According to Wccftech, Battlefield 6 has sold over 7 million copies in its first three days and maintains strong player counts with Steam concurrent numbers not dipping below 200,000. Despite this commercial success, players have been complaining about the game’s progression system being too grindy. EA and Battlefield Studios are now responding with what they call a “major overhaul” of challenges and assignments based on player feedback and gameplay data. The update includes over 90 specific adjustments to make progression more achievable within reasonable play sessions. Key changes include reducing weapon damage requirements from 10,000 to 3,000 and cutting multi-kill goals from twenty down to just five. Mode-specific assignments now only require two wins per tier instead of five, making the entire system significantly less time-consuming.
Sponsored content — provided for informational and promotional purposes.
The progression problem was real
Here’s the thing – when players start farming XP in bot-filled PvE matches en masse, you know there’s a fundamental design issue. That’s exactly what happened with Battlefield 6’s progression system. People weren’t just trying to cheat the system – they were desperately seeking alternatives to what felt like an endless grind. EA initially tried to shut down the XP farming, but thankfully they recognized that was just treating the symptom rather than the actual disease. The real problem was that unlocking weapons and attachments felt like a second job rather than fun gameplay. Basically, if your progression system drives players away from your core multiplayer experience, you’ve designed it wrong.
What this means for the shooter landscape
This move puts Battlefield 6 in a much stronger position against competitors like Call of Duty and Apex Legends. Modern players have limited time and patience for excessive grinding – they want to feel like they’re making meaningful progress every time they play. Battlefield’s initial progression system was stuck in an older design philosophy where player retention was measured in hours rather than enjoyment. The fact that they’re making these changes just one month after launch shows they‘re serious about keeping players engaged long-term. And let’s be honest – in today’s crowded shooter market, you can’t afford to frustrate your player base when there are so many alternatives just a click away.
The importance of listening
What’s really encouraging here is that EA and Battlefield Studios aren’t just reacting to metrics – they’re actually listening to player feedback. The official announcement specifically mentions being “guided by gameplay data and your feedback.” That’s crucial because data alone can be misleading – high playtime numbers might look good on a spreadsheet, but if players are miserable while grinding, that’s not sustainable. The rapid response suggests they have a more agile development process than we’ve seen from them in the past. When you combine strong initial sales with responsive post-launch support, you create the conditions for a game that could actually have staying power beyond the usual hype cycle.
The real test begins now
So will these changes actually work? The Steam charts show the game maintaining decent numbers, but the true test comes in the next few months. Progression systems are what keep players coming back day after day, week after week. If these adjustments hit the sweet spot between challenge and reward, Battlefield 6 could establish itself as a serious contender in the live service shooter space. The key is finding that balance where players feel appropriately challenged without feeling like they’re doing homework. If they get this right, it could set a new standard for how progression should work in modern military shooters.
