August 16th – Includes updates from Battlefield Studios aimed at reducing cue time.
Except for the actual server browser Battlefield 6 Beta, the new custom search feature is the next best, but EA’s Battlefield Studios has confirmed it’s leading to “unusual wait times.” This addition was introduced as a way to give everyone more control over their second open beta weekend match. However, despite record numbers from the test, players wait up to 4-5 minutes to join the game, so the delay has called for BF6 to deliver traditional server browsers as quickly as possible.
“We’ve been using the custom search feature to monitor the extraordinary waiting times when finding matches,” a Battlefield 6 communications account has been posted via social media. It was introduced during the second weekend of the ongoing Battlefield 6 beta. It is designed as a stopgap so that you can choose your mode and map preferences when heading for matchmaking. Unfortunately, another thorn has been proven on the part of the developers, despite the popularity of PlayTest suggesting that BF6 can rank as one of the best FPS games coming from the series in a few years.
The ability to select exactly which servers you want to join was a central part of the experience when you were playing Battlefield the most during the Bad Company 2 and BF3 era. Unfortunately, there is nothing similar to the current beta server browser. What we have is a custom search tool. This certainly improves that you have no control over which Battlefield 6 maps are in the queue, but it is causing your own issues.
“Our ongoing investigation revealed that some users are experiencing a 4-5 minute wait time depending on the mode and map selected,” the Battlefield Coms account wrote. “Custom searches prioritize capacity matches near capacity. The match is quickly filled due to record numbers in the open beta. If a custom search cannot match within a certain time, it will attempt to create a new match.
The developer adds that it is likely to affect players grouping before queuing “because that search becomes more difficult because more people have to fit into the match.” “We are working on improving this experience and reducing the wait times from the open beta five minutes, so we are working on a prospect to completely resolve this for launch and bring the reliability of the experience to our custom search capabilities.”
Rather, as expected, almost every response to the post states that this news is another case of why a server browser is desirable. Battlefield 6 feels in many ways it will return to the heyday of the series, so it certainly feels appropriate to employ a similar method to find a match. Battlefield Studios previously said that the server browser will be “available at launch,” but it has not shown whether it can be tested in public format before the Battlefield 6 release date arrives.
Before the first beta weekend, dice producer Alexia Christophy asked players what they wanted to see from their server browser. After collecting the answers, she wrote: “I think the server browser solution answers all these requests. Yes, it shows the community experience through the portal, but these can award full XP and are not hidden in the main menu, so you can filter and search for specific ones.” However, you’re sure that questions will continue to fly until you see them while running.
Updated – August 16th: Following the initial post, the Battlefield Comms account states that the team has “developed improvements that reduce the time from five minutes to 40 seconds to two minutes.” He adds that he will continue to monitor the situation.
If you’re jumping into action this weekend, we rounded up our Best Battlefield 6 weapons. You can also check in with Best Battlefield 6 settings on your PC and Steam deck to make the game run as smoothly as possible.
Do you have any ideas to share? Dive into the PCGamesn Community Discord Server and discuss your feelings with over 10,000 like-minded PC gaming fans in the BF6 beta.
