Battlefield 6 has taken a big step by reintroducing the Firestorm map from Battlefield 4, thus opening up new visual and gameplay experiences for the players and at the same time reviving their nostalgia. The announcement itself came from the official Twitter account of PlayStation, which revealed the smoky zone that used to be the focal point of the old map. This is the first time the 2013 map has been remastered for the new consoles, which, in turn, creates the eager anticipation of the veterans, who, in the old days, used to engage in combat during the chaos.
The tweet didn’t say anything more than “Firestorm rages on a decade later” along with a visually stunning image that depicted the classic maps with a lot of heat, and the burning oil fields contributed to that unforgettable image. If we are being honest? The players’ response has certainly been quite dramatic. Just a few minutes after the news broke, the replies were a mixture of nostalgia, excitement, and the usual gaming community disputes about which maps should be remodeled next.
ChronicYYZ, a player, was the most prompt in saying what everybody must have been thinking: “respectfully i cant see shit on this map, its a walking flashbang.” Honestly though. The original Firestorm did have the reputation of being equipped with breathtaking and almost impossible to see effects that often resulted in smoke-filled battles making it quite hard at times to even spot the enemy. But that was actually part of the fun, right? The chaos and poor visibility produced a very unique tension where you never knew if someone was standing just behind the burning wreck.
The players’ talk soon stemmed to which old-school Battlefield maps the community would like DICE to remake next. Many comments were pointing towards Operation Metro, with RoRo_WaS_TaKeN simply writing “Operation Metro now🔥” and portillovisuals commenting “Let’s get operation metro now!” This close-quarters subway map has been a fan favorite since Battlefield 3, and it seems that DICE has no problem with the community being ready for that.
Yet, some confusion arose concerning the map’s origin. User itsbyRevo asked “from bf4? you mean bf3????”, thus igniting the mini-debate in the replies. Another user, dow, said “i think BF4 was a slightly updated version from 3, and that’s the version that was adapted? i assume that’s why it says 4 and not 3.” This indeed draws attention to the fact that many of Battlefield’s most legendary spots have passed through several games, Firestorm being one such place that moved from Battlefield 3 to an updated version in Battlefield 4.
Additionally, it seems that the visual enhancement has worked as a magnet to the players. Saiyan was so full of enthusiasm: “Map is nice with updated graphics! 🫡” whereas Just Jared said “Battlefield 4 still looks good but great job with 6 as well!” It is beyond belief that Battlefield 4, which was released 10 years ago, looks so great and the new version still appears to take everything to another level with modern lighting and textures plus environmental details.
Some players wrote about their older experiences which they miss. Pixel expressed it very well: “Oh, how time flies! I remember when that map first set our hearts ablaze.” On the other hand, the discussion veered briefly onto the topic of the campaign aspect in Battlefield 4, because Samantha J. Foster Composer remarked “Battlefield 4’s campaign was good” and Nelson “El Gamer” Cotto replied “It was. Just short and very easy.” And this seems to be just right—the campaign was very good though it was hardly the main attraction for the majority of the Battlefield players.
Naturally though, whenever there is a gaming discussion, some console war banter comes up. Lreemss said “Xhox is better” while Yash Garg very forcefully declared “Xbox is a Hoax invented for milking its consumer base💯”. This type of comments usually comes up with multiplatform announcements, however, in general, players seem more interested in the content rather than the platform of their choice.
Moreover, the timing of this announcement is noteworthy. The Battlefield 6 game is gaining popularity due to regular updates, and it seems that the return of classic maps is a part of their strategy to win over both old and new players. Firestorm was always characterized by large-scale vehicle combat and having the burning industrial complex with strategic points spread across it, thus it will be interesting to see how these features will be translated into the newer game style.
What is more, is that DICE appears to be actually listening to the community in terms of the maps that are up for renewal. A great number of players are asking for Operation Metro and even Paracel Storm (kudos to Joe Gaslighter for that suggestion), so it looks like they are really listening to what the player base wants to bring back. The strategy of combining classic content with modern technology might just be the secret sauce that would help the franchise get back its lost glory.
Old Firestorm map hinted at the twilight of a burning oil refinery in Iran, where the players fought over multiple capture points, enjoyed plenty of vehicle spawns, and that iconic central tower that offered great spots to monitor the whole activity. The new version seems to be keeping the same foundational layout while drastically enhancing the visual fidelity and likely modifying certain gameplay elements to seamlessly fit Battlefield 6’s style.
As PSS mentioned in their comment, “Those towering flames really capture the epic chaos of those classic battles.” Epic chaos of those classic battles is exactly what made Firestorm map special—the sense of scale and environmental storytelling. The whole map looked like a real warzone with collapsing buildings, blazing cars, and the very fire threatening to spread all over. If Battlefield 6 can create that uneasy atmosphere while modernizing the visuals and gameplay, they might just be lucky enough to have a winner.
This is not the first time that Battlefield revisited the classic content but certainly this is a noteworthy instance, since how cherished the old maps are within the community. Players talking so passionately about the maps even after ten years already indicates how impactful those original designs were and also suggests bringing them back with the cutting-edge technology could bring about a very good potential.
So basically, Firestorm is back and it has never looked better. This is a case where if you are the veteran who witnessed the original battles or a newbie who is going to get its taste for the first time, this revamped version nevertheless guarantees to provide you the chaotic experience of battlefield with a fresh coat of paint. Now all that’s left is to figure out the next classic map to get the remake treatment—Operation Metro appears to be the community’s pick, but there are also numerous other iconic places that would merit such modern treatment.
