The cries from the Battlefield 6 community for more large-scale maps have been loud, and they’ve been numerous. The suite of multiplayer maps available on launch, and those that have come through the first two seasons of post-launch content, have been varied and entertaining, but we have been missing that gigantic play space that properly exemplifies the spirit of Battlefield. Season 3 promises to bring an end to the wait by way of an old map made new, and I can tell you with confidence, friends, this is the one we’ve been waiting for.
I was recently invited to go hands-on with the first wave of content for Battlefield 6 – Season 3, titled Warlords: Supremacy, which consisted of a few new weapons and the biggest map in the game to date: Golmud Railway.
The largest map in the game to date, Golmud Railway is roughly four times larger than Mirak Valley. There’s a central hook that makes Golmud unique– but we need to talk about vehicle combat before we get to that. Tanks and armoured vehicles can and often do make the difference in matches when used correctly (I’m looking at you, hillside campers on Operation Firestorm), but we’ve yet to see a situation where vehicles are the primary source of engagement.
With wide open hillsides broken up by a township that flows through the middle of the map like a river, a set of wheels isn’t just recommended, it’s downright required. Once the matches got going, tanks, anti-air, and LTVs dominated the fields, pushing all infantry engagements into the tighter spaces, increasing the madness in those areas as a result. The increased number of vehicles on the map can be felt as well, with multi-tank firefights being something I got caught up in on more than one occasion. Combined with the reworked approach to vehicle damage, the engineer class will have a field day on Golmud.
Aerial vehicles are far more potent and game-changing here as well, with my nemesis, the Littlebird, tearing through any soldier caught out in the open, while screaming jets are given far more airspace to conduct dogfights in the sky. The vehicular playground on Golmud really does harken back to the enormous maps of Battlefield’s past, and it feels better than ever with Battlefield 6’s fast and more responsive gameplay.
Now, let’s talk about the train. Golmud Railway is named as such because of the working train that runs the horizontal length of the map, running from one team’s base to the other. Much like the BF4 original, this train is more than a fun distraction; it’s a moving control point. Once captured, this baby will start moving towards the other side’s base, increasing enemy resistance and balancing the overall match.
Littered with boxes and machinery to cover behind, the multiple sections of the train are constantly being vaulted across and contested, making for one of the most dynamic, hectic, and enjoyable control points to fight over in the game to date. The train carts can be tricky to penetrate once a team has it locked down, but this opens yet another opportunity for aerial vehicles to shine, as I was turned into a red mist more than once by a passing helicopter or jet.
Having played a few rounds of both Conquest and Escalation on Golmud, I’m eager to come back. The biggest takeaway from my preview time was how wonderfully scale can create moments. Not just because more vehicles mean more chaos, or how insane things get when you have a map large enough to run a train through it, but by way of the smaller moments in the larger battle. I found myself contentedly capturing and defending a single point on the map, with that corner of the play space becoming my singular purpose for the round. Battlefield’s large-scale gameplay, at its best, makes you feel like a small part in a bigger conflict, and Golmud exemplifies this extremely well.
Warlords: Supremacy, the first phase of Season 3, will also introduce three new weapons: the M16A4 assault rifle, the L115 sniper rifle, and the RPK-74M LMG. I can’t speak to the L115, as I’m allergic to sniping (I’m shit, that’s it), but the M16 and the RPK will both see a lot of use from me. Both are a menace at mid-range, with the RPK offering a high fire rate for its class. The M16 will be the talking point, however, as it’s the first weapon to offer a tri-burst firing type, which allows for some additional control as you try to pry a team off the train.
I had a blast with this first taste of Season 3. Golmud Railway finally introduces a map with true scale, and it reminded me of just how special Battlefield can be. The new weapons are a great new addition, and the focus on vehicle warfare is sure to cause chaos, but it’s that damn train that really has me pining to return. It’s dynamic, it’s difficult to capture, and it’s all too addictive. Banger.
Battlefield 6 – Season 3 is going live on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on May 13, 2026.
Previewed on PC using code provided by the publisher
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