your arm's reach.

It's worth noting that the M433 has a Shrouded weapon package as part of the deluxe Phantom edition. The Shrouded M433 comes with many of the best attachments unlocked by default, saving you a lot of grinding, though I'll mention lower-level alternatives. As for whether that makes this pricey deluxe edition worth it, I wouldn't say so.

Best M433 loadout in Battlefield 6

I recommend the following M433 build:

• Muzzle: Double-Port Brake (10)
• Barrel: Extended 18.9" Prototype (15)
• Underbarrel: Slim Angled (25)
• Magazine: 36RND Magazine (15)
• Ammunition: Standard (5)
• Scope: Mini Flex 1.00x (10) or CCO 2.00x (10)
• Accessory: 50MW Blue (20)

With the M433 having such a high, 830 RPM fire rate and lots of kick, I find the Double-Port Brake and Slim Angled grip work best to improve overall recoil control. The more expensive Compensated Brake is also a good choice, specifically improving recoil buildup and recovery. I'd use this until you unlock the 50MW Blue laser, as you'll no longer have the points spare.

As mentioned, the Slim Angled grip is automatically unlocked with the Shrouded weapon package, skipping a lot of the grind. If you don't have access to this package, use the Alloy Vertical grip until you've unlocked the Slim Angled.

Next, pick up the Extended 18.9" Prototype barrel. This raises the M433's slow default bullet velocity to a healthy 837m/s and increases ADS speed. It's not quite the B36A4's 975m/s velocity, but it goes a long way in helping the assault rifle's ranged potential, while also further improving its innate close-range effectiveness. What more could you ask for?

Well, one more thing: the absurdly powerful 50MW Blue laser accessory. Like the Slim Angled grip, this top accessory is automatically unlocked via the Shrouded weapon package, which is a big help considering it's otherwise a very late unlock. Improving both hipfire and ADS accuracy, this laser is a great boon on basically any weapon, but especially one as unruly as the M433.

Your last points should go on an optic, which is largely down to personal preference. I'm a big fan of the Mini Flex 1.00x or CCO 2.00x, but there are plenty of alternatives for all ranges. With that being said, I'd definitely steer clear of any magnifications higher than 2x, as the M433 is more of a close-range weapon even with these attachments.

As for what you can pair with the M433, unsurprisingly, I'd recommend playing the Assault class; you'll get some nice buffs to draw and sprint-to-fire speed. Plus, thanks to this class's unique sling 'gadget', you can bring a second primary weapon with you, like the M87A1 shotgun.

However, there's also some fun synergy with Recon, largely using claymore mines, Motion Sensor, and the Recon Drone to play very aggressively since you can see enemy positions. Of course, you can also pair it with the Support if you keep running out of ammo and can't be bothered to track down an ally ammo dispenser when you're flanking.

Battlefield 6 has eight assault rifles at launch, but the starter M433 struggles to make a great first impression. Assault rifles are usually known for their consistency at all ranges, and the M433 just isn't meant for that, but the Rank 14 B36A4 certainly is. With the best B36A4 loadout, you finally have a real assault rifle that you can rely on no matter the range.

I'll admit, the B36A4 (based on the G36) doesn't make the best first impression either, mainly because its stock attachments suck and it's oddly inaccurate for a mid-range AR. Don't worry though, all it takes is a bit of levelling to turn things around. So, here's what you need to know for a great B36A4.

Best B36A4 loadout in Battlefield 6

You should use the following B36A4 build:

• Muzzle: Double-Port Brake (10)
• Barrel: Extended 510MM Fluted (15)
• Underbarrel: Ribbed Stubby (30)
• Magazine: 36RND Fast Magazine (10)
• Ammunition: Standard (5)
• Scope: Mini Flex 1.00x (10) or CCO 2.00x (10)
• Accessory: 50MW Blue (20)

First things first, you'll want to use the Double-Port Brake and Ribbed Stubby grip to control the recoil. While the B36A4 has a slower 720RPM fire rate, better suited to longer ranges, it does have some kick even when firing in short bursts. These two attachments significantly reduce recoil, and the grip even speeds up ADS speed, which is appreciated in close range. Importantly, neither of these attachments hurt ADS accuracy, which is a sure-fire way to make your weapon feel gross further than 10m out from the enemy. Until you've unlocked the Ribbed Stubby grip at Mastery 19, use the simple Alloy Vertical (or even the Compensated Brake muzzle at Mastery 15).

Since the B36A4 is designed for mid ranges, naturally, you'll want the Extended 510MM Fluted barrel. Costing just five more points than the standard barrel, this not only further improves ADS speed, but also bumps up bullet velocity to 975m/s. This makes it feel much more consistent and easier to use at long range.

As for the magazine, I recommend a simple 30-round fast mag for a quicker reload (and it's cheap). You could opt for a larger 40- or 45-round magazine, but these are much more expensive and aren't necessary with the weapon's lower rate of fire.

