Good news Battlefield 6 pilots – helicopter controls are getting a 'large pass,' but they won’t be reverting back to Battlefield 3 or 4

What’s Wrong with Battlefield 6 Helicopter Controls?

Here’s the thing that’s got everyone’s tactical underwear in a twist: the helicopters in Battlefield 6 feel absolutely dreadful to fly. We’re talking about controls so clunky that players are spending more time wrestling with their aircraft than actually engaging enemies. One frustrated pilot on Reddit perfectly summed up the community sentiment: “You end up fighting the controls more than you do the enemy.”

The problem isn’t just about feel, either. The wonky helicopter mechanics become even more infuriating when you factor in the Engineer class having access to what feels like an unlimited supply of anti-air ammunition. Picture this: you’re already struggling to keep your helicopter from nose-diving into the nearest building, and then some guy with a rocket launcher decides to make your day even worse. It’s like trying to learn to drive while someone throws rocks at your windshield.

Veterans of the franchise have been particularly vocal about wanting a return to the glory days of Battlefield 3 and 4, when helicopter controls actually made sense and didn’t require a degree in aerospace engineering to master. Those were the golden years when pilots could pull off sick maneuvers without feeling like they were fighting against the game itself.

DICE’s Response: A “Large Pass” But No Reverting

Thankfully, the folks at DICE haven’t completely lost their minds. David Sirland, the lead Battlefield producer at DICE, took to Twitter to address the community’s concerns. His response was both promising and slightly disappointing, depending on your perspective.

“There is no ‘revert’ but a large pass on helicopter flight is in progress and coming after beta for testing,” Sirland tweeted. Translation: they hear you, they’re working on it, but don’t expect them to simply copy-paste the controls from Battlefield 4 and call it a day.

When pressed for more details about what exactly a “large pass” entails, Sirland elaborated: “Large tuning pass, as in we’ve looked at many parts of the flight model, taken a pass to move it based on feedback and our own goals from where we were at in beta.”

Why No Direct Revert to Battlefield 3/4 Controls?

Now, here’s where things get interesting from a development perspective. While the community is practically begging for a return to the Battlefield 3 and 4 helicopter mechanics, DICE seems determined to forge their own path. This isn’t necessarily stubbornness – there are legitimate technical and design reasons why developers can’t just ctrl+c, ctrl+v old code into new games.

Modern game engines, updated physics systems, and different design philosophies all play a role in how vehicle controls feel. What worked perfectly in Battlefield 4’s engine might feel completely different in Battlefield 6’s updated framework. It’s like trying to put a classic car’s steering wheel into a modern vehicle – sure, it might look the same, but everything underneath has changed.

That said, the community’s frustration is completely understandable. When you’ve spent hundreds of hours mastering helicopter controls in previous games, being forced to start from scratch with inferior mechanics feels like a slap in the face.

What This Means for Helicopter Pilots

Here’s the reality check: if you were hoping to jump into Battlefield 6 and immediately start pulling off the same aerial stunts you mastered in Battlefield 4, you’re going to be disappointed. The improved controls won’t be ready for this weekend’s new maps and game modes testing, so you’ll have to endure the current submarine-in-the-sky experience a little longer.

However, the fact that DICE is dedicating significant resources to overhauling the helicopter flight model shows they’re taking community feedback seriously. A “large pass” suggests they’re not just tweaking a few sensitivity settings – they’re potentially reworking fundamental aspects of how these aircraft handle.

The key question is whether their improvements will actually address the core issues that have pilots frustrated. Will the new controls feel more responsive? Will piloting require less of a PhD in flight dynamics? Only time will tell.

The Bigger Picture: Community Expectations vs. Developer Vision

This helicopter controversy highlights a broader tension in game development: the balance between innovation and meeting community expectations. DICE clearly had a vision for how helicopter controls should work in Battlefield 6, but that vision clashed hard with player reality.

It’s worth noting that not everyone was a helicopter ace in Battlefield 3 and 4. Plenty of players struggled with those controls too. The difference is that over time, the community adapted and those who mastered the mechanics became legendary pilots. The current Battlefield 6 system doesn’t seem to offer that same learning curve – it just feels broken.

The cynical part of me wonders if this is another case of developers fixing something that wasn’t broken in the first place. The helicopter controls in Battlefield 4 were widely praised by the community, so why completely reinvent the wheel? Sometimes the best innovation is knowing when not to innovate.

Looking Ahead: Hope for the Skies

Despite the frustration and the slightly sarcastic tone of this article, there’s reason for cautious optimism. DICE has a track record of listening to community feedback and making significant improvements post-launch. Remember how Battlefield 4 launched? That game was a disaster, but the developers stuck with it and eventually turned it into one of the best entries in the franchise.

The fact that they’re dedicating resources to a major helicopter control overhaul before the full launch suggests they understand the severity of the problem. Whether their solution will satisfy the community remains to be seen, but at least they’re trying.

For now, aspiring pilots will have to practice patience along with their flying skills. The improved helicopter controls are coming, just not as quickly as we’d all like. And who knows? Maybe DICE’s vision will eventually click with the community in a way that the current beta version clearly hasn’t.

Until then, keep those crash-landing compilations coming. At least if we can’t fly properly, we can still laugh about it together.

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