EA needs to overhaul its Class System (Analysis)
The class system in Battlefield 2042, which introduced Specialists with flexible gadget and weapon choices, fundamentally undermined the series' core emphasis on team-based gameplay by allowing players to create overpowered, self-sufficient loadouts that diminished interdependence among squad members. This shift led to chaotic matches where roles like medics or engineers became optional, as anyone could equip healing tools or anti-vehicle weapons, resulting in less tactical depth and a prevalence of meta-driven individualism that frustrated veteran players. For Battlefield 6 to recapture the magic of BF3 and BF4, reverting to a rigid class structure—such as Assault for medics with assault rifles, Engineer for vehicle repairs with carbines, Support for ammo resupply with LMGs, and Recon for spotting with sniper rifles—is essential, as it enforces balanced limitations that prevent gadget spam and encourage strategic squad composition.
This classic approach not only promotes cooperation by making players rely on teammates for complementary abilities, fostering more immersive and coordinated battles, but also enhances overall balance by tying specific tools to classes, reducing exploits like widespread rocket launcher use that plagued later titles. In BF3 and BF4, this system created unique squad dynamics where each member's role felt vital, leading to higher engagement and replayability through varied playstyles rather than homogenized chaos; without such a reversion, BF6 risks repeating 2042's mistakes and alienating the community that values tactical realism over solo heroics.
In the context of Battlefield's class system logic, where rigid roles promote interdependence by limiting each class's capabilities to encourage teamwork, allowing the Support class to heal (a ability traditionally reserved for Assault/Medic), supply ammo (its core resupply function), and utilize any gun (breaking weapon restrictions like LMGs-only) would fundamentally unbalance the game and spawn a dominant meta. This overpowered versatility turns Support into a "one-man army" archetype: players could equip high-damage assault rifles or sniper rifles for versatile combat prowess, self-heal during engagements to sustain prolonged fights without relying on medics, and infinitely resupply their own ammo to maintain suppression fire or spam explosives indefinitely. As a result, squads could stack multiple Supports, creating self-sustaining units that dominate objectives through sheer attrition—outlasting enemies via constant healing and ammo without needing Engineers for repairs or Recons for intel—leading to homogenized gameplay where other classes become obsolete, as the meta shifts to exploiting this class's lack of weaknesses rather than fostering coordinated squad dynamics.
This meta exacerbates individualism, as seen in BF2042's Specialist issues, because a Support player wouldn't need squadmates for complementary roles; they could solo-push flags, hold positions eternally with self-resupply and healing, and adapt to any range or scenario with unrestricted weapons, diminishing tactical depth. Over time, competitive play would revolve around "Support spam" strategies, alienating players who prefer diverse roles and replayability, much like how flexible loadouts in later titles led to chaotic, less immersive battles compared to BF3/BF4's balanced ecosystem.
