Battlefield 6's Relaxed Game Mode Sparks Intense Debates Regarding Bots, Experience Points, and Wait Times

Recently, Battlefield Studios introduced a new playlist called Casual Breakthrough. To put it simply, this option mirrors the regular Breakthrough format but includes a few key changes:

  • Every squad includes only 8 real players, with the remaining filled by 32 bots.
  • Actions done by real players award complete experience points, while bot actions provide lower rewards.
  • Only two maps can be played: Siege of Cairo and Empire State map.
  • Elements like Player tags, accolades, and career stat updates have been turned off.

In short, the playlist lives up to its name: it offers a laid-back take of Breakthrough. At face value, one could assume it's a good idea, as it provides more options for players seeking different methods to enjoy the title. But, gaming history has shown one thing, it's that not everyone will be happy. In other words, a lot of Battlefield 6 fans are mad.

Community Reactions: From Fury to Praise

"People want real players. Avoid making the mistakes of your competitors," reads one reply to the mode reveal. "Absolutely shocking concept," comments a different user. Meanwhile, on the Battlefield subreddit, a player remarks, "I have no idea where we are headed with this game," and someone else details all the issues they consider to be problematic in Battlefield 6: "Fix bugs, fix drone glitch, fix IVF rockets, adjust aiming after sprinting, fix awful hit registration. We do not require this bot mode."

However, for every complaint, there are players sharing how much they're enjoying the new mode. "It's enjoyable to warm up, real players prevent it from being a complete grind but it's very relaxed," reads a forum post. "The community fails to see that there are players who have lives and don't play this title all the time. Let them strike a balance," adds a different comment. One reply on Twitter explains that as they're "a parent gamer with busy schedules, this is perfect for me," while another applauds the mode for "not being overcompetitive."

Valid Criticisms and Player Feedback

Despite the support, there are constructive reasons to criticize Casual Breakthrough. Some users have pointed out that it could increase wait times even longer for other modes due to the sheer number of playlists in the game already. Similarly, some areas already encounter mostly bots in the existing playlists. Additionally, it appears a little backwards that the mode won't start without a required amount of human gamers, even though it primarily centers on fighting AI opponents.

Finally, a major grievances is that a previous feature was promised to provide full XP, including AI matches, but that got canned when they tried to remove bot farms from the mode. Thus this new playlist seems like the player base compromising halfway, as per a Reddit comment. Another labels this addition as the devs "making a mistake so hard, I had great enjoyment in the first couple of days, what prompted them to change it?"

Looking Ahead: Adjustments Be Made?

If Battlefield Studios has proven anything to date with the latest installment, it's that they're paying attention and responding to player input. Tasks that were overly hard were adjusted rapidly, as did the required Redsec challenges. It is likely that, if their data shows this recent mode isn't performing to their standards, they will not hesitate to change it again.

Dana Terry
Dana Terry

Financieel expert met een passie voor geldbeheer en het delen van praktische tips om financiële vrijheid te bereiken.