Battlefield 6’s Casual Breakthrough mode divides players—but I think it’s a huge W

EA and DICE just dropped the new Battlefield 6 Casual Breakthrough mode over the weekend, and the community can’t seem to agree if it’s a game-saver or game-breaker. While some players think fighting bots kills the grind, others are calling it the perfect chill mode to take a breather from sweaty lobbies.

The fresh Battlefield mode gives players a more relaxed alternative to the usual chaos of full PvP matches. It’s essentially a laid-back version of Breakthrough—still action-packed, but now mixed with AI enemies to make things less stressful.

The best part? You still earn career XP, weapon XP, and battle pass XP, and complete those arduous challenges, so progress doesn’t have to stop. There’s a catch, though. Full XP comes from actions versus real players, while actions against bots earn reduced XP. You can try the mode on Siege of Cairo and Empire State, with more maps hopefully coming later.

Unsurprisingly, the Battlefield community is split right down the middle on the new mode. Some long-time fans feel like introducing bots undermines the grind they’ve worked so hard for, while others think it could push players away from regular modes.

“So you’ve made my whole legit weapon grind pointless. What’s the point in even working towards something anymore? This isn’t FIFA or COD, where there’s a new one every year, the grind is meant to last. Why make everything easy on a plate? Honestly, it’s put me off the whole game,” one fan commented.

“Make this an official portal experience, not an official playlist. People want real players. Don’t repeat the mistakes of your competitors,” another player said. That “competitor” may refer to Call of Duty: Warzone, which added its own casual modes earlier this year, causing a stir in the community.

Still, many players love the idea of having a more relaxed mode to unwind or grind challenges without the pressure of facing high-level players. “It’s a fun game mode for a few warm up matches and makes progressing grindy challenges easier. I don’t understand why anyone would be upset about this,” a Redditor said.

“Great decision introducing Casual Breakthrough. It’s a relaxed way to enjoy Battlefield while still making progress, perfect for players like me who don’t need full-on PvP intensity anymore. And really, I don’t understand the complaints. Let everyone enjoy the game their own way,” another fan chimed in. 

Meanwhile, Battlefield content creator Westie also joined the discussion, offering some constructive feedback. He suggested improving things like “tiny sectors, objectives too close to one another, insufficient reinforcements,” and even linking maps into a “more narrative-driven experience” to keep players engaged long-term instead of making a casual mode with bots.

Honestly, I’m all for it. As someone fairly new to the Battlefield franchise, Casual Breakthrough feels like the perfect stepping stone. I’ve spent considerable time in Warzone and other first-person shooters, but boy, Battlefield 6 is a different beast. It’s chaotic, more realistic, and way more teamwork-driven.

The first time I dropped into a match (I reckon that was Conquest on Liberation Peak), I was completely overwhelmed, especially since I main Support, constantly trying to revive teammates screaming for help. Bullets flying from every direction, buildings collapsing, teammates yelling for support—it’s a sensory overload. Having a mode where I can breathe, learn the mechanics, and still make meaningful progress? That’s absolutely a win in my book.

I’m not that lightning-fast gamer anymore who can flick a wrist and snap to every target in sight. Casual Breakthrough lets players like me, who still love FPS games but want a more manageable pace, enjoy Battlefield without feeling left behind.

Sure, adding a casual mode might make queue times a bit longer for the regular playlists. But let’s be real here, if we newbies just keep getting wrecked in each match, that could be a fast track to quitting altogether, especially for those who don’t have much time to play video games anymore. Sometimes, you need a space to learn the ropes without getting demolished every five seconds.

So if you’re a hardcore player who hates the idea of bots, fair enough, stick to the regular modes. But for the rest of us? Casual Breakthrough is a huge W.