Maybe play online multiplayer to progress your online career?
They never promised full xp vs full bot servers, the intention was to allow users to create pvp experiences and have bots act as a backfill.
They should add a solo/coop mode with everything unlocked so you can chill playing bots, then they should removed bots from portal and normal matchmaking games.
Only reason they added bots in 2042 was because of the player count increase, its a relic that should not have carried over to this game.
They promised full progression in Portal servers. It was a big part of the marketing. It was stated several times in interviews, on Twitter, etc. To go back on that is false advertising. Feelings on how people play a game and how they unlock gear and attachments are irrelevant. They lied, and went back on that promise. Like it or not, there are people who bought the game for that reason.
To make matters worse, they made the grindy assignments and challenges, and then shipped the game off as is. I'm 100% certain someone on the Dev team warned them that they would just farm bots to earn attachments and XP and to complete the grindy assignments. Obviously no one listened, and the nerf to Progression within Portal servers is a knee **bleep** reaction that came of said self made issue.
Do note I bought this game for the multiplayer. There's no better way to battlefield than with friends, blowing stuff up and clutching games. The PvE players not being in the main lobbies is not a bad thing for you or me. If they aren't good at this type of shooter, and want to chill and kill bots and hang out with buddies, it doesn't affect us. More power to them. You're just looking at it with a 'wrong way to play' mentality.
I've included an official snippet from BF Studios regarding Progression in Portal. My opinion on this doesn't matter, and neither does yours. They promised a play your way kind of game, then nerfed that progression by 90%. They lied, and backed out of that promise.
