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Battlefield 6 faces a crucial moment. After a strong beta and launch, the game struggled through Season 1. Player counts have dropped, and the new “RedSec” Battle Royale mode hasn’t been the hit Electronic Arts (EA) expected. However, DICE and Battlefield Studios are pushing back.
On January 20, 2026, Update 1.1.3.5 arrives. Although Season 2 is currently delayed, this update focuses on immediate polish and consistency. It targets specific complaints regarding vehicle balance, melee combat, and the user interface.
Combat & Vehicle Rebalancing
The most significant gameplay changes involve air combat and close-quarters engagements. Pilots will face a harder challenge. The developers have reduced jet cannon damage against other air vehicles. Consequently, it now requires approximately 40% more hits to destroy enemy jets and helicopters.
On the ground, melee combat feels sharper. The update improves the attack speed for knives and upgrades buffering behaviour for both knives and sledgehammers. Furthermore, the sprint mechanic received a rework. Now, sprint is only interrupted until a melee attack reaches its target, rather than blocking movement for the full animation duration.
Additionally, a major exploit is gone. Vehicles will no longer explode when a player performs a takedown on an enemy soldier lying on top of them.
UI Improvements & Studio Changes
Players frequently criticised the UI for resembling a streaming service like Netflix. In response, Battlefield Studios refined the menu navigation and improved the presentation of the reticle and armour bars. Players can now even customise reticle colours inside weapon and gadget scopes.
Beyond the code, EA is restructuring its leadership. Julian Gerighty, the former franchise boss of Tom Clancy’s The Division, has left Ubisoft to join DICE in Sweden. While he arrived too late to influence Update 1.1.3.5 or the upcoming Season 2, his presence signals a long-term effort to fix the franchise.
Full Patch Notes: Battlefield 6 Update 1.1.3.5
Here is the breakdown of the fixes arriving on January 20.
| Category | Key Changes & Fixes |
| Vehicles | Jet Nerf: Reduced cannon damage vs. air targets (requires ~40% more hits). Fixes: Fixed vehicles exploding during takedowns on top of them. |
| Weapons | Melee: Faster knife speed, better buffering, and improved sprint interruption logic. Bipods: Indicator only shows bonus when deployed. Mount input now matches “melee button” on controllers. Fixes: RPKM sights aligned. TR-7 barrel velocity fixed. DB-12 GRIM optic cost increased to 25. |
| Gadgets | Assault Ladder: Fixed launching issues. Can now enter ladders positioned above the player. GDPIS: Now correctly destroyed by Drone, Defibs, or Repair Tool. Sniper Decoy: Properly hides scope glints. |
| UI & HUD | Improvements: Added option to customise reticle colour. Improved menu navigation and armour bar visibility. Fixes: Fixed LMG Reload Time stats display. |
| REDSEC | Battle Royale (RedSec): Fixed disappearing armour bar. Fixed Airburst Launcher icon. Gauntlet: Fixed drone disappearing if drives are deposited as it lands. |
| General | Visuals: Lowered shockwave force on explosions. Improved front-end lighting for soldiers. |
This update represents a “smaller set of focused improvements”. EA aims to regain player trust through these consistency fixes while the community awaits the rescheduled Season 2.
