The Latest Relaxed Playlist Ignites Intense Debates Regarding AI Players, XP Rewards, and Wait Times

Over the weekend, Battlefield Studios introduced a fresh game mode called Relaxed Breakthrough. In essence, this mode mirrors the regular Breakthrough format but features a few notable adjustments:

  • Every squad includes just eight real players, with the rest made up of AI-controlled opponents.
  • Activities done by real players award complete experience points, while bot actions offer reduced XP.
  • Just a pair of maps can be played: Siege of Cairo and Empire State map.
  • Features like Dogtags, achievements, and career stat updates are disabled.

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, as it provides more options for gamers seeking different ways to enjoy the game. But, if video games has shown one thing, it's that not everyone will be happy. In other words, a lot of Battlefield 6 fans are upset.

Community Reactions: From Fury to Support

"People want real players. Avoid making the errors of your competitors," states a response to the mode reveal. "Truly disappointing concept," says a different user. Meanwhile, on the Battlefield subreddit, a player notes, "I have no idea where we are going with this game," while someone else lists all the issues they believe to be problematic in the game: "Fix bugs, address drone issues, fix IVF rockets, adjust aiming after sprinting, fix awful hit registration. We do not require this AI-heavy playlist."

However, amid the criticism, some gamers sharing how much they're liking the recent addition. "It's enjoyable to practice, human participants keep it from being a total farmfest but it's quite laid-back," says a forum post. "This subreddit fails to see that there are gamers who have lives and don't play this game all the time. Allow them to strike a balance," states a different comment. A response on Twitter clarifies that as they're "a parent gamer with busy schedules, this is perfect for me," while someone else praises the mode for "not being overcompetitive."

Constructive Criticisms and Community Input

Despite the support, there are valid points to complain about Casual Breakthrough. Some users have highlighted that it will make wait times more extended for other modes due to the sheer number of playlists currently available. On a similar note, some areas already encounter AI-filled matches in the current modes. It also seems somewhat counterintuitive that the mode won't start without a required amount of real players, despite it focuses mostly on fighting AI opponents.

Lastly, a major complaints is that Battlefield Portal was promised to offer full XP, even against bots, but that got canned when they attempted to eliminate XP farming from the mode. Thus this new playlist feels like the player base meeting them in the middle, as per forum feedback. A different user describes this addition as the devs "making a mistake significantly, I had so much fun in the initial release, what prompted them to adjust it?"

Looking Ahead: Will Changes Be Made?

If the development team has demonstrated something to date with the latest installment, it's that they're paying attention and acting on player input. Assignments being too difficult were adjusted very quickly, as did the specific battle pass objectives. Chances are that, if their data shows this recent mode is underperforming to their expectations, they will not hesitate to make further modifications.

Erica Rice
Erica Rice

Consumer insights expert with over a decade of experience in product testing and market analysis, dedicated to helping shoppers find the best value.