Discontent among Battlefield 6 players over the absence of a server browser, with its producer justifying it by stating "What we offer caters to the majority" - exploring why gamers remain dissatisfied with the decision.
Battlefield 6, the highly anticipated entry in Electronic Arts' and DICE's multiplayer FPS franchise, is set to launch on October 10. The game will be available on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5, and preorders are available now across all platforms.
One of the key features that has been a subject of discussion among players is the server browser. Unlike earlier Battlefield entries, Battlefield 6 will have a server browser, but it is tied to the Portal mode rather than traditional dedicated servers accessible from the main multiplayer experience.
Server Browser Returns Under the "Portal" Umbrella
The server browser returns as a community feature under the "Portal" umbrella, which is Battlefield's mode for user-created game modes and custom experiences. Players can access the server browser easily from the main menu’s Community tab, making it more prominent than in Battlefield 2042.
Dynamic Matchmaking for Official Servers
However, official matchmaking servers in Battlefield 6 do not function as persistent servers and are not available for direct manual selection through a browser. Developer David Sirland explained that spinning up and down matchmaking servers in real time makes a traditional server browser for these unstable servers impractical and can cause queuing and joining issues.
Instead, the game will use dynamic matchmaking to manage official servers. This means that servers spin up quickly and are filled, then spin down after matches, providing a more efficient and stable system.
Streamlined Portal Servers
The rationale given is that matchmaking servers spin up quickly and are filled, then spin down after matches, while persistent servers in Portal provide stable, continuous play environments that a server browser can list. DICE producer Alexia Christofi has attempted to assuage player concerns about the absence of a server browser, stating that they plan to feature their server browsing solution "front and center" on the main menu with options for filtering community servers by map, mode, ping, fullness, and region.
Player Reactions
Despite these efforts, some players have been vocal that DICE's solution isn't enough, as many want to be able to browse and join official servers outside of matchmaking. One top reply to DICE producer Alexia Christofi's comments suggests that the solution misses the entire point of what players have been saying if it doesn't include a way to filter for official DICE servers.
Battlefield 6's Multiplayer Reveal and Open Beta
Battlefield 6's multiplayer reveal showcase and Open Beta weekends are scheduled for August 9-10 and August 14-17. The game is expected to have far more players than Battlefield 2042, potentially leading to more vanilla-style Portal servers.
The PC system requirements for Battlefield 6 have been released, and the game is expected to be a return to form for the Battlefield series after the disappointment of Battlefield 2042. It will cost $69.99 on Steam.
[1] Battlefield 6 will have a server browser, but it is tied to the Portal mode rather than traditional dedicated servers accessible from the main multiplayer experience.
[2] DICE producer Alexia Christofi explains that matchmaking servers spin up quickly and are filled, then spin down after matches, while persistent servers in Portal provide stable, continuous play environments that a server browser can list.
[3] The server browser allows access mainly to persistent Portal servers. Official matchmaking servers in Battlefield 6 do not function as persistent servers and spin up or down dynamically based on player demand, so they are not available for direct manual selection through a browser.
[4] The rationale given is that matchmaking servers spin up quickly and are filled, then spin down after matches, while persistent servers in Portal provide stable, continuous play environments that a server browser can list.
- Battlefield 6 will have a server browser, but it is tied to the Portal mode instead of being accessible directly from the main multiplayer experience.
- DICE producer Alexia Christofi explains that the matchmaking servers in Battlefield 6 spin up quickly when needed and are filled, then shut down after matches, unlike the persistent servers in the Portal mode that provide stable, continuous play environments.
- The server browser mainly allows access to persistent Portal servers, as the official matchmaking servers in Battlefield 6 do not function as persistent servers and instead spin up or down dynamically based on player demand.
- The rationale for tying the server browser primarily to the persistent Portal servers is that these servers offer stable, continuous play environments that a browser can list, while the matchmaking servers in Battlefield 6 spin up and down quickly based on player demand.
