Battlefield 6 In Crisis Weeks Before Launch As Players Claim EA Is Banning Gamers For Calling Out Political Posts
They Also Say Their Pre-Order Refund Posts Are Being Shut Down And Censored.
Summary
- Battlefield 6 faces backlash after dev Brian Odet allegedly mocked Charlie Kirk’s death, players call comments vile and divisive.
- Gamers say Steam forum threads about refunds and cancellations are being locked, with some users claiming they were banned.
- The controversy is fueling boycott talk and refund screenshots just weeks before the game’s official launch.
Gamers are buzzing about Battlefield 6 (GREAT!), well, but I think not for the reasons EA and DICE probably hoped.
The controversy doesn’t revolve around broken servers or poor gun balance this time (maybe we’ll have those too, don’t worry).
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Instead the drama reportedly started after one developer’s social media comments about the death of conservative figure Charlie Kirk triggered waves of outrage, refund requests, and what some players describe as outright censorship on the game’s official Steam forums.
Context
So Brian Odet, a designer tied to Battlefield 6, allegedly posted on Bluesky that certain political ideologies are so “repugnant” they don’t deserve debate.
He further claimed that Kirk’s rhetoric had fueled the kind of hostility that led to his killing. The remarks were described by some as dismissive of Kirk’s death and, unsurprisingly, ignited a firestorm online.
People are saying that Odet’s post wasn’t just political commentary but a direct insult to anyone who shared even moderate conservative views.
Screenshots circulated widely (see below), and accusations quickly spread that the developer had shown open contempt for a large portion of the game’s potential audience.
Steam Forum
Gamers didn’t stop at arguing on social media. Many took their complaints directly to the Battlefield 6 Steam community hub.
That’s where things escalated further. Threads titled things like “Cancelled Pre-Order” and “Refunded My Copy” reportedly appeared, only to be locked shortly after.
Users say they were banned from the hub after posting criticism of the developer or after mentioning that they had requested refunds.
The posts themselves, from available screenshots, weren’t full of insults or violent threats. They looked more like standard refund announcements or disappointment over the situation.
For example, one person described removing the game from their wish list. Another explained how they processed their refund.
Each thread ended the same way, locked by moderators. This pattern fueled claims that management was more interested in silencing dissent than addressing the controversy.
Over the past few years, gaming spaces have become frequent battlegrounds for political disputes.
Developers and publishers sometimes wade directly into these debates, intentionally or otherwise, and the fallout can ripple across their entire brand.
Battlefield has already been struggling to rebuild trust after the messy launch of Battlefield 2042. For a brief moment, Battlefield 6 seemed like a potential rebound.
Players hoped for a strong competitor to Call of Duty. But now, they’re talking about alleged bans and developer behavior, not the actual gameplay.
Allegations of Hypocrisy
So some people are pointing out a sense of hypocrisy in the way speech is being handled.
They say that public figures often condemn “cancel culture” when comedians or celebrities are criticized, but similar tactics appear tolerated when aimed at gamers.
Banning players for simply saying they want refunds over a developer’s political comments looks like the very thing companies claim to oppose.
Is that a fair comparison? Well, that’s up for debate, but it’s for sure feeding a narrative that the Battlefield team is hostile to its own audience.
And once that kind of idea takes hold, it can be tough to undo, even with a polished game at launch.
But hey, some analysts speculate that most mainstream buyers won’t follow social media controversies closely enough to care.
AAA franchises can often absorb reputational blows because of sheer brand recognition. However there’s little doubt the controversy could chip away at sales projections.
Gamers who live online tend to be the loudest voices in the room, and those voices set the tone for early perception.
A wave of refund screenshots and negative Steam forum chatter can shape the broader narrative, even if the majority of casual buyers remain unaware.
The “Art vs. Artist” Problem
The age-old art vs. artist debate has reappeared, with people questioning whether they can support a game when members of the team allegedly mock the death of a political commentator.
While others insist the controversy is overblown and that players should separate personal politics from the product.
The problem is that once a developer ties their name to a polarizing statement, it becomes harder for audiences to make that separation.
Even if you believe the outrage is exaggerated, it now hangs over the game like smoke from a fire alarm, hard to ignore, even if you don’t see actual flames.
This situation also shows a broader trend in the gaming industry, developers becoming public-facing figures on social platforms.
Decades ago, most gamers couldn’t name a single developer at EA or DICE. Today, a stray post from a designer can spark full-blown boycotts.
This shift puts studios in an awkward spot.
Do they limit employee expression to avoid backlash, or do they accept the fallout as the cost of free speech?
No publisher seems to have figured out the balance. Some issue apologies, others ignore the noise, and a few double down.
So far, the Battlefield team hasn’t made a clear public statement addressing the forum bans or Odet’s comments.
And…
With Battlefield 6 just weeks away from release (the game is scheduled to hit shelves on October 10, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox Series X/S), EA and DICE now face a PR problem at the worst possible time.
The longer they leave the issue unaddressed, the more room there is for speculation to grow. Some expect a formal apology, or at least clarification on why forum threads were locked.
Some others predict the controversy will fade as soon as launch hype and gameplay discussions take over.
Either way, the story isn’t about vehicles, maps, or new game modes.
It’s about whether gamers feel their voices are being muted and whether a developer crossed a line by weighing in on a high-profile death.
That’s not the marketing beat EA wanted leading into release week.
Disclaimer: This article contains commentary on alleged events and disputed claims. Information about developer comments, player bans, and refund reports is based on screenshots, social media posts, and community accounts. These details are subject to change as more information becomes available.
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