DICE has issued a detailed community update addressing ongoing issues in Battlefield 6’s Portal mode, focusing on server moderation, matchmaking adjustments, and XP progression balance. The update aims to reduce the presence of exploitative XP farm servers while emphasizing authentic, player-driven experiences within the mode.
According to the announcement, several backend updates have been implemented to enhance the quality of Portal’s Community tab and improve server reliability. These include changes to XP systems, balance adjustments, and the temporary removal of bots from Verified Experiences to create fairer player-versus-player (PvP) environments. DICE stated that these measures are part of a broader effort to promote genuine gameplay and creativity, aligning Portal with its intended design as a hub for custom modes and community engagement.
Under the new system, Verified Experiences that have “Bot Backfill” disabled will continue to grant full progression and XP, while Custom Experiences will retain reduced XP rates regardless of bot activity. Developers noted that this change is meant to preserve creative freedom without compromising progression fairness.
Players operating eligible servers are advised to unpublish and republish their experiences after disabling “Bot Backfill” to ensure full XP recognition. Server restarts may occur intermittently as these updates are rolled out, with DICE acknowledging that brief interruptions may continue until the transition is complete.
Early data suggests a shift in player behavior, with fewer active player-versus-environment (PvE) servers and increased engagement in PvP matches. DICE indicated that while PvE options remain accessible through Custom Experiences, Verified Experiences will increasingly focus on competitive play. The studio also confirmed ongoing work to reintroduce bots once technical and balance-related issues are resolved.
In response to community discussions about the difficulty of completing in-game challenges, DICE confirmed that updates to the challenge system are in development. Further details will be shared as progress continues.
The update also clarifies the role of official servers within the Portal ecosystem. The “BattlefieldOfficial” and “BFPortalOfficial” servers are verified by the development team and host standard game modes such as Conquest, Breakthrough, and Rush. These persistent servers are designed to ensure consistent matchmaking without reliance on bots. Additionally, regularly rotating Verified Experiences such as Hardcore and Infantry modes will continue to reward full XP and maintain variety in gameplay.
To join official servers, players can navigate to the Community tab, select an experience such as Hardcore Conquest, and view all available BFPortalOfficial modes. These can then be joined directly or hosted for private matches among friends.
Looking ahead, DICE confirmed that further updates and refinements are planned for Battlefield 6 Season 1, which is expected to incorporate player feedback and additional system improvements. The development team reiterated its commitment to transparency and ongoing community engagement as the game’s live service evolves.
