Battlefield 6 Dev Explains How Bots Work Amid ‘Confusion’ in the Community

Battlefield lead producer David Sirland has taken to social media to clear the air about how Battlefield Studios uses bots in Battlefield 6 multiplayer to keep players engaged.

EA’s latest entry in the Battlefield series notoriously uses bots to populate standard matches that struggle to fill teams with real-world players. It’s led to some confusion in the community, as fans attempt to grasp when, how, and why BF Studios has been implementing them in online matches.

Sirland took to X/Twitter to shed light on bots, explicitly calling attention to “confusion” in the player base that he hopes to clear up. The thread of posts comes with an explanation for why some may see more bots than others, as well as the promise that EA and BF Studios will continue listening to feedback from Battlefield 6 multiplayer fans.

Players have noticed bots in standard multiplayer playlist options, especially for game modes with large lobbies like Conquest, since Battlefield 6 launched for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S October 10. EA proudly touted that it had managed to sell 7 million copies in just three days, leaving many to wonder why they are being tossed into bot-filled matches less than one month after launch.

Sirland explains that players should only find themselves fighting against Battlefield 6 bots in unique situations. Specifically, if the pre-round waiting period takes longer than about three minutes, than bots will be introduced as a last resort, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be forced to work with dozens of AI teammates for the duration of a 30-minute Conquest match.

“At that point, the game starts, and you can play with the bots instead of waiting,” Sirland explains. “Other players in the same region matchmaking on that same playlist – will join this server (as it has you on it). Each time a player joins, a bot leaves.”

It’s a sacrifice that gets players into a match with as little waiting as possible at the cost of filling a lobby with real people. Even if bots only temporarily fill a match, it sounds like BF Studios prefers the trade, with the alternative being wait times that could last forever for servers with low population.

https://twitter.com/tiggr_/status/1986037104405582136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

One exception to the rule that sees bots eventually traded out for real players involves beginner playlists, such as Initiation Breakthrough. As made clear via an in-game mode description, bots will stick around in these matches to help players warm up for the typically more tense matches filled with real people.

Bots have remained a hot topic for the Battlefield 6 community for months, with BF Studios having addressed concerns regarding XP farms and open beta bots mutliple times in the past. Battlefield Portal fans and multiplayer playlist regulars have almost certainly encountered bots at some point, and many will no doubt continue to have their complaints as post-launch development continues.

“Like I stated in this thread earlier today – bots are only there to seed servers so they start,” Sirland said in response to a fan who expressed concern about the bot system. “The alternative would be no server under those circumstances. We will of course check for issues here too, and when and if servers spawn in the wrong way or when they shouldn’t.”

The Battlefield 6 team at EA and BF Studios has continued listening to fan feedback as post-launch development continues. Recent changes include an overhaul for challenge requirements, tweaks to Conquest ticket sizes, and a plan to revert aim assist back to the settings seen during the August open beta tests. Season 1 for Battlefield 6 and its standalone offshoot, REDSEC, is well underway, with more maps and weapons set to arrive in the coming weeks.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).