Helicopter Pilots Rejoice: Battlefield 6’s Anti-Vehicle Balance Has Been “Tuned”

The open beta for Battlefield 6 was a rollercoaster of highs and lows. While players praised the game’s immersive, large-scale battles, many voiced a singular, unified frustration: the utter weakness of vehicles. Tanks and, in particular, helicopters, were being downed with an almost comical ease by a barrage of anti-tank and anti-air rockets from the Engineer class. This issue, a direct result of the game’s new “open class” system, where Engineers could run with powerful anti-vehicle gadgets, made piloting a vehicle feel like a death sentence. Now, in a much-needed course correction, lead producer David Sirland has confirmed that the anti-vehicle damage has been “tuned” since the beta, a change that will bring much-needed balance to the battlefield.

“That Is a Balance Issue”: Acknowledging the Problem

The community’s feedback was a firestorm, and Sirland, a long-time veteran of the franchise, was quick to address it. Responding to a fan on social media, Sirland agreed that the problem was a “balance issue wholesale” and not a specific flaw with the game’s design. He acknowledged that the team was “actively working on” the problem, a statement that gave hope to a community that has grown wary of developer promises.

The beta, which was designed as a legitimate playtest, served its purpose perfectly. It highlighted a critical flaw in the game’s balance. The ability for an Engineer to equip two powerful anti-vehicle gadgets and resupply ammo on the fly created a scenario where a single player could single-handedly take down a tank or helicopter, a far cry from the team-based effort that was required in previous Battlefield games. This created a vicious cycle where pilots were unmotivated to use vehicles, and infantry players were left without their traditional support, a fundamental problem that needed to be addressed.

Sirland also provided some insight into the studio’s philosophy, stating that it’s “better to have too weak vehicles over too powerful to start.” This approach allows the developers to “tune” and strengthen vehicles as needed, rather than starting with overpowered vehicles that require a series of aggressive nerfs.

A New and Improved Battlefield

While Sirland didn’t provide specific details on how the damage has been “tuned,” the change is a clear signal that the final product will be a more balanced and enjoyable experience. The new, tuned version of the game, which is currently being tested in “Battlefield Labs” with a select group of players, will hopefully restore the classic Battlefield dynamic of combined arms warfare, where vehicles and infantry work together as a cohesive unit.

The open beta also highlighted several other areas of concern, which the developers have also promised to address. The movement mechanics, which were criticized for being too similar to Call of Duty‘s “slide-and-jump” style, have been “nerfed.” The M87A1 shotgun, which was a devastating weapon in the beta, has been toned down, and the game’s larger maps have been confirmed to be a part of the final release. The high CPC keywords for these discussions, such as “Battlefield 6 balance,” “Battlefield 6 beta changes,” “best FPS games 2025,” and “Battlefield 6 Engineer,” all point to a passionate and ongoing conversation about the future of this iconic franchise. For fans of the series, this news is a welcome relief, a sign that Battlefield 6 is listening to its community and is on the right track.