Controversy and Battlefield are two words that have gone together a little too often with the series these past few years, so seeing another Battlefield 6 controversy poke its head out is no good thing. Plenty of praise has been heaped on Battlefield 6 since its unveiling, with DICE showing a real commitment to re-establishing a look and feel that both new and classic Battlefield fans can get on board with. This extends to Battlefield Labs too, a testing environment that showed DICE wanted to bring the playerbase on board to make sure the next game would be the best possible entry it could be, and that the community would have a say in its direction.
But not everything is sunshine and roses, and several features are conspicuous by their absence in BF6. One of the biggest issues has been the lack of a server browser in Battlefield 6, and plenty of voices in the community have piped up to let DICE know that a return to a classic BF experience should come with a return to classic features. A server browser is one of the most beloved things about older titles, and has been instrumental in keeping older games alive for a while, giving players plenty of choice between which people they play with and the map choice they have. However, the backlash to DICE’s decision may have some unfortunate and unintended consequences.
Battlefield 6’s Server Browser Controversy Highlights a Bad Trend in the Game’s Discussion
Depending on who is asked, there are certain features that make or break a Battlefield game, and clearly, server browsers are high on a lot of players’ lists. For good reason, too, as outlined earlier, they are a great way to curate an experience with few or no changes to the official format, letting communities thrive. However, some of the discussions around server browsers have unfortunately had some unintended effects. In the lead-up to Battlefield 6’s open beta, DICE has been asking the community what it wants, but with these threads often being dogpiled in the responses, it has led to very little real discussion.
Why Dice Is Hesitant to Talk About Server Browsers
In the case of server browsers specifically, DICE has said in its FAQ that the game’s server browser will be in Portal. Battlefield 6’s Portal is allegedly going to be the best way to play highly customized games, but also, find servers that operate like official lobbies with a few tweaks. But some players have seen this as an unacceptable half-measure, leading to a large amount of backlash, and now DICE is rethinking even discussing the issue with fans. It isn’t for lack of trying, as many posts have indicated, DICE is listening to feedback, assembling lists of player wishes. Indeed, in a year’s time, everything could change, and BF6 could have a server browser, but with developers being drowned by fan demands, it might not be surprising if they don’t want to engage with the community.
Making Battlefield 6 the Best It Can Be Is About Striking a Balance
There’s nothing wrong with passion for a franchise as big as Battlefield, but sometimes passion can get quite heated, and then everyone loses. If the community wants a server browser, it will have to find more constructive angles to approach the topic from, as right now, it could be burning what bridges it has left with DICE. This time around, DICE seems more willing to listen to what fans want than ever, but satisfying every demand may prove impossible. Beyond players just wanting different things, there is a particular vision for what DICE wants the game to be. It might not be what the community wants, and if so, it’s better to tell DICE in a way that keeps them at the table, as abuse will only drive the studio away.
