David Sirland, the lead producer of Battlefield, recently addressed some misunderstandings around the employment of Artificial Intelligence (AI), or ‘bots’ in the Battlefield 6 multiplayer. Battlefield 6, the newest iteration in this popular series, has been known to use bots to fill multiplayer matches which fail to pull together enough players. This has resulted in some confusion among the game’s fans regarding the usage of bots during these online matches.
Sirland turned to social media to clarify this issue, intending to address the ‘confusion’ felt among players. His series of posts offered an understanding as to why certain players may see more bots than others and also assured that the feedback from Battlefield 6 multiplayer enthusiasts will continue to be taken into account by EA and Battlefield Studios.
Since Battlefield 6 was launched for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S on October 10, players have observed bots in standard multiplayer playlist options, particularly in large-lobby games like Conquest. The game managed to sell 7 million copies in just three days post its launch, leading many to question the necessity of these bot-filled matches less than a month after it came out.
According to Sirland, players encounter Battlefield 6 bots in exceptional scenarios. Specifically, if waiting for a round to start takes longer than approximately three minutes, bots are utilised as a last resort. This doesn’t translate to playing with numerous AI teammates throughout a half-hour Conquest game. Once gameplay commences in such a situation, players can interact with bots instead of waiting for human teammates. As additional human players join the server, bots will be gradually replaced.
The use of bots aims to minimise player waiting time, even if it means temporary substitution of real-world players in a match. Evidently, Battlefield Studios prefers this approach over potentially infinite wait times for low population servers.
However, a unique circumstance where bots are not replaced is during the beginner playlists, such as Initiation Breakthrough. An in-game description clarifies that bots will persist in these matches to help newcomers get the hang of the more intense, real-player dominated matches.
The bot topic has been in the spotlight in the Battlefield 6 community for a while, with Battlefield Studios addressing issues around XP farms and open beta bots multiple times in the past. It remains a concern for many regular players and Battlefield Portal fans, with some expressing their dissatisfaction with the ongoing post-launch development.
In response to a concerned fan, Sirland reiterated that bots are simply there to initiate the server. The alternative would be the non-existence of a server under specific circumstances. He confirmed that any potential issues with server spawns will be looked into.
Post-launch, the Battlefield 6 team at EA and BF Studios continue to be receptive to fans’ feedback and have made several improvements. These include changes to challenge requirements, adjustments to Conquest ticket sizes, a plan to revert aim assist back to the settings seen during the August open beta tests. Season 1 of Battlefield 6 and its standalone offshoot REDSEC are in progress, with the promise of more maps and weapons being available in the upcoming weeks. This engagement and dialogue with the gaming community reaffirm the developers’ commitment to delivering an evolving and engaging gaming experience.
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