Battlefield 6 Beta Rush Mode Flops: 'It Is Just A Shotgun Fest!'

A "Shotgun Fest" on Cramped Maps

The primary grievance? The decision to shrink Rush to a 12v12 format, a significant departure from the traditional 16v16 setup that defined its legacy on PC platforms. This reduction, combined with tightly designed maps like the new Empire State, has turned matches into claustrophobic, close-quarters nightmares. Players report being funneled into repetitive “shotgun fests,” where flanking routes are scarce, and tactical depth is sacrificed for mindless chaos. “12v12 no vehicles and open weapons, so it’s just a shotgun fest. They didn’t actually want to bring this mode back lol,” one player lamented on the Battlefield subreddit, capturing the sentiment of a community that feels betrayed.

The map design exacerbates the issue. Unlike the sprawling, dynamic battlegrounds of past titles, Battlefield 6’s Rush maps feel suffocating, with MCOM stations placed so close together they blur into a single, indefensible choke point. “The maps have zero flow,” one X user vented, comparing the experience to the infamous meatgrinder of Battlefield 3’s Operation Metro but without its redeeming intensity. The lack of vehicles on maps like Empire State further strips Rush of its Battlefield DNA, leaving players feeling like they’re playing a poor imitation of Call of Duty.

Matchmaking Missteps and Missing Persistence

Another nail in Rush’s coffin is the absence of persistent servers, a feature that once allowed teams to swap roles between rounds for balanced, immersive sessions. In Battlefield 6, matchmaking tosses players into new lobbies after every match, shattering any sense of continuity or rivalry. “Instead of playing one round each as attacker and defender, you just get thrown into matchmaking again,” a frustrated fan posted on X, echoing a chorus of complaints about the loss of Rush’s traditional rhythm. This, combined with the lack of a proper server browser, has left players feeling disconnected from the community-driven spirit that defined earlier Battlefield titles.

A Glimmer of Hope Amid the Wreckage

Despite the backlash, not all is lost. Some players found fleeting moments of enjoyment on larger maps like Liberation Peak, where Rush’s pacing feels closer to its classic form. “Worked well on Liberation Peak, which gives me hope for the larger maps,” one veteran player noted, clinging to optimism that DICE might salvage the mode before the game’s October 10, 2025, launch. The beta’s overall reception, outside of Rush, has been largely positive, with Battlefield 6’s return to class-based gameplay, cinematic destruction, and gritty realism earning praise as a worthy successor to Battlefield 3 and 4.

Can DICE Save Rush?

The Battlefield 6 Open Beta has been a rollercoaster, with Rush’s fumble standing out as a rare misstep in an otherwise promising package. Fans are vocal about what needs fixing: larger team sizes, better map flow, and the return of persistent servers top the list. DICE’s history of responsiveness during Battlefield’s beta phases offers hope, but with the clock ticking toward release, the pressure is on to restore Rush to its former glory.

As the beta continues to draw massive crowds—peaking at over 521,000 concurrent players on Steam alone—the community’s passion for Battlefield remains undeniable. But for now, Rush’s return has been a crushing letdown, leaving fans to mourn a mode that once defined the franchise’s heart-pounding, tactical soul. Will DICE heed the outcry and revive Rush’s legacy, or is this beloved mode doomed to fade into obscurity? Only time will tell.