With the First Battlefield 6 Beta Weekend Over, What Are We Thinking: Closed or Open Weapon System?
Well, it’s Monday, which means that the Battlefield 6 Open Beta is officially over. But worry not, as the second weekend test is set to begin this Thursday, so it won’t be long before we all get to jump back into the action. Still, three days is a lot to reflect on what we just played through, and if there is one thing that I am certain of, it is that I am ready for more.
However, for now, let us all use this time to reflect on the experience that DICE has created, specifically one of their most controversial ones going into this beta. With play time now under everyone’s belt, what are we all thinking about the open and closed weapon system in Battlefield 6?
For those unaware, DICE had the “Open” playlist available on Conquest and Breakthrough, which allowed all classes to use any weapons, though each class had a weapon proficiency that granted them bonus advantages for using said weapon type. The “Closed” playlist was for Conquest, and this locked classes to specific weapons such as the Assault Rifle for the Assault, LMGs for the Support and so on.
To Open, Or Not to Open, That Is The Question
I’m going to be straight with you all here: despite being with Battlefield since the very first game, Battlefield 1942, and playing every single one up until this point, I was looking forward to seeing how the open weapon system would be implemented in Battlefield 6. I know, we had open weapons in Battlefield 2042, but that game had so many other issues that piled on top of itself, that it was hard to say whether or not something could work.
A lot of ideas thrown together, on top of the core experience being something fans didn’t want.
With Battlefield 6, the series is finally looking to be a return to form, with a heavy focus on the return of the class system, chaotic destruction, and all-out warfare. It’s a return to the franchise’s roots while also pushing forward with some new ideas. This beta, specifically, feels like a deliberate and successful effort to recapture the classic Battlefield feeling, and to me, DICE has nailed down most of what we wanted from a Battlefield game. I’m open to trying out new ideas if they can capture and maintain the magic of past games.
Everyone is going to have a different opinion on this, of course, and after playing through countless rounds of open and closed weapons, I think I prefer the classic closed weapon experience over the new one (this is a personal preference and in no way suggests that this is the “correct” choice).
However, it’s not to say that the open weapon system was inherently flawed for what it was. It’s more so that with Battlefield 6 being almost everything we were hoping for, the open weapon system versus the closed system experience is so significantly different from one another. There’s almost a catering of two fan bases here: the old school and the new school players.
I love my Battlefield games to be complete mayhem, explosions everywhere, and nonstop action, but dare I say that the open weapon system was a bit too chaotic?
I’ve seen other players’ reactions being similar, where having everyone use whatever weapon they want without limits has created some very unbalanced scenarios. That’s probably going to be one of the hardest things for DICE to get right, and having an open weapon system could introduce some odd weapon balancing where nerfing and buffing are happening, and to the wrong things because it’s not just the weapons that will have to be balanced, but all the other variables of each class, like gadgets and such that also need to be taken into consideration for every weapon.
I think that’s why we’re seeing so many chaotic matches. Take snipers, equipped with open weapons, and you can play as a support class, resupplying yourself with ammo whenever needed. No more having to chase down someone maining that class to do so. Ultimately, this resulted in what players are joking about, with all the sniper glints popping up on player screens on Liberation Peak. I mean, that’s going to happen regardless, open or close, but it’s a position that can now be held tightly because of the selfish ammo hoarding.
Of course, the alternative in the last games wasn’t any better, with the recon class burning a ticket to redeploy on their spawn beacon. But shouldn’t be an issue in the future, as DICE has confirmed that in the newest build of the game. spawn beacons are now part of the Assault class’ kit.
Medics (Support class in BF6) and Engineers will always have their roles in Battlefield games. Still, with an open weapon system, it certainly is funneling players into a specific class to abuse their abilities for their preferred weapons. Are you really playing a medic if you’re perched on a mountainside, far away from the action, as you safely snipe enemies out? What about all those medics who just run past you? Again, that will happen in a closed weapon system, but at least it comes with more of an understanding behind the classes.
On the other hand, the game is fun with the open weapon system. Not that it isn’t with closed, but that extra amount of chaos has made for some of the best moments I’ve ever had in a Battlefield game. I think part of the reason why the game has done so well with the open beta is due to the open weapon system. I think it’s a great way to bring new players into the franchise. Sure, it sacrifices some of the class identity that many of us want, but it also brings in a new audience of players who can enjoy the franchise for many of the same reasons I enjoy it.
I’m still against it, and honestly believe that it would lead to a nightmarish balancing act that DICE and the supporting studios will constantly have to fight over.
But the biggest thing for me is the feeling of playing as a team.
With a closed weapon system, you’re more reliant on your teammates. Assault class is on the frontlines, right in the thick of it all, while the Engineer is fighting alongside them, prepared to take down and repair any vehicles they can. Meanwhile, the Support is hanging just a bit back with their LMGs, laying down covering fire, while also being ready to support the two classes with revives and ammo. Meanwhile, we have our Recon team overlooking us from a distance, providing covering fire and eliminating any targets they can’t see (and hopefully spotting for their team).
The classes have a clear identity and a clear purpose. You’re forced to work together, to rely on each other’s strengths and cover each other’s weaknesses.
Not only that, but you can tell who is playing what class and what gadgets they have. If you see someone with a sniper, they’re probably a Recon, and they likely have some C4 planted nearby. Try to take them out from a distance. LMG? That’s a Support, let’s deal with that so they aren’t reviving their teammates. You can identify who is who and, therefore, understand how to deal with the threat.
That’s the core of what makes a great Battlefield game for me, the feeling of a massive, organized effort. The Assault team pushes up the flank while the support lays down cover fire. The Engineer is taking down a tank while the recon spots targets from a distance. With an open system, that all goes out the window. Everyone’s a jack-of-all-trades, a one-man army. And while that can be fun in its own way, it’s not the Battlefield I fell in love with. It’s more chaotic, sure, but it’s a disorganized chaos. It’s everyone doing their own thing instead of working together.
