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What ever became of the offline bot mode?

The developer update said that we were to get an offline bot mode with the mid-chapter, but it never happened and BHVR hasn't said why. This has been one of Dead by Daylight's most requested features - a way to practice without competing - and now it seems as though that implementation has been swept under the rug along with console optimization.

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Comments

  • Sackboy123
    Sackboy123 Member Posts: 472

    We kinda have in the form of the Tutorials, we got a revamp Tutorial and two bot matches as Killer and Survivor. Although you can only play as Trapper or against Trapper. Hopefully we get a full custom mode for Bots in the future

  • I mean, we technically did get it in the "getting started" menu

  • Hex_Llama
    Hex_Llama Member Posts: 1,846

    I was looking forward to that too, but it seems like it might have been a misunderstanding? I wish they would clarify and let us know whether this is an actual feature that was delayed or there was a miscommunication and they never intended to add it.

  • SweetTerror
    SweetTerror Member Posts: 2,695

    That's what I was thinking as well, however not only has nothing been said by any developer, but the moderators haven't spoken up either. This makes me think that it was an intended feature, but it either got scrapped or delayed, and they're not allowed to talk about it.

  • Kilmeran
    Kilmeran Member Posts: 3,142
    edited August 2021

    I went back and read that July Developer Update again. Now, I'm starting to feel like it was a misunderstanding. They redid the two tutorials, and then added the vs Bots where you are either Dwight or Trapper. I have the sinking feeling the Dwight/Trapper modes were their version of "offline bots mode."

  • mdg2018
    mdg2018 Member Posts: 153

    Me personally I've stopped playing the game cause I've gotten tired of people crying about how you play or that you didnt do this or do that, and when I heard about the offline content I was excited and when and only when that modes comes into the game is when I will play again

  • mdg2018
    mdg2018 Member Posts: 153

    i hope not, cause thats very very disappointing and in my opinion a waste of time then, like if your gonna promise an offline mode you know damn well people are going to want and expect something good, not a trial game with one of each killer and survivor. Hopefully thats not all they will be giving us

  • SweetTerror
    SweetTerror Member Posts: 2,695

    I hope that's not the case at all, because they know very well that those bot modes can only be accessed online. When they say "offline bot mode" they know damn well what people expect from that. Besides, those bot modes that follow after the tutorials were already there prior to the developer update, so nothing they say can make me believe that this wasn't supposed to be something entirely different.

  • TacitusKilgore
    TacitusKilgore Member Posts: 1,380

    Just add it to the writhing mountain of broken BHVR promises lol. Were never gonna get it since its not profitable for them.

  • Red_Beard
    Red_Beard Member Posts: 550

    When I read that update, I see them saying the updated tutorials are what was coming out with that mid chapter, which they did. I don't think the offline bot mode was intended for that specific update, they just mention they are working on it because it is a similar feature to the tutorials.

  • Rey_512
    Rey_512 Member Posts: 1,620

    Offline mode is really a low priority and BHVR should not devote meaningful resources to it, in my opinion. I’ll explain why.

    Listen to this… you can already “test” the builds you want to run in ONLINE mode. This is an online 4v1 game, you are meant to dive into the multiplayer matchmaking - don’t be afraid to test your addon/perk combos in a live match. Also, we have sufficient tutorials available for new players that want to understand the mechanics beforehand.

    Also, and more importantly, BHVR should prioritize fixing bugs and meaningful content updates (balancing, reworking killers, etc.) over something that doesn’t provide value to online matchmaking.

  • Guest1567432
    Guest1567432 Member Posts: 728

    Turns out it was a lie then people started calling it a lie and bhvr was like "Oh #########" then it became the "New Tutorial".

  • lemonsway
    lemonsway Member Posts: 1,169

    sufficient Tutorials? Have you played the Tutorial? Please show where does it teach about looping, loop types, Mindgames, Totems, Obsession Mechanic, Status Effects... You can't even select character or perks in Tutorial. What updated Tutorials? the only thing updated was the visuals, which is what BHVR ever does, update visuals and keeps everything else the same.

