EA would bring back server browser/persistent servers and yes even community run servers if enough people demand it.
It has taken longer than I expected but players and even a few of the influential youtubers/streamers (whose opinions have been given way too much credence by EA/Dice BTW) are finally catching on to how abysmal and frustrating random matchmaking is and are voicing their displeasure on Redditt, Twitter and of course here.
Even if it doesn't result in having a server browser in BF2042, I would be flabbergasted if it wasn't included in the next BF title. By the way EA/Dice, if it doesn't, I can say with 100% certainty I WILL NOT be buying it after dealing with the matchmaking mess in BF2042.
The same sort of epiphany may eventually influence more players (and yes possibly even the youtubers and streamers) to speak up about bringing back community run servers.
Once players finally understand that it is virtually impossible to build any sort of clan/platoon community without that ability and that no anti-cheat software program will ever be as effective as a well-run, live admin run server is.
You could be right and hell it might even be the best Battlefield game ever but for me I'm not buying if it doesn't (at a minimum) have a server browser and persistent servers.
If they go with some asinine SBMM that'll be another hard pass for me as well.
I can't recall exactly which youtuber it was, probably LevelCap, Enders or Jackfrags, I don't know, I subscribe to a bunch of different ones, and I follow quite a few on Twitter too and the chatter about a server browser has seemed to be heating up lately is all I am saying.
As to the Battlefield formula becoming "old and stiff" or "stale" I don't really think that's the case, but that's just my opinion, I guess.
And I know in the grand scheme of things EA/Dice might not care about one little peon of a customer who has bought damn near every Battlefield game (and their expansions) that's ever been made, but somehow, I suspect I won't be the only one not willing to open my wallet for the next BF title, if they don't wise-up and start listening to their customers.
