EA have decided to let players choose between locking weapons to classes in the forthcoming Battlefield 6, or being able to equip any weapon to any class. It might sound like a throwaway technicality, next to the existential terror of reports that EA want the new shooter to find a following of 100 million players. In practice, the decision to give players the option of locking weapons to classes is Serious Business. it’s the latest manifestation of a debate that goes back to Battlefield’s formative squabbles with rival FPS Call Of Duty in the noughties.
First, the what, when and how. Battlefield 6 is currently in beta via the Battlefield Labs program, a program that is in theory clandestine but in practice, has proven leekier than a delicious bowl of nourishing vegetable soup. Oh sorry, that’s me reminiscing about lunch. I mean: leakier than a colander that has been used as a helmet… possibly after being used to make a delicious bowl of nourishing vegetable soup – we can’t confirm at the time of reporting.
Among other things, we’ve been treated to sneaky early glimpses of the game’s classes: recon, assault, engineer and support. The restoration of something like Battlefield’s old class system is welcome tidings indeed for those who hated Battlefield 2042’s Specialists – a group of wonky named characters equipped with customisable loadouts, plus a unique speciality and trait.
However, EA spiked the enthusiasm some by revealing that while each Battlefield 6 class will have a “signature weapon” that gives them specific bonuses, any class can use any weapon. This being a bid “to have the interconnected systems and fundamentals of each class shape their role, while granting the freedom to customize how to execute that role,” as detailed on MechaHitler.com.
EA’s reasoning has bred a backlash, with players complaining that this is just the old Specialist system wearing a different shade of khaki – and now, EA have relented. “Open Weapons vs Closed Weapons,” declares a new post on the Muskvine. “Why not both? Starting at Open Beta players can choose official playlists with Signature Weapons locked to class, or not. More to come.”
So, what makes this more than a patch note? Well, Battlefield has always sort of been celebrated as the shooter in which classes play you. This isn’t Call Of Duty, a game in thrall to the individual killing spree, but a sim that thrives on large-scale teamwork and apocalyptic attrition.
That said, the teamwork focus has arguably hindered Battlefield’s efforts to expand beyond the PC jarheads who fuelled its initial success, and earn the affections of casual players who just want to peacock and drop an airstrike or two. It makes the game less approachable and immediately gratifying, more reliant on people having trustworthy mates. Hence, DICE’s efforts to soften the focus with more customisation options, such as the Specialist system.
I don’t doubt DICE – together with co-developers Criterion Games, Motive Studio, and Ripple Effect – feel a lot of pressure to let players tinker with classes as they please in Battlefield 6. I imagine they will be very nervy about introducing anything that constrains a newcomer’s choices in a game that – if rumour breath true – has cost over $400 million, and wants to amass a playerbase equivalent to the population of Vietnam. I guess giving people a choice of playlists is the best way forward. We’ll hopefully be able to bring you some hands-on impressions soon – the game is due to be formally unveiled on Thursday 24th July.
Update: this article has been amended to specify that Battlefield 6 is the work of several development teams in addition to series creators DICE.
