•Frequenty Asked Questions

Pings aren't showing in the server browser
Currently pings in the server browser use ICMP echo, which is often blocked by firewalls both on machines e.g. windows firewall and on routers. If your client isn't displaying server pings check to ensure that your firewall isn't blocked.
In addition windows Vista and Windows 7 users may need to run BC2 as an administrator to enable pings to work

PunkBuster filter in the server browser doesn't work
The filter option for PunkBuster in the server browser currently doesnt work, it always returns zero results.

Server Name filter is case sensitive
If you use the server name filter to find your server be aware that it is currently case sensitive so searching for "multiplay" will not return servers with "Multiplay" in the name, also not you MUST click Search, hitting enter doesn't search.

Server list doesn't always display all servers
There is a known issue that is preventing all servers being listed all the time in the server browser, the workaround is to refresh the list and if this doesn't help to restart your server

Can I install a BC2 Daemon?
Due to security and other general problems related to running third party Daemons we will not be supporting them. All functionality that is provided by these daemons can be achieved in standard rcon based utilities so there's no real need for them anyway

Server Descriptions / MOTD isn't displayed correctly
Currently server MOTDs set in ServerOptions.ini -> ServerDescription don't display correctly, this is a bug in the BC 2 client

What the the available settings for Bad Company 2 servers?
The official documentation for the Bad Company 2 server can be found here:
•Official Bad Company 2 Server Documentation

How does reserved slots work?
Adding players to the reserved list in Bad Company 2 is done by adding their player names to the reservedslotslist.txt one per line. Once added please note that when the named players arent in the server the number of available slots effectively be reduced by the number of players listed. So if you have 32 player server and 10 players in reservedslotslist.txt with 4 of those named playing your server will max out at 26 players, with only the remaining 6 players listed being able to join.

Settings only work for the first map / round
If you configure your server with custom settings via Startup.txt such as enabling hardcode then the server will only remember these settings for the first round of the first map.
This is a bug in the server, the only known workaround, which sometimes helps but not always, is to set these setting again using rcon once the server has started. To do this you can use ClanForge -> Server -> LiveControl -> Current Game -> Update Settings without changing anything.

All servers are crashing a lot
As you will have noticed Bad Company 2 servers aren't very stable and are crashing quite a lot. This is a known issue which is combination of the problem with EA Master servers, when the server looses connection to the EA Masters it will crash, and with some bugs in the server code which are causing crashes as well.
It should be noted that Squad Rush crashes more than other game modes, we suspect this is when 5 people try to join the same team.
Both EA and DICE are aware of the problems and are working to provide fixes for this issue ASAP, we hope to be seeing more patches over the following days / weeks which increase the stability of the servers.

Why can't I connect to a server?
The problems with the EA masters are causing a number of other issues beside server crashes one of these is that attempting to join a server will report it lost connection to the server, this is not the case the problem is that the Master server provided invalid information to the client so when the client tries to join the server it can't find it.
If this repeated happens with your server the only potential fix is to turn your server off for a while e.g. 30mins and then turn it back on, not ideal but its been seen to help sometimes.
Again EA are well aware of the master server issues and are working to fix them ASAP.

Why can I only see 5 maps?
Whilst Bad Company 2 launched with 10 maps in total, certain maps are only playable in certain game modes. For this reason when editing the map list in ClanForge you will only see maps that are applicable to the game mode you have selected. For example with Conquest mode you have the maps Panama Canal, Laguna Presa, White Pass, Atacama Deserts and Laguna Alta.

In order to access the other game modes, go to profiles within ClanForge and cretae a new one. Change the game mode to another type, such as Rush and you will now see the available maps will have changed in the maps tab for that profile. Profiles are a great way to keep multiple configurations of your server ready, as you can quickly change which profile is running on your server from the servers section within ClanForge.

