Battlefield 6 classes: Everything we know about the system’s return

The recent playtest has told us a little bit of what to expect from the Battlefield 6 classes. The franchise used to have a long-standing tradition with its regimented class structure: assault, engineer, support, and recon. That all changed after Battlefield 1, which had additional classes; Battlefield V, which swapped out engineers for medics; and Battlefield 2042, which rewrote the script with the Specialist system. 

When EA revealed this year that classes wouldn’t be weapon-locked, a troubling flashback to 2042’s early days, fans were expectedly frustrated. There has been a compromise, though, the Signature system, which incentivises players to stick to weapons designed for their class, offering up performance bonuses that make a good amount of sense. We’re going over all we know about the BF6 class system. 

Though we haven’t seen any Battlefield 6 gameplay yet, we can tell you that all the classic classes are back. A recent Battlefield Labs blog post relays the new design philosophy, which breaks classes into two components: customisable and class-defining.

Customisable Battlefield 6 classes let you run amok with whatever weapon you desire, alongside a tailored set of gadgets and throwables.

Class-defining, on the other hand, locks you into Signature Weapons specifically designed for your class. In return, you’re dealt a Signature Trait and a Signature Gadget, both with enhanced performance bonuses. Recon’s special trait, for example, automatically spots enemies while you’re aiming down the sights.

If you want to zip from close-quarters combat to picking out headshots from mid-range, then this is the class for you. Assault doesn’t just mean assault rifle. Historically, this class has you loaded up with med kits and a defibrillator, both literal lifesavers when it comes to the end-game.

Engineer is a bit more of a tactical play. Firearms aren’t your only weapons, engineers are also demolitionists and masters of sabotage. You’ll be running around with rocket launchers, remote explosives, and your repair tool, making you quite indispensable in vehicle-centric game modes.

The support class is for the real team players. You’ll be given ammo kits and health crates, alongside a big bag of grenades. Typically, the support classes’ weapon of choice is a light machine gun.

Recons are your intelligence operatives. This role is designed to map out enemies, spot and sabotage vehicles, and provide long-range support with a sniper. It’s also the only class that has had a confirmed Signature Trait revealed, alongside its Signature Weapon, a sniper. Choosing this gives you enhanced breath-holding duration.

Since those partaking in the playtest have been subject to an NDA, we won’t know too much until we get closer to the Battlefield 6 release date.

According to some alleged Battlefield 6 leaks, the BF6 playtest featured two new maps. Battery, which is set in Gibraltar, and Abbasid. There are also claims of three game modes featured: Breakthrough, Conquest, and Domination.

The Battlefield 6 playtest is also said to feature Ballistic Tips ammunition adjustment. “These bullets don’t penetrate through walls, however, after about a full mag directly into a wall, the wall will break apart and crumble,” wrote the leaker.

There’s been no mention of a Battlefield 6 campaign in any of the leaks or current playtest information. This doesn’t necessarily rule out a story mode from happening, however, as it’s not the primary focus of what is, in essence, a network stress test. 

A year after the Battlefield 2042 release date, the devs backtracked on the decision to swap the classes out for a hero shooter-style Specialist system. Each ‘class’ had a few different Specialists they could play, with some flexibility in between. In a blog post from 2022, EA said that it believes: “freedom of Loadout is an important part of gameplay” but that they acknowledge that “Class identity is core to Battlefield.”

The idea behind switching to Specialists was (apparently) to allow for these greater freedoms, but it’s important not to forget that EA’s Battlefield franchise struggled financially (via Eurogamer) in the years before 2042’s release.

The Specialist system tapped into the hero shooter fad that games like Fortnite and Rainbow Six Siege ushered in. The problem was that it was implemented poorly. It ate away at the immersion that the Battlefield series is known for, realism and conflict on a mass scale. Having these bold, individual characters, who did have incredible designs, just didn’t quite fit.

EA has been clandestine about the playtest so far, but the alleged leaked Battlefield 6 gameplay has shown plenty. Messages from the in-game chat suggest that the Supply Pack is both medical and ammunition, which seems likely to only affect the Support class. The playtest has also rumoured the return of field upgrades from Battlefield 4.

According to ComicBook, there’s a new Artillery Strike feature that the Recon class can call. There are Battlefield 6 leaks that claim it’s an “ult that builds up,” and many people are hopeful it’s reminiscent of Battlefield 4’s Commander mode.

One of the biggest leaks, however, has been a datamine on a possible Battlefield 6 Battle Royale mode. It will allegedly contain an Oversight Feature that lets you control drones, turrets, and a remote camera, a little sliver of BF4’s Commander mode, and there are rumours of lootable vehicles as well.

We’re still a while off from seeing official gameplay from EA. When the Battlefield 6 trailer finally drops, we’ll know much more about how the Class system works. The same goes for all the other gameplay features we’re waiting for.