Battlefield 6 is sticking to its guns on this controversial feature for launch — devs say data supports it, but players argue bad UI is to blame (and I agree)

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It’s been almost a decade since a Battlefield game really captured players’ hearts. While Battlefield 1 was a hit in 2016, the two games that followed – Battlefield V in 2018 and Battlefield 2042 in 2021 – proved divisive, especially with the significant changes made to the gameplay that fans knew and loved.

Electronic Arts and DICE are aiming to make a big splash with Battlefield 6, and early indications suggest they’re succeeding. After a fantastic multiplayer reveal in July, the game’s open beta in August was hugely popular, breaking player count records previously held by Call of Duty and generating a lot of buzz. This has created high anticipation for the game’s release on October 10th.

Battlefield is launching soon, and the team has revealed some changes they’re making based on feedback from beta tests and the Battlefield Labs program. Most of these adjustments are small, but one major decision the developers made is causing concern among players.

The core design choice we’re discussing is whether to keep ‘Open Weapons’ – where all soldiers can use any weapon – or switch to ‘Closed Weapons,’ which restricts weapon types based on class. For instance, with Closed Weapons, only Recon soldiers would be able to use sniper rifles.

A lot of players have expressed a strong desire to stick with Closed Weapons. They feel that Open Weapons make the different classes less distinct from each other, and that some combinations of classes and weapons are too hard to effectively counter during gameplay.

As an analyst, I understand DICE’s reasoning behind this move. The data from the Open Beta clearly showed players overwhelmingly preferred the Open Weapons playlists. They spent most of their time in those modes, which signaled to the team that it’s the gameplay experience the community wants.

During the Open Beta, most players preferred the Open Weapons playlist after trying both options. This confirms that we’re on the right track with Open Weapons for Battlefield 6, according to DICE.

Many players have rightly pointed out a flaw in that reasoning: during the Battlefield 6 Open Beta, playlists featuring all weapons were prominently displayed, making them easy to find. Conversely, playlists limited to certain weapons were hidden away in the menus, making them much harder to locate.

Although I don’t think the lack of Closed Weapons is a major issue, I believe it helps maintain the Battlefield experience that fans enjoy. It encourages the teamwork and coordination that makes the game’s large battles so exciting.

A key problem with that argument is the way weapon options were handled during the beta test. Every game mode had a playlist where all weapons were available (“Open Weapons”), but the playlists limiting weapons (“Closed Weapons”) only included a selection of the game types planned for Battlefield 6. If you wanted to experience everything the test had to offer, you had to choose the Open Weapons playlists.

One fan pointed out that the way the game presented weapon options was confusing. They questioned how the developers could justify their choices, arguing it wasn’t a fair comparison between open and closed weapons, particularly since players were encouraged to use open weapons.

Although I don’t think the lack of Closed Weapons ruins the game, I believe it actually makes for a better Battlefield experience. It encourages the teamwork and coordination that defines the franchise’s epic, large-scale battles. I also think the beta test for Closed Weapons wasn’t very fair, as it was hidden and limited in terms of content.

Good news for players who prefer a more traditional weapon system: Battlefield 6 will include dedicated playlists featuring the classic ‘Closed Weapons’ setup, alongside the new ‘Open Weapons’ format.

We know some players enjoy the gameplay with limited weapon options, so we’re offering official playlists featuring those weapons when the game launches. Plus, we’ll continue to include tools within Portal that let you customize games with limited weapons and share those creations with others.

Good news for players who prefer a more traditional experience: Battlefield 6 will include official playlists featuring the classic weapon restrictions, alongside the new, free-for-all weapon system.

The post also highlighted that the developers heard player requests for features from older Battlefield games to return in Battlefield 6. This includes things like boats, the fast and agile “Little Bird” helicopter, and Platoons – which are similar to clans within the game.

We’ve definitely heard your requests for naval warfare – and a lot of you are really hoping to see that little helicopter return, along with more platoon options. We really appreciate all the feedback! As we move forward with Season 1 and our plans beyond that, we’re committed to building a Battlefield experience that truly reflects what players like you are asking for.

Finally, DICE announced what players can expect at launch in Battlefield 6. They’re planning dedicated matchmaking for both Conquest and Breakthrough modes, as well as playlists for intense, close-quarters fighting and large-scale All-Out Warfare. These will be alongside the previously announced options featuring limited weapon selections.

It’s a bit disappointing that Closed Weapons aren’t getting as much attention as Open Weapons, especially since they haven’t been properly compared. Still, I’m really excited to start playing Battlefield 6 later this week! You can pre-order it now for $69.99 on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5.

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2025-10-06 23:40