I get that the open weapon system is trying to bring in new players, and I can see why it would be appealing. It lets you play exactly the way you want without being restricted. But I think it sacrifices some of the magic that makes Battlefield, well, Battlefield. The magic of teamwork, of class identity, and of a massive, coordinated effort.
I suppose I might be part of a dying group of hardcore players out there. I know a closed weapon system isn’t suddenly making everyone play the objective as they should, but damn, when I was playing with a group of friends in a squad in the closed weapon playlist, it just felt like old times. Yeah, I’m getting hung up on nostalgia, but I love how combat flows and how fights can turn into a big game of rock, paper, scissors.
Battlefield 6 feels good with the closed weapons system. Yes, it’s a bit less chaotic and allows more breathing room, but it strikes almost the perfect balance between strategic play and Battlefield-style moments, rather than constantly being there.
DICE Is Going to Have to Pick One, Right?
You have to consider how Battlefield 6 is trying to bridge the gap between two very different philosophies. The game, in so many ways, is a return to the classic Battlefield formula that veterans crave. The destruction is back, the class system is back (in a more defined way than BF2042), and the chaotic, large-scale warfare feels like the Battlefield we remember. However, you have the open weapon system, which feels like a concession to a different kind of player —the modern FPS gamer who is accustomed to complete freedom in their loadouts.
This is a real conundrum for DICE. They’ve given us a “closed weapon” playlist in the beta, and for me and many others, it felt like a return to form. The game with closed weapons has a certain flow to it. You know what to expect from each class, and you’re forced to rely on your team in a way that’s essential to the Battlefield experience. I saw support players actually dropping ammo and medics reviving people because of class understanding. The game felt more like a concerted effort rather than a collection of individual skirmishes.
But as I said, the open weapon system has its appeal. It’s more accessible for new players. They can jump in, pick their favorite gun, and not feel constrained by a class they might not fully understand yet. The chaos is a different kind of fun, a kind of “anything goes” mayhem that can lead to some truly wild and memorable moments.
The biggest fear I have is that DICE will try to please both camps and end up pleasing neither. The “closed weapons” playlist, while fantastic, already feels like a separate, less-supported mode. I’ve seen some chatter online suggesting it’s being buried due to low visibility. I mean, it only has one playlist option, which is Conquest. Where’s closed weapon Domination and closed weapon Breakthrough? That makes me worry it won’t be a core part of the game at launch. If they stick with both, they’ll have to deal with a fractured player base, and as time goes on, the less popular mode will struggle to fill servers, especially in less popular regions or during off-peak hours.
So, where does that leave us? It feels like we’re at a crossroads. We can have a game that is a true return to Battlefield’s roots, with all the teamwork and class identity that implies, or we can have a more modern, free-form shooter that is arguably more accessible. I’m torn, but if I have to choose, I’m siding with the closed weapon system. It feels right, and it’s what makes Battlefield unique. It’s a game about classes and teamwork, not just about who has the best aim with their favorite gun. One person could have the worst kill-to-death ratio in history, and yet still make a huge difference in how they play their class and work towards objectives.
The challenge for DICE is figuring out how to make that more appealing to the new player. How do you teach them the value of a class system without it feeling like a chore? Perhaps it’s a matter of better in-game tutorials, or making the class-specific gadgets and perks so powerful that players want to play the role, regardless of the weapon restrictions.
I don’t have the answers, and I’m sure DICE is wrestling with this feedback as we speak. But as we head into the next beta weekend, I’ll be keeping a close eye on which playlist is more populated and how the balance of each game mode feels. It’s a debate that will likely shape the future of this game, and the future of the Battlefield franchise.
Battlefield 6 officially launches on October 10, 2025, on the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
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I would have loved to try out the Closed Weapons servers myself, but DICE kept putting me, a PS5 player, into lobbies predominantly populated with PC players. I don’t want to deal with that so I just skipped trying it and kept playing Open Conquest and other modes so I could play with more console players.
The entire “preferred crossplay” is a mess and doesn’t keep console players together whatsoever. It either lumps XBox and PC players together after searching for PS5 players, or it skips that step entirely and just goes straight to Ping. I saw 90% of my lobbies filled with no less than 33% PC players even during peak hours. It really killed the entire beta for me. I think not having console-only or PC-only crossplay is going to kill this game for a large population of people.
I preferred open myself. If we’re going to lock weapons then actually lock them. It’s stupid to allow carbines, shotguns and dmr but not the others. All or nothing.
And honestly after playing hours and hours I couldn’t tell the difference between the playlists.
Long-time BF player here, and never really felt the difference between open and locked. Like, if people want to snipe, then go ahead. Go farm your kills, but you’ll lose anyway since you can’t cap flags or capture zones while in your sniper perch.
I think if we’re doing locked weapons for classes then we need a class for each weapon. Otherwise just let it open and let people pick.
But I tend to be an all or nothing guy like I said. Though, I’m glad they’re giving both options for the players that prefer the partially locked system.
Agree about the snipers. There’s no fixing that regardless of what you do. You can minimize it but if people want to long range snipe they’ll just take the time to keep running back to their spot regardless of if they can spawn there with a gadget or not.
I couldn’t even play the closed weapon Playlist. I would sit there for 30 minutes waiting for a match while the lobby never had enough people to start. I’d back out and go to open weapons and within seconds be in a game
Same. On PS5, and it never filled up. I gave up and just played Breakthrough.
Open weapons but they must slow down the game play.
Thanks for this write up. It explains my confusions.