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- Image of Battlefield 6 Open Beta, Courtesy of EA Games

Bots in Battlefield 6? Why DICE Swears It’s 'Totally Different' This Time

Originally posted on Total Apex Gaming | By Mollie Dominy | Last updated Aug 8, 2025 10:55 PM ET

Alright, gamers, buckle up. “Battlefield 6 Open Beta” is here, and while you’re locking and loading, there’s a tiny caveat you may not have seen coming. Bots. Yep, AI players are making an entrance once more! But, before you roll your eyes (please don’t let them roll out of your head) and mutter something vaguely angry about “Battlefield 2042,” hear me out.

DICE, the devs behind Battlefield 6, swore on their favorite shaders this time around that bots are strictly confined to “Training Grounds” playlists in the Open Beta. Translation? These little AI helpers are there to teach newbies the ropes. Think of it like a no-judgment practice arena with 15 real players…and the rest being bots there to catch you when you inevitably face-plant in the chaos of Breakthrough mode.

Wait, Bots in My Battlefield?

For any veterans breaking into a cold sweat remembering 2042, here’s why DICE insists this is “totally different”. Bots in Battlefield 6 (or “AI soldiers,” because fanciness) aren’t there to fill underpopulated public servers. Nope, they’re more isolated than your buddy Kevin, who refuses to play support class. They’re being utilized exclusively in the “Breakthrough Initiation” playlist within Training Grounds. This playlist aims to create a smoother entry point for newcomers to familiarize themselves with mechanics before being absolutely wiped online. Good news for beginners? Enormous relief. For pros? You’re likely thinking, great, now I’m babysitting. But hey, at least it’s optional. Play any other playlist, and you’ll leave the bots behind.

Still, one can’t help but sniff a whiff of “we’ll see if this sticks” vibes coming through. DICE knows it’s treading on shaky ground, and with boosters both praising and side-eyeing open betas like these, they’re clearly trying to ease folks into this twist slowly.

Open Beta Chaos Meets… Secure Boot?

Image from Battlefield 6 courtesy of DICE

Oh, not scared of bots? Cool, let’s chat about the ultimate gamer kryptonite during this beta period: BIOS tinkering. Yeah, Battlefield 6’s Open Beta has a thing for secure boot compatibility. “Secure Boot is not enabled” errors are haunting unsuspecting PC players harder than a spawn camping sniper.

For the uninitiated, enabling secure boot requires venturing into the BIOS. If you’re already cringing, I don’t blame you. The process involves deciphering spooky terms like “TPM 2.0,” flipping a ton of mysterious settings, and crossing your fingers you don’t mess anything up. While this added security layer strengthens anti-cheat measures (thank cheaters for the hassle, everyone), for the average gamer, it’s like needing a mechanical engineering degree just to play a few rounds.

EA, for its part, has posted a guide to help players through this digital obstacle course, but expect screenshots galore on Reddit titled “HELP, I BROKE MY PC.” Oh, and fun fact? Call of Duty fans, you’re up next with similar requirements. Looks like BIOS masters are the new esports champs.

Do Bots Belong?

Okay, back to the more debatable topic here. Bots, love ‘em or hate ‘em, seem to always stir the pot in games where multiplayer reigns supreme (many players are complaining already). And honestly? They’re probably doing what they were programmed for here – being inoffensive filler. But that nostalgia sting from Battlefield’s 2042 days looms large. DICE is doing a good impression of damage control, assuring us these AI soldiers are temp agents only in this Open Beta. Leveled past Rank 15? Poof. No more bots. So, get to grinding?

For newcomers trying to dodge unfriendly matches, this could spell relief. But for seasoned players wanting desperately to believe DICE has mastered the art of online balance, bots in any context might just feel like a broken promise served cold. And, is DICE testing waters mid-beta to reintroduce bots strategically longer-term? Maybe, just maybe. We see you, DICE.

The Battlefield Future… Now With (Sort Of) Bots and BIOS Drama

All said and done, Battlefield 6’s Open Beta is living proof that DICE is juggling a lot. Matching massive queues, appeasing old fans disillusioned by 2042’s shortfalls, and roping new fans into their beautifully messy war zones…it’s no easy task. Bots in Training Grounds seem innocuous enough, and fair play incentives like Secure Boot are trying to level the playing fields. But for some gamers? It’s just a LOT upfront.

Still, fans are overwhelmingly curious, bots or not. If massive queues are any indicator, EA’s gamble of an open beta to brag its fixes may just be their masterstroke. Just, uh, keep your tech-savvy friend on speed dial. You’ll probably need them to survive the BIOS rabbit hole and finally shoot your first AI soldier solo if you get stuck again. Happy beta-ing, soldiers. Now get back out there.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Gaming and was syndicated with permission.

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