The preload for the first Battlefield 6 Open Beta weekend is available now on all platforms via the respective store pages ahead of the beginning of the test, which is set for Saturday, August 9 (although there is an Early Access beta that begins on Thursday, August 7).

On Steam, the download size is 39.24 GB. In case you're wondering about the PC system requirements, they can be found here, and they're not that scary if you have built a PC in the last four or five years or so.

The official Battlefield account on X also posted an overview of how the Open Beta test will differ from the Battlefield Labs testing and the final game. The Assault class has had some of its abilities reworked to be team-oriented; for example, Commanding Presence has replaced Enhanced Mobility as the new Signature Trait, speeding up capturing objectives for nearby squad members and taking the team out of combat status faster.

Moreover, the Spawn Beacon has been transferred from the Recon class to the Assault class. Although the Deploy Beacon has traditionally been a Recon class staple, it has had its challenges there. By moving it to the Assault class for Battlefield 6, the developers hope to make it a teamplay tool for frontline flanking and coordinated squad movement. The Deploy Beacon can now only be used a finite number of times per squad, and it will self-destruct if the Assault player spawns on it.

Finally, the Assault Ladder is a new gadget that provides squads access to previously unreachable areas. Depending on the deployment angle, it can function as a ladder or a ramp. As a powerful teamplay gadget, it allows Assault players to help their entire team overcome obstacles, gain height advantages, and surprise the enemy.

According to feedback, the Engineer works well right now and will not be receiving changes at this time. The Support, however, may get some minor tweaks to the refresh rate of supply crates and how well its signature weapon buffs contribute to the game's flow. The Recon has had one of its training options, Pathfinder, replaced by Spec Ops:

Spec Ops 0:

Your base class training, available from the start and allows quieter takedowns, crouch and prone movement.

Spec Ops 1:

Spots nearby enemy gadgets (except when sprinting).

Spec Ops 2:

Going prone takes you out of combat much faster and removes the spot on self.

Moreover, the Recon class now features an Active Ability at Level 3 that lets players call in a UAV to a marked position for passive spotting.

Lastly, as mentioned in the headline, the developers confirmed in a press briefing (as reported by CharlieIntel) that matchmaking in Battlefield 6 will be based on a series of factors, including ping, player location, server availability, and some skill checks. It is unclear on which criteria this will be based, but the goal is clearly to deliver a more evenly balanced experience between players with relatively similar skills.

Source - WCCFTech 

Signing off

@Rahul S