Testing lab for Battlefield 6 takes its “first big L” as it removes weapon restrictions, meaning your medics might be sitting behind you sniping instead of healing on the front lines

If you have experienced the earlier Battlefield titles, you’re familiar with each class being constrained to particular weapon categories, like scouts being the sole users of sniper rifles. Well, the forthcoming iteration of Battlefield Labs is set to lift the restrictions and allow complete freedom on weaponry, which is turning out to be a contentious choice.

Battlefield Labs is the official title for what we’ve all dubbed Battlefield 6. It serves as a testing platform for the next Battlefield release, allowing Dice and the additional development teams to experiment with features and gauge player reactions. No one wants a repeat of 2042.

This new test is receiving negative feedback. Classes are one of the attributes that distinguishes Battlefield from Call of Duty, yet they may also restrict its player base. Some individuals desire to heal their allies and snipe. I believe they are mistaken, but Dice appears eager to provide them an opportunity with this upcoming update.

Instead, Battlefield Labs released a Reddit message detailing how it will experiment with signature weapons and traits. Thus, if you select the Recon class and opt for a sniper rifle, you’ll be capable of holding your breath longer than an Assault player wielding the same firearm.

Battlefield Labs – Community Update – The Class System – Part One from r/Battlefield

That’s concerning the signature weapons. The distinctive trait for Recon is the passive ability that automatically marks enemies when aiming with a weapon’s sights. Hence, the classes are explicitly designed to promote a particular playstyle, but players will still have the freedom to choose how they want to engage.

The top comment on the announcement states, “Sorry, first big L. Restrict weapon classes.” One fan replies, “Stop trying to reinvent the fucking wheel, DICE. Class restricted weapons exist for a reason.”

Another fan questions who this adjustment serves. “I don’t reckon I ever observed the community requesting to wield an LMG as Recon, or a sniper as Assault in the BF3-BFV era. It’s simply absurd.” Many respondents believe maintaining carbines, shotguns, and DMRs as universal arms was the optimal compromise.

I support restricted weaponry, as I would much prefer my Recon partners to fulfill their role properly, sniping adversaries from afar and identifying threats. I don’t desire my Medics lingering in the back doing that instead of remaining on the frontlines to assist me.

Nonetheless, everything in Battlefield Labs remains an experiment, not a confirmed feature for the eventual product, so don’t be overly concerned just yet. It still possesses some exceptionally exciting Bad Company 2 vibes.

In the interim, explore the best FPS games currently available.

I’m Issy, a freelancer who you’ll now occasionally see contributing news on GamesRadar. I’ve always harbored a passion for gaming, but I cultivated the skill to write about them while pursuing my Film and TV degrees at the University of Warwick and contributing to the student publication, The Boar. Following university, I worked at TheGamer before leading the news section at Dot Esports. Now you’ll find me freelancing for Rolling Stone, NME, Inverse, and several other platforms. I adore all things horror, narrative-driven, and indie, and most often play on my PS5. Presently, I’m tackling my backlog and enjoying Dishonored 2.