Battlefield 6 reverses unintended XP changes after Season 5 launch
Battlefield Studios says backend changes unintentionally reduced XP earn rates across Battlefield 6, and says the old rates have now been restored.
Season 5’s XP problem in Battlefield 6 has been reversed after Battlefield Studios said backend configuration changes had unintentionally reduced earn rates across the game.
The season launched with new maps, weapons, vehicles and gameplay changes, but players quickly noticed that career and weapon progression had slowed. Eurogamer reported that the reduced rates were not announced before the update, leaving players to work out what had changed from their own matches. 1
Battlefield Comms said the problem came from backend configuration changes affecting XP earn rates across modes and hardware progression. The account said those changes had been reverted and that the team was monitoring telemetry to make sure earn rates returned to their intended levels. 2
Why players were suspicious
The timing created an awkward problem for EA and Battlefield Studios. The XP reduction appeared alongside the launch of the $30 / £25 Ultimate Shortcut Kit, which instantly unlocks progression for classes, weapons and vehicles. That proximity led some players to suspect the lower earn rate was designed to make the paid shortcut more tempting, although the official explanation calls the reduction unintended. 1
Player testing cited by Eurogamer suggested that some players were limited to roughly 300 XP per minute, well below earlier rates. That testing was not an official measurement, so it is best treated as an indication of how the change felt in practice rather than a definitive account of every mode’s earn rate. 1
Our opinion
The reversal is the right move, but the episode shows why live-service progression changes need clear communication. If a backend adjustment changes how quickly players earn weapons or class upgrades, quietly letting the community discover it creates suspicion — especially when a paid shortcut launches at almost exactly the same time.
Battlefield Studios has now put the original rates back and says it is watching the telemetry. The useful next test is simple: whether players across PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S actually see the old progression speed in normal play, rather than whether the explanation sounds reassuring on paper.
- Battlefield Studios says the XP change was unintended and has been reverted.