  • Junylar
    Junylar Member Posts: 2,005

    According to Scott Jund, the devs said they will not communicate with players anymore because they are tired of having their every broken promise backfire. I guess this is one of those promises that the decided to forget because new cosmetics turned out to be a more worthy investment.

  • Rey_512
    Rey_512 Member Posts: 1,620

    Yes, I have.

    Tell me why the devs should devote more resources to an offline mode over fixing game-breaking bugs, balancing, or new content?

    Yeah, maybe they should do a better job of explaining details like status effects… but you can learn that stuff while playing the game. Or look it up online. But playing actual matches is the way you’re supposed to try out your builds and killers.

    If you REALLY hate pub games and don’t want to sweat, play a Custom Match with 4 other friends.

  • Aneurysm
    Aneurysm Member Posts: 5,270

    They also announced it in the anniversary stream, when the trapper bot matches were already out.

  • SweetTerror
    SweetTerror Member Posts: 2,695

    The developer update specifically mentioned that the offline bot mode would allow you to test everything you can in an online match without the pressure that comes with playing with other people.

    Playing against bots is a feature that is pretty standard with almost any game these days. Hell even DBD mobile has it (how nuts is that?)! Sweating while you practice shouldn't be a requirement, and with matchmaking the way it is, that's exactly what you get

  • Red_Beard
    Red_Beard Member Posts: 550

    Announcing it and giving a definitive date on when it would be released are two different things. Do they give a date on when offline matches would be available in the anniversary stream. This thread is specifically talking about the Developer Update which says the following.

    "In this upcoming Mid-Chapter, you’ll find a pair of brand-new tutorials (one for Killer, one for Survivor). We’ve learned a lot about what you want in a tutorial, so we now cover more than the old ones. Each tutorial also takes place in a single continuous level (rather than a series of mini levels cut together). This way, everything flows together like a real match, just more controlled so things don’t get out of hand. 

    As a head’s up, we have been seeing reports of preferences being reset (such as perks and cosmetics) for Dwight and Trapper after playing the tutorial. This bug does not revert any progress, but is something the team is aware of and will be resolved in the near future! 

    Now, a tutorial is great and all, but it doesn’t quite compare to hands on experience. Before you jump into an online match, you can now practice in offline bot matches. This will let you try out everything you’ve learned in a real-world scenario without the stress of other people watching. Bot matches are already available on the live version of the game (click the Getting Started button on the main menu to check them out)."

    They do say in the upcoming Mid-chapter we will get a pair of brand-new tutorials. That did happen on that Mid-chapter. Two paragraphs later, they talk about the offline bot matches. I don't see them promising the offline bot matches at the same Mid-chapter. I just see them giving a heads up on what they are working on, probably in the same section they are talking about the tutorials because they are a similar feature. They then reference back to the Survive with Bots and Kill with Bots in the Getting Started section where the tutorials are.

  • SweetTerror
    SweetTerror Member Posts: 2,695

    BHVR's unwillingness to be open and honest with it's player base is one of the most frustrating and disappointing aspects of the company.

  • SweetTerror
    SweetTerror Member Posts: 2,695

    I would agree with you except for the part where they say, "...you can now practice in offline bot matches". If this wasn't supposed to coincide with the mid-chapter, then this was a very misleading statement, and it's one that BHVR should clarify.

  • Rey_512
    Rey_512 Member Posts: 1,620

    Sure, it’d be cool to have but custom games already exist. Just get 4 (or less) friends to test your build with.

    Devs should focus on more pressing matters, imo.

    Also, Mobile and Regular DBD are different teams.

  • SweetTerror
    SweetTerror Member Posts: 2,695

    Many people (myself included) don't have a big group of friends that play DBD. If you do then that's great, but for people like myself I have to practice while I compete, and trying to test out new mechanics against players who are in it to win it, makes for a very lousy experience. This is precisely why a bot mode has been a long requested feature.

