🔗 Share this article

Recently, Battlefield Studios launched a new playlist titled Relaxed Breakthrough. To put it simply, this option resembles the standard Breakthrough format but features a few notable adjustments:

• Every squad has just 8 real players, with the remaining filled by AI-controlled opponents.
• Activities done by real players grant full XP, while bot actions provide reduced XP.
• Only two locations can be played: Siege of Cairo and Empire State.
• Elements like Player tags, accolades, and stat tracking have been turned off.

In short, this mode delivers on its name: it offers a laid-back version of Breakthrough. On the surface, you might think there's nothing wrong, since it provides more options for gamers seeking different methods to enjoy the game. However, if video games has shown one thing, it's that you can't please everyone. In other words, many Battlefield 6 players are mad.

Player Responses: From Fury to Support

"Gamers prefer real players. Avoid making the errors of your competitors," reads a response to the official announcement. "Absolutely shocking idea," comments another. At the same time, on the Battlefield subreddit, a player notes, "I have no idea where we are going with this game," and someone else lists all the issues they consider to be broken in the game: "Fix bugs, fix drone glitch, correct rocket mechanics, fix [the] bloom after sprinting bug, improve hit detection. We don't need this AI-heavy playlist."

On the other hand, for every complaint, some gamers explaining how much they're enjoying the new mode. "It's very fun to practice, human participants prevent it from being a total farmfest but it's very relaxed," says one Reddit comment. "This subreddit fails to see that there are gamers who actually go outside and can't play this game 24/7. Allow them to find a middle ground," adds another. A response on Twitter explains that as they're "a battledad with limited time, this is perfect for me," while someone else applauds the mode for "not being overcompetitive."

Valid Criticisms and Player Input

Despite the support, there are valid points to complain about the new mode. Some users have highlighted that it could increase queue times more extended for other modes because of the large amount of playlists currently available. Similarly, certain regions often face AI-filled matches in the current modes. It also seems somewhat counterintuitive that the mode does not begin without a minimum number of real players, even though it primarily centers on combat against bots.

Finally, one of the biggest grievances is that Battlefield Portal was promised to offer full XP, including AI matches, but that was removed when they tried to remove bot farms from the system. So Casual Breakthrough seems like the player base compromising in the middle, as per a Reddit comment. Another labels this addition as the developers "dropping the ball significantly, I experienced so much fun in the first couple of days, what prompted them to adjust it?"

Looking Ahead: Will Changes Be Made?

Should the development team has demonstrated something to date with Battlefield 6, it's that they're listening and responding to player input. Tasks being too difficult were adjusted very quickly, just like the required Redsec challenges. Chances are that, if their data indicates this recent mode is underperforming to their expectations, they won't be shy to change it again.