Earlier this month, EA made a surprising announcement that players will have access to the classic ‘closed’ weapon ruleset in the upcoming Battlefield 6 beta, which goes against the initial vision of an ‘open’ weapons system allowing any class to equip any weapon. This decision raises questions about the game’s direction upon release: would it favor one playstyle over the other? It appears that players can expect both styles to co-exist from launch.

Developers from Battlefield Studios made it clear during a recent event that neither mode will be a mere experiment but rather both will be formally included. DICE lead producer David Sirland emphasized that the closed weapons playlist is not merely a test phase but a legitimate option. In his words, “It’s a proper thing. It’s not like this is a test where whatever you play more we will [choose]. No, we will support both.”

This stance seems to be reassuring for longtime Battlefield fans who worried about being sidelined. Nevertheless, skepticism remains regarding whether the traditional ruleset will receive equal support compared to the newer open loadouts.

The live Q&A highlighted that the team is enthusiastic about the open weapons feature but acknowledges that it might not appeal to all players. DICE producer Jeremy Chubb remarked, “What we kept hearing again and again was that people felt the identity of classes was not as strong as a result, and so we chose to give people the choice.”

With a mixture of both classic and open weapon settings available, Battlefield 6 aims to cater to a wider audience while embracing the flexibility that players desire. More insights and updates about Battlefield 6 are expected as the release date draws closer.