  • Rey_512
    Rey_512 Member Posts: 1,620

    Bots are exactly that though: bots.

    ”Testing” a build on non-human opponents in game like this would be a lousy experience. Zero mindgaming, just tons of shift-w and generic pathing.

  • SweetTerror
    SweetTerror Member Posts: 2,695

    Don't get me wrong, I completely agree that the only way to get better is to play against actual human players, but if you're trying out new mechanics or you're a new player, going up against people far more experienced than yourself doesn't make for a great learning tool.

  • Rey_512
    Rey_512 Member Posts: 1,620

    Agree to disagree on the last point. Sometimes you just have to learn through trial by fire lol. For example, if I played chess against 3rd graders all day I’d probably get good enough to beat 3rd graders consistently. But if I took that experience and tried to play against a Chess grandmaster I’d get rocked obviously. Now, would I get better/good enough to beat that Grandmaster by going back and practicing against 3rd graders? No, I have to start playing against higher caliber players.

    Bots are like 3rd graders.

  • doitagain_
    doitagain_ Member Posts: 723

    Well the survivor bots are already programmed, they just need to let us pick any killer we want + our load out.

    Other than Trapper, I don't expect new killer bots to be added because that would require them to code all 20+ killers to use their power.

  • Red_Beard
    Red_Beard Member Posts: 550

    When I reread that, it now makes me think they are referring specifically to the Survive with Bots and Kill with Bots modes in the Getting Started section and not a separate offline mode. By live version, they mean not a test build and by offline they mean not a real match.

  • ThanksForDaily
    ThanksForDaily Member Posts: 1,306

    Tbh survivor bots are performing very well.

    Not joking, they're actually more useful than a lot red rank randoms.

  • SweetTerror
    SweetTerror Member Posts: 2,695

    I agree. Why they can't let us use any killer against those bots I'll never understand.

  • ThanksForDaily
    ThanksForDaily Member Posts: 1,306

    I was wondering the same. Why.

    I wanted to practice my Oni and Nurse because i am not that good.

  • Unifall
    Unifall Member Posts: 747
    edited August 2021

    If they add bots they should definitely do it when a killer or survivor dcs. I hate playing either side and one of my teammates dcs or the killer dcs mid game because they got a bad map.

  • SweetTerror
    SweetTerror Member Posts: 2,695

    There was talk for the longest time of adding bots to the game when someone disconnects. Needless to say the survivors are put at a great disadvantage when one or more members of your team abandons the match. While bots may not be as good as an actual player, at least it's something that can take the heat off of you why you work on objectives.

  • SweetTerror
    SweetTerror Member Posts: 2,695
    edited August 2021

    I still can't get over that the free mobile game has a practice mode, whereas the main game still doesn't have one over 5 years later. I know it's separate teams, but when a mobile game looks better then a console/PC game, then you know you're doing something wrong.

  • SweetTerror
    SweetTerror Member Posts: 2,695
    edited August 2021

    But those bot matches were already there prior to the developer update so I want to know what precisely were they talking about? They mentioned that bot matches can already be accessed online, so what precisely were they talking about when they mentioned offline? The fact that everyone on BHVR's end has been quiet about this speaks volumes.

    Post edited by SweetTerror on
  • JacksonWise
    JacksonWise Member Posts: 651

    Glad other people are asking this question. A lot of us want to be able to practice OTHER killers or survive against OTHER Killers (while running whatever build we want) without having to compete against other players.

    And let people start a custom game with one player FFS. The devs should be fully aware players like to test things out and they shouldn't need to have someone else available 24/7 to do it.

  • Red_Beard
    Red_Beard Member Posts: 550

    "Now, a tutorial is great and all, but it doesn’t quite compare to hands on experience. Before you jump into an online match, you can now practice in offline bot matches. This will let you try out everything you’ve learned in a real-world scenario without the stress of other people watching. Bot matches are already available on the live version of the game (click the Getting Started button on the main menu to check them out)."

