The recent shutdown of servers for Battlefield: Bad Company 2 by EA has reflected the lack of real support for player communities, a phenomenon that has been increasing since the removal of the server browser in titles of the Battlefield saga starting in 2013 with Battlefield 4. This measure has drastically impacted the preservation of old games, as the functionalities of server browsers not only offered a greater variety in matches but also facilitated the building of player communities.
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will never die
With the arrival of Project Rome, a fan-made modification, players of Battlefield: Bad Company 2 have been able to access active community servers despite the official shutdown of the game. This initiative has allowed activity in this classic FPS to persist over time, showing that there is a considerable appetite for more personalized and less regulated experiences. However, the reliance on third-party modifications highlights the lack of long-term official support from EA.
Although Battlefield 6 will introduce a server browser through its Portal level editor, many players will still not have real control over these servers. This means that, unlike the democratized experiences of the past, the sustainability of the game will largely be under EA’s control, which limits the ability of communities to manage their own gaming environments.
With the reintroduction of server browsers in the realm of first-person shooters, the question arises as to whether other titles, such as Call of Duty, will feel the pressure to adapt their matchmaking systems and consider a more open model that enhances the longevity and preservation of their games, something that now seems more necessary than ever.