What size / format should my banner be?
The banner in Bad Company 2 should be:
•Dimension: 512x64
•Format: jpg, png or gif
•File Size: Under 127KB
•URL Length: Less than 64 characters

Unban doesn't work
That's correct unban is currently broken in the server code. DICE are aware, hopefully they will release a fix soon. In the mean time you can use: admin.clearPlayerBanList and admin.clearIPBanList to remove all bans.

Banner / MOTD don't always display
Due to the problems with the EA masters, banners / MOTD's dont always display or display differently for different people, this is a known issue.

Rank Limiting doesn't work
As noted in the official documentation, linked above, rank limiting currently doesn't work.

Auto Balance doesn't work
Currently auto balance doesn't really work and its easy to get really unbalance teams, DICE are aware.

PunkBuster kicks for INIT failure **Fixed**
This was an issue with servers prior to R6, which was release on 09/03/2010 @ 14:00.

How do I setup a multi gametype map list?
Unfortuantely the game doesn't support multi gametype map rotations, we have raised this will DICE but we have no timescale for when support for this will be added

PunkBuster screenshots don't work
Currently PunkBuster screenshots don't work

How do I fix getting Disconnected after player for ~20mins?
Some users have reported that disabling UPnP on their routers fixes the problem of getting disconnected from Bad Company 2 servers after ~20mins of play, so if your experiencing this try disabling it on your router.
It is know to work on:
•BT Home Hub
•Thompson ST 780 WLT

Maplist doesn't play in order
Due to bugs in the server the maplist doesn't play in order and can sometimes play the same map multiple times before changing to a different map, this is a known issue DICE are working on.

- EA disconnects: Work ongoing in this area. Largely down to bandwidth, mostly fixed. This is different to being disconnected from a game server.

- CTD's: There were several CTDs reported. We have already addressed some in patches for CTDs when loading MP maps. Work on CTDs will continue. When reporting a CTD please don’t just say “my PC crashed to desktop”. We need to know what you were doing in game when this occurred in order to be able to research the problem.

- Punkbuster: Server update solved the punkbuster issue. Hacks/Cheats bans on going

- Unable to login problems: As with EA Disconnects above

- Autobalance: This is an ongoing area we are researching. We realize the frustration this causes. A re-write is underway to address Autobalance and joining friends which leads to team balance issues.

- Server Browser is slow: We are addressing this with each patch update. Sort by PING should now work. Clicking cancel should return 100 servers within 5 seconds. We are looking to introduce a list by region (Europe, North America Asia) – not confirmed as feasible yet.

- Ability to take a screenshot: not currently supported

- Scoreboard text overlaps: Fixed

- Scoreboard does not always display ping on certain game types (Squad Deathmatch): Being researched. Data actually shows round trip latency for a packet.

- Switching teams when you are dead, often makes you respawn in enemy territory on Rush Mode: Being researched.

- Server info when loading tends to wander off designated text area when the message is too long:Known issue on the list, minor at present.

- Server browser filter does not always filter correctly: As above, we are working on several issues in this area.

- When joining servers, server browser will often say "Please Wait": Should be Fixed to display Server Full or Password required message. Please feedback.

- Ping in-game differs from real ping (usually 50-100ms difference): This is due to round-trip latency for an in game packet.

- Not always able to chat at the end of a round: Being researched. Does not affect all users.

- Points gained after death are not awarded at all: Design issue, see other threads.

- After a round, sometimes the win or lose screen does not execute: Fix underway.

- Various friend's list issues: Fixes underway.

- GUI issues while playing HardCore mode: Being researched.

- Vsync option is not working for certain users: Being researched.

- Sound settings (hi-fi, wartapes, etc.) reset upon exit of game: Fix underway.

- MG36 scope has no red dot in hardcore mode: Being researched.

- Vehicle optics zoom in sometimes doesn't work or gets stuck in zoomed in mode: Being researched.

- Possible to get stuck half way trying to jump through certain windows, have to die or suicide to get out:Being researched (unlikely fix).