    I think those bot matches that were already there are precisely what they were talking about. They don't say it will be something new, we assume that. I don't think they consider those matches as "online" because they are not a regular game that you accrue blood points and rank in and call them offline. I agree, their wording and terms are not well defined and could have been communicated better. They also say "without the stress of other people wathcing" which is what happens with those already available bot matches.

    As far as BHVR staying silent, I agree, they tend to lack in communication for some important things, such as optimization. I don't feel this is anywhere near the top of importance that a lot of communication is needed. And if the answer is what I expect, in their minds they probably think how they communicated in the above quote says it clearly and didn't think any other communication was needed. The thread was created on Saturday. While moderators do monitor the forums over the weekend, they probably need to wait till the weekday, when people are back to work, to ask for clarification from developers to get the correct answer. Plus, you haven't @'d any of the mods asking for a clarification so they might not have even noticed you wanting them to reach out.

  • SweetTerror
    SweetTerror Member Posts: 2,695

    That's just it, I have. There have been more threads than just this one created by myself and others. I have DM developers and moderators and no one has said anything. If this was a simple miscommunication, then that is something that could have easily been cleared up.

    In regards to the bot matches though, they go on to talk about how you can test out everything that you normally can in a live environment, which isn't remotely true with those tutorial bot matches. Until you give a purpose to cleanse totems, or allow players to equip perks, etc, then nothing will mirror an online match.

  • Moxie
    Moxie Member Posts: 806

    They are too busy making the 14th Nea and 20th Feng skins.

  • Red_Beard
    Red_Beard Member Posts: 550

    @MandyTalk Would you be able to help with this discussion?

    The question is about the offline bot matches from the July Developer Update. What exactly are they? Is it something new coming or was that referring to the Kill with Bots and Survive with Bots modes in Getting Started. It is the terms offline and online that are throwing us off.

    Thanks.

  • miketheratguy
    miketheratguy Member Posts: 2,719

    I DEEPLY hope for an offline bot mode. I never quite thought that they promised one, I think that they worded things in an unfortunate way that always left me uncomfortable with how much wiggle room they left. Something along the lines of "yeah, we'll give you a way to practice with bots, something to do while waiting for a game", that kind of thing. I don't know all the timing details but that suggests to me that they very well may have just been talking about the tutorial.

    I don't understand how the damn MOBILE version of the game has a bot mode - apparently they can handle it - but PC and the major consoles don't. Especially given all the performance issues, disconnection problems, etc. This would be a great time to usher in a more fleshed-out bot mode. It's my most desired feature in this entire game and I continue to hold out hope, though that hope may very well be in vain.

  • SweetTerror
    SweetTerror Member Posts: 2,695

    It makes sense for the mobile version to have bots since disconnects can happen far more frequently on a mobile game than a console game, but I completely agree that it's nuts to think that not only is there a practice mode with bots, but a bot can take over if a player disconnects. It's amazing to think that such an implementation still has not seen the light of day in DBD proper.

  • CosmicParagon
    CosmicParagon Member Posts: 1,070

    That argument only works if they're... you know, actually fixing bugs and balancing the game

  • SweetTerror
    SweetTerror Member Posts: 2,695

    They need to find a way to make the PTB accessible for everyone. If they can't properly test bugs with such a short player base, then surely there can be a limited time event of sorts on console.

  • Rey_512
    Rey_512 Member Posts: 1,620

    To their credit, they do come out with patches pretty often. Do they balance some things? Yes. Are some of the changes good? Sure. Are some decisions questionable or atrocious? Definitely. But they ARE actively updating the game (albeit slowly) even if we don’t agree with some of their changes.

  • SweetTerror
    SweetTerror Member Posts: 2,695
    edited August 2021

    See what I mean? If this was a simple miscommunication, then something could have easily been said by now. Considering just how often the requests for clarification have not been addressed, makes me believe that this was supposed to be an intended feature, but for whatever reason it got scrapped or delayed and they're not allowed to talk about it.