Electronic Arts has teased the possible return of naval battles in “Battlefield 6”, a fan-favorite feature from older games, but the hint has drawn sharp criticism from the community for feeling like a delayed promise amid broader complaints about the game’s direction.
The news came in a community update posted on the official Battlefield X account, recapping the open beta’s 92 million hours of play and outlining over 200 day-one fixes for issues like weapon balance and audio cues.
Tucked into the post-launch plans section, developers wrote: “Requests for naval warfare have not gone unnoticed, nor have the calls for a certain fan-favorite little helicopter, platoons, and more.” Naval combat, with ships, boats, and sea-based fights, was a highlight in titles like “Battlefield 1” and “Battlefield 4”, but missing from recent entries like “Battlefield 2042”.
— Battlefield Comms (@BattlefieldComm) October 6, 2025
While some fans celebrated the tease—especially with Season 1’s battle royale mode launching October 28—many others vented frustration on Reddit’s r/Battlefield and EA forums. Critics argue it’s a classic EA tactic: dangle future content to boost sales, rather than deliver at launch.
One forum user wrote on Reddit, “Naval warfare should’ve been day one—now it’s ‘not gone unnoticed’? Feels like 2042 all over again.” Others questioned the beta process, calling out preset weapons in “Open” mode as misleading feedback, and accused EA of ignoring calls for transparency on features like class systems.
The update also promised the series’ biggest post-launch support yet, with seasons packed with maps, modes, and vehicles. But with “Battlefield 6” launching October 10—just days away—the timing has fueled skepticism, especially after 2042’s rocky start.
EA hasn’t responded to the backlash, but community sentiment remains split: excitement for sea battles versus demands for upfront delivery. As pre-loads hit Steam, players hope the game lives up to its roots.