The Latest Relaxed Playlist Ignites Intense Discussions Regarding AI Players, XP Rewards, and Wait Times
Over the weekend, the game developers launched a new game mode titled Relaxed Breakthrough. To put it simply, this mode mirrors the standard Breakthrough setup but includes several notable changes:
- Each team includes only eight real players, with the remaining filled by 32 bots.
- Activities performed by real players grant full XP, while AI activities offer reduced XP.
- Only two maps are available: Cairo Siege and Empire State map.
- Features like Dogtags, accolades, and stat tracking are disabled.
In short, this mode delivers on its title: it's a casual version of Breakthrough. On the surface, you might think it's a good idea, since it gives more options for gamers looking for different ways to enjoy the title. However, if video games has shown one thing, it is that not everyone will be happy. Which is to say, a lot of Battlefield 6 players are upset.
Player Reactions: From Fury to Support
"People want real players. Don't repeat the errors of your rivals," states a response to the mode reveal. "Absolutely shocking concept," says a different user. Meanwhile, on the Battlefield subreddit, one user notes, "I have no idea where we are going with this title," while another details all the issues they believe to be problematic in the game: "Resolve glitches, fix drone glitch, correct rocket mechanics, adjust aiming after sprinting, fix awful hit registration. We don't need this AI-heavy playlist."
However, amid the criticism, some gamers explaining how much they're enjoying the new mode. "It's very fun to warm up, real players prevent it from being a complete grind but it's quite laid-back," reads one Reddit comment. "The community doesn't understand that there are gamers who actually go outside and don't play this title all the time. Allow them to strike a balance," states a different comment. A response via social media clarifies that as they're "a battledad with busy schedules, this is perfect for me," while someone else applauds the mode for "not being overcompetitive."
Valid Criticisms and Community Feedback
Despite the support, players have valid points to criticize Casual Breakthrough. Some users have pointed out that it could increase queue times more extended for different playlists due to the sheer number of options currently available. On a similar note, certain regions often face AI-filled matches in the current modes. It also seems a little backwards that the mode does not begin without a required amount of real players, even though it primarily centers on fighting AI opponents.
Lastly, one of the biggest grievances is that a previous feature was promised to offer complete rewards, even against bots, but that got canned when they tried to eliminate XP farming from the mode. Thus Casual Breakthrough feels like the player base compromising halfway, as per forum feedback. Another describes this mode as the devs "dropping the ball so hard, I had great enjoyment in the first couple of days, why did they feel the need to adjust it?"
Future Prospects: Will Changes Be Made?
If Battlefield Studios has demonstrated something so far with Battlefield 6, it's that they're paying attention and acting on player input. Tasks that were overly hard were adjusted rapidly, just like the specific battle pass objectives. It is likely that, if their data indicates this new playlist is underperforming to their expectations, they won't be shy to change it again.