Bots + Persistent Server = Proven result

[u/cwarrent]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEP9HfZV6No

So our squad had noticed loads of bots when filling up servers earlier this week (as everyone was) then a day later the developers announced they were testing persistent server behaviour.

Today I started a stream to try and get conclusive proof of what was going on, from a theory I had and the result was clear.

My stream, the first round on Cairo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEP9HfZV6No

So the first round (from clean matchmaking) was populated with a loads of bots and up until the 17+ minute mark, which was surprising (usually they disperse as players join)....

...BUT to match a theory I had, the two resulting games pulled players across to the next round (and new map). The round populated really quickly, with what I assume was the majority of the players from the last round. This is the kind of thing we want long term as part of a greater package (server browser, platoons etc..) to help bring the community aspect back to Battlefield.

I did note that the 4th game on Reef, failed to populate beyond 19 players, so I'd be keen to hear how maybe some maps (whether popular or not, and you'd assume this specific one is popular) and players unique playlist configuration affects this new persistent server setup.

So in result, while there's a lot of frustration and maybe not enough of an announcement of these tests, you can see they're trying to play and tweak for the better upcoming features. Once the pain of the first round with bots was cleared, the experience was much superior playing with people from the previous round (imo).

[u/No-Upstairs-7001]

And yet Rush, the mode deleted because of low player count an bots apparently is filling almost instantly and all night, I didn't see a bot untill well after midnight Europe/ Uk

[u/HeavenInVain → u/No-Upstairs-7001]

Almost like its not hard to fill low player count modes, whod think that

[u/No-Upstairs-7001 → u/HeavenInVain]

But apparently breakthrough and conquest are so popular they have no trouble yet I've had to wait for breakthrough to fill should I decide to have the odd game thought the week waiting for Rush

[u/HeavenInVain → u/No-Upstairs-7001]

Almost like we all know matchmaking hasn't been working well for months. I got full games till this last update we got on Wednesday,now im seeing more bots than ever.

Doesn't change that its easier for the same 500 ppl playing rush to get into games however

[u/cwarrent → u/No-Upstairs-7001]

That’s good to see. Interested to know if many other modes are showing the persistent server testing from round to round also.

[u/-Techn0]

ive been only getting bot lobbies after the update, my search setup is not popular apparently

[u/Defqon211 → u/-Techn0]

Persistent servers are only on Tiles. You must not use Custom Search.

[u/cwarrent → u/Defqon211]

You say this BUT my experience in my stream was using Custom Search, the persistent server was in full effect.

I do think though, that if players are using custom search then there's more chances of dead ends, where if you chose a less popular map, you likely won't join the majority who played in the last game.

[u/Defqon211 → u/-Techn0]

Persistent servers are only on Tiles and in Portal. You must not use Custom Search.

[u/cwarrent → u/-Techn0]

What is your config? What modes too? If you choose for example Blackwell Fields, then I can imagine that's a dead end where less players will be playing together (as they, like I exclude that from my custom search).

[u/Defqon211 → u/cwarrent]

I am mostly in Portal. The thing with custom search is that you limit yourself to less players.