Battlefield 6 has rolled out a significant update that reintroduces bots to Verified Experiences within Portal servers — a move that follows weeks of community feedback after their removal. The decision comes as part of Battlefield Studios’ broader effort to balance faster matchmaking with fair progression systems across its core modes: Conquest, Breakthrough, and Rush.
Initially, bots were removed to curb exploitative XP farming servers, where players created custom matches filled with AI enemies to grind challenges and unlocks with minimal effort. While this reduced abuse, it also led to long queue times and inactive servers in low-population regions, prompting DICE to rethink its approach.
How the New Bot System Works
The latest patch restores bots to Verified Portal servers, but with notable restrictions designed to preserve game balance and prevent exploitation.
- Up to 12 bots per match are supported across all verified modes, capped at 6 per team.
- When bot backfill is enabled, only 8 human players are required to start a match, with AI filling the rest.
- If disabled, a full 20-player minimum is needed before a match begins.
- XP from bot kills is heavily reduced — players earn just 10% compared to defeating real opponents.
- Challenges remain completable, even with bots active.
- Player stats such as K/D ratio and time played do not update when bots are enabled — a temporary bug that Battlefield Studios is actively fixing.
In short, bots are back to make servers more accessible, not to boost player progression unfairly.
How Bots Improve Matchmaking and Server Health in Battlefield 6
The return of bots has divided the community, but it solves one of Battlefield 6’s biggest pain points — server activity. For players in less populated regions or those trying to host custom servers, waiting for full lobbies could take minutes or longer. With bot backfill, matches can begin faster, keeping players engaged while real users gradually replace AI participants over time.
For DICE, the move is about maintaining server health. Bots ensure that even community-hosted matches feel alive, enabling smoother gameplay experiences while keeping XP and progression fair.
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While some fans continue to demand full XP for bot kills, others agree that DICE’s decision strikes a fair compromise. Reduced XP prevents bot farms from returning, while still allowing players to complete weapon and class challenges efficiently. Combined with the recent reduction in Challenge difficulty, Battlefield 6 is steadily moving toward a more enjoyable and sustainable live-service model.
This change also arrives alongside fixes to several major issues — including the IFV MR Missile exploit that plagued aerial gameplay — signaling a renewed focus on stability and quality. Play Now!
