Battlefield 6: Are EA Taking a Leaf Outta CoD's Shady Battle Pass Book?
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Rumours are swirling that *Battlefield 6* might be introducing a premium Battle Pass system similar to *Call of Duty's* controversial BlackCell, raising concerns about potential pay-to-win or pay-to-look-good mechanics. Here's hoping EA doesn't repeat Activision's mistakes.
Alright, so word on the digital battlefield is that *Battlefield 6* might be borrowing a page from *Call of Duty's* playbook – and not necessarily in a good way. See, EA just dropped the multiplayer reveal for *Battlefield 6*, and with it came the announcement of a fancy-pants 'Phantom Edition'. Sounds cool, right? Well, buried within all the pre-order hype is something called a 'BF Pro Token'. This little doohickey promises a Battle Pass, 25 Tier Skips, and some 'exclusive content'.
Now, some keen-eyed players are reckonin' this BF Pro Token smells suspiciously like *Call of Duty's* infamous BlackCell Battle Pass. Remember that? The one that cost a small fortune (like, $30 real-world money!) and locked a bunch of cosmetic goodies behind a hefty paywall? Yeah, that one. *Call of Duty* players weren't exactly thrilled when Activision introduced the BlackCell Battle Pass back in 2023 with Season 3 of *Modern Warfare 2*. Players were already tired of the increasing number of microtransactions in a $70 title.
CharlieIntel, those ever-vigilant watchers of the *Call of Duty* skies, are the ones raising the alarm, and fair play to them. It does make you wonder, doesn't it? Is EA about to pull a similar move?
Of course, it could just be a 'premium' version of the Battle Pass. Maybe it'll be earnable through gameplay, or at least accessible with in-game currency. But let's be honest, the gaming industry has a bit of a history with these things, doesn't it? Remember *The Finals* introducing their Ultimate Battle Pass for Season 7? Seems like everyone's trying to figure out how to squeeze a few extra quid out of us.
If *Battlefield 6* *is* going down this road, it wouldn't be the biggest shock in the world. Other FPS games have been dabbling in similar shenanigans. But here's hoping EA learned a lesson from the backlash *Call of Duty* faced. No one wants to feel like they're being nickel-and-dimed, especially after dropping a stack of cash on the game itself.
I’m not saying it's definitely happening, mind you. But keep an eye on this BF Pro Token. If it turns out to be another 'pay-to-look-cool' scheme, well, let's just say the *Battlefield* community won't be too chuffed. It would be a bloody shame, wouldn't it? Especially with all the other exciting stuff brewing around *Battlefield 6*.
*(Credit to Game Rant for originally reporting on this potential BlackCell Battle Pass doppelganger!)*
Tags: Battlefield 6, Call of Duty, Battle Pass, Microtransactions, Gaming News
Original article: Game Rant