Arguably the single-most broken attachment in the game, you'll want to use the 50MW Blue laser accessory when you unlock it at Mastery 33. This will take quite a bit of time (either use one of the earlier lasers or a larger magazine in the meantime), but this laser improves both hipfire and ADS accuracy. Unsurprisingly, better accuracy is never a bad thing, especially on an assault rifle intended for range. Plus, since the Ribbed Stubby grip doesn't negatively impact accuracy like most grips do, it's an improvement over the B36A4's default handling.

The final slot goes to your optic, and this is largely down to personal preference. With that said, you can't go wrong with the Mini Flex 1.00x or CCO 2.00x, depending on the map and mode you're on. The Mini Flex is so clean for close range, while the CCO has you covered for longer ranges.

As an assault rifle, you'll get some nice buffs to draw and sprint-to-fire speed when you're playing Assault. Since the B36A4 isn't quite as nimble as the likes of the M433, these proficiency bonuses come in handy. Otherwise, it's a reliable pick for any class when you need a more versatile weapon.

With EA now on the hook for $20 billion in the wake of its Saudi-and-Kushner-funded buyout, both the company and its new owners have been pretty obvious about their ambitions for AI-driven development to, somehow, miraculously help it start printing money quickly.

Which is concerning. Also concerning: One of EA's biggest releases this year hits in just a few hours in the form of Battlefield 6. Is it going to give us our first taste of the AI future?

You can breathe for now. In a chat with the BBC, EA VP general manager of Dice and Criterion promises that you won't run into anything made by GenAI in BF6. Phew. Time to take a big swig of coffee and see what else Coutaz has to say about the tech.

Uh oh! Turns out it doesn't stop there. Although you won't see GenAI-made content in BF6, Coutaz does say the tech is used in prep stages of development "to allow more time and more space to be creative".

It's not just you, I'm not sure what the substance of that statement is either, though Coutaz does say there's not really a way to integrate the tech into devs' day-to-day just yet (it's perhaps interesting to note, here, a recent bit of research by the FT which found that many businesses had crammed AI into their work but couldn't actually define what it was doing for them).

In the tones of one being coaxed by Lucifer to commit a heinous crime, Coutaz says AI is "very seducing" and that "if we can break the magic with AI, it will help us be more innovative and more creative". That is, you might note, a repeated refrain with a lot of execs bedazzled by AI—that it won't substitute for human creativity but will, in fact, give it greater space to flourish.

Frankly, I don't see how that could be the case. To quickly gin up placeholder text and textures? That's why the good Lord gave us lorem ipsum (or if you're a poor, benighted journalist, good old 'TKTKTK'). To generate ideas for creatives to run with? I'd much rather those come from writers' rooms and brainstorming sessions than emerge—as Frankenstein patchworks of old ideas—from mammoth data centres.

But with EA staring down the barrel of a $20 billion debt black hole, it's no wonder the studio is desperately hoping AI can do something, anything for it. I'm sceptical it will. But for now, I'm just glad I won't run into AI-generated textures in the battlefields of Battlefield.

Playing through all of the campaign missions in Battlefield 6 isn't something you're likely to do more than once. Many might have seen this game as a CoD killer, but sadly, its campaign is really not that special and basically amounts to a very average AAA FPS campaign, i.e. the kind of thing you play once before jumping into multiplayer forever.

There are campaign rewards you can earn for completing the missions and collecting the dog tags hidden in each, but beyond that, it's up to you how you play and what difficulty you decide to play through on. You can see all campaign challenges at the bottom of the challenges tab on the start menu.

Below, I'll provide a list of all Battlefield 6 missions, but also give an estimate of how long you're likely to take beating it. Since I spent a lot of time in the campaign searching for dog tags (and replaying missions to search for dog tags), I can give a pretty accurate estimate.

Battlefield 6 campaign missions list

There are nine missions to complete in Battlefield 6's campaign, which vary quite a bit in terms of length. The best indicator of this are the collectible dog tags—the smallest mission, Nile Guard, only has two, but others feature up to four.

Here are all nine missions in order:

1. Always Faithful
2. The Rock
3. Operation Gladius
4. Night Raid
5. No Sleep
6. Moving Mountains
7. Nile Guard
8. Operation Ember Strike
9. Always Forward

The campaign will take you about 7-10 hours to complete on average, though this will vary if you're playing a higher difficulty, looking for dog tags yourself, or exploring a bit. If you play on regular difficulty, or even recruit, things will go a lot faster.

There aren't actually campaign challenge rewards related to the difficulties, just mission completion, though there is a row of expert campaign assignments, such as "Complete a mission without firing a gun", that unlock once the campaign is done. These challenges don't reward any skins, but they do have a title, a weapon camo, an XP booster, plus a player card background and icon.

All of the multiplayer skins you earn from the campaign either come from completion or finding the dog tag locations in each mission. If you want to get those out of the way as easily as possible, I'd suggest playing through the campaign with our guide open, since it walks you through each in order.