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DICE finally let Portal live for 5 minutes… then killed it again!

Jayzhy · 29 Mar 2026 at 08:42 · permalink

I don’t know how else to say this at this point:

Players figured out how to run 1-player servers with official rules not some broken XP farm garbage, just actual playable servers that didn’t require you to sit around waiting for 3 other people to exist.

And surprise surprise…

* Servers were active again!
* People were actually playing!
* You could jump in instantly instead of waiting in empty lobbies!
* Portal didn’t feel like a ghost town for once!

For a brief moment, it actually felt like someone at DICE accidentally made a good decision.

So what did they do?

They removed it, and nuked every other server there was that allowed this.

Like genuinely… what is the thought process here?

You finally have:

* Increased engagement!
* More active servers!
* Players coming back!

And your reaction is to shut it down?

The 4-player requirement to start a server is one of the dumbest design decisions tied to Portal.

And the craziest part?

We’ve already seen this work before.

BF2042 literally allowed 1-player server starts.

It worked. People used it. Portal had WAY more life because of it.

At this point, it honestly feels like every time the community fixes Portal for you, you step in and break it again.

Bring back 1-player server starts, and literally, stop acting surprised when Portal dies… again.

A-A-R-O-N · 29 Mar 2026 at 08:51 · permalink

They're so fucking stupid. I have to assume this is either egregiouis incompetence, or they are actively trying to make Portal look like a failure so that they don't have to put any more work into it.

Jayzhy · 29 Mar 2026 at 08:52 · permalink

They are just fucking garbage man. Like, WHO THE FUCK get's bothered if a Portal Server starts with 1 player, and then it fills up with 15 - 30 players all playing a verified mode, with official rules? At this point, I think they are doing it on purpose.

Golyb_Opezdol · 29 Mar 2026 at 09:36 · permalink

It’s 100% deliberate. Nobody can be this incompetent. I’d hope, at least.

AruA866 · 29 Mar 2026 at 09:39 · permalink

Psst

Hey. Hey you. Passt.

If you ask for a refund, they'll decline.

If you force arbitration, they'll refund you. It's cheaper.

Yw.

Jayzhy · 29 Mar 2026 at 09:48 · permalink

I agree 1000%!

Jayzhy · 29 Mar 2026 at 09:50 · permalink

Honestly, I don’t want my money back. I just want them to stop removing the few things that actually bring players back. Portal with solo-start servers was one of them, and I was able to play a few matches with a couple of friends. Due to the fact that I can rarely find servers in my region. Therefore, Portal was the only way.

oleshka1337228 · 29 Mar 2026 at 10:01 · permalink

First ballot hall of fame stupid

Jayzhy · 29 Mar 2026 at 10:32 · permalink

Yes!

ziguadongnange · 29 Mar 2026 at 10:32 · permalink

What is force arbitration? 👀

Bot1110777 · 29 Mar 2026 at 10:33 · permalink

In 2042 you don't even need to do anything for a solo server. It's literally in the default options. It's insane they won't do it here.

They're wanting to slow down any weapon progression so you spend money on battle passes. That's the only reason I can think of.

Jayzhy · 29 Mar 2026 at 10:37 · permalink

But, even in BF2042. I could create a Conquest or Breakthrough Server with all maps, and I would just host it and play it at my own pace without any issues. But, then again, they are just outright dumb for this and such a stupid decision...From 20 players requirement, to 8, and now to 4, like just fucking do a 1 player requirement. It is a click of a button.

Jayzhy · 29 Mar 2026 at 10:39 · permalink

Force arbitration = Escalate to a legal dispute process.

zabak31 · 29 Mar 2026 at 10:51 · permalink

"with purchase of a copy of battlefield 6, you get pernament personal server in portal" what 4 people needed to start server? It's incredible how they manage get "back to roots" with gameplay feel and manage to run it to ground.

Jayzhy · 29 Mar 2026 at 10:52 · permalink

They are just incompetent at this point.