- Certain vehicle weapons fire inconsistently (heli and APC cannon), sometimes firing bursts other time firing just 1 shot: Being researched.

- Users with ATI cards are experiencing longer-than-normal load times: Known issue.

- Users with ATI cards in Crossfire have reported texture flashing/glitching: Being researched.

- Helicopters still rubberband when hit by AA: Being researched (potential latency between server and client)

- Dead white pixel in the bottom right-hand corner: Yep… issue with empty HUD and minor for the large part.

- Dead pixels on letterbox bars in singleplayer: Being researched.

- Scrollwheel becomes "inverted" while trying to change weapon when sprinting: Known issue, potential fix soon.

- Iron sights/Gun models should scale with FOV: Being researched (model redesign is difficult at this stage)

- After a round, many times the "Unlock Progression" page will not show your next upgrades for any class: Server data issue. The progression stats are hosted on a different server to the main game and fail safes kick in when high traffic from stats websites occur and people are playing.

- "Awards Collected" descriptions on the Stats page point to dates that are before the BC2 release date: Being researched.

- 4x ACOG scope & Red Dot Sight disappear on Assault kit when using 40mm grenade launcher: Being researched (model redesign is difficult at this stage)

- The "Play Now" button occasionally tries to connect to password-enabled servers: To be adjusted in future update. Should look for non-password, non HC, non Full, non empty, low ping. On going.

- Alt + Tab (Minimize to desktop) does not work. Only works when you have other windows open and can switch to them: Being researched. Low priority at present.

- M1 Garand does not appear in-game for Battlefield Veterans after entering code: Fixed, please feedback.

- Knife is glitched: Design issue plus latency.
- Spotting doesn't function properly many of the times: Being researched. Potential issue with cool down timer.

- Some unlocks don't unlock at the required levels/experience: Believed to be largely fixed. Please research.

- Joystick issues: Being researched.

- Textures flicker on many maps, including misplaced ships and buildings: Some work done in this area, potential driver issues remaining.

- The built-in VOIP does not work: Intermittent, being researched.

- The UAV station, when operating UAV, has a graphical positional problem, making the UAV station appear to be "floating" and not stationary: Yes, low priority.


- Pings aren't showing up in the Steam version: Believe fixed, feedback please.


- Game is not actually shutting down after Exiting the game in the Steam version: Being researched.

- The unlock progression of a specific item does not show up if you have used it after picking up someone else's kit: Design issue

- Malfunctioning C4 (does not always detonate):Being researched.

- Fix the M14 description or the amount of ammo in the clip (description says 20 rounds in a clip, but it's only 10): On the list, not super urgent (but its poor polish, yes).

- Floor texture glitching after explosion: Terrain deformation, probably wont fix.

- FOV keeps resetting to 55 in singleplayer every time a cut scene plays: Known issue, being researched.

- Dog Tags collection screen has UI bug for numbers over 3 digits: Yep, minor and may not address.

- The wartapes sound option makes louder sounds like gunfire and bomb explosions very static-like: Being researched.

- Smoke GL malfunctions. Either does not detonate or does not show as detonated on users screen: Being researched, potential config issue.

- Flight sticks don't function fully with this game: Being researched.

- Bullets passing through walls only leave holes on 1 side: Yes… J

- Shotgun crosshairs still appear despite the server crosshair option turned off: Being researched.

- Quadbike horn can´t be heard by other players: Being researched. Expected to be a combination of factors affecting this making a fix difficult.

- Sending friend invites is very inconsistent: Fix underway.

- When spawning on a quadbike, you are able to view 360° instead of 180°: Whilst an issue, unlikely to be addressed.

- Bugged reload animation for the Neostad 2000: Being researched (model redesign is difficult at this stage)

- No squad repair points if a squadmember stays on the second /gunner seat: Believe fixed, please feedback.

- No squad text chat in vehicles: Agreed, fix planned.

- Can't spawn on a squad member in the water