Battlefield 6 has had a promising lead-up so far. The beta drew in massive numbers of players, generating plenty of excitement, and Battlefield Studios has been quick to highlight feedback-driven changes, including tweaks to movement and fresh testing for two launch maps through Battlefield Labs. The game looks positioned to strike a balance that could satisfy both new players and longtime fans. The faster gameplay and modern improvements make it approachable for newcomers, while veterans can appreciate callbacks like the classic Operation Firestorm map, a grounded cosmetics system, and the return of class-based play. But despite the good momentum, one controversial feature linked to the game’s premium edition could stir up trouble.

That feature comes in the form of Battlefield 6’s Phantom Edition, a $100 bundle that offers players a mix of extras. On paper, it includes four soldier skins, two weapon packages, one vehicle skin, and a collection of charms, dog tags, and other cosmetics. The edition also comes with limited XP boosts to help with weapon and profile progression, though those appear to be temporary. None of that is particularly unusual for a premium version of a multiplayer shooter—but the inclusion of the Battlefield Pro Token has fans raising eyebrows.

The token grants access to the first battle pass, 25 Tier Skips, and some yet-to-be-revealed “exclusive cosmetics.” At first glance, it doesn’t sound harmful, but many are drawing comparisons to Call of Duty’s controversial Blackcell system, which has been criticized for creating a two-tier experience within its battle passes.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 doubled down on Blackcell, adding loyalty rewards, exclusive event cosmetics, and even special skins tied to bundle purchases—but only for those who owned the premium version. This created a situation where regular players felt shortchanged, doing the same amount of grinding but getting less out of it, while bundle buyers often discovered they weren’t receiving all the content unless they also owned Blackcell. Even XP boosts tied to the pass gave paying players a faster track, further fueling the “pay-to-win” perception.

The fear is that Battlefield 6 could stumble into the same pitfalls with its Pro Token. If Battlefield Studios follows Call of Duty’s path, Pro owners could end up receiving not just cosmetic bonuses, but preferential treatment across events, bundles, and XP systems. That kind of structure risks alienating the larger player base and creating a sense of “haves vs. have-nots” in a franchise that has historically leaned more on skill and teamwork than monetization gimmicks.

To keep Battlefield Pro both attractive and fair, the studio will need to tread carefully. Limiting it to extra cosmetics, some tier skips, or optional challenges that speed up event progression would likely keep fans on board. But attaching exclusive event rewards, in-store bundle content, or XP advantages would be far more divisive, and could quickly undo much of the goodwill Battlefield 6 has built ahead of its launch.

For now, the Pro Token is still somewhat vague, and players are waiting to see how far Battlefield Studios plans to push it. With the game riding high on positive buzz, the developers have an opportunity to learn from Call of Duty’s missteps, and ensure that Battlefield 6 doesn’t end up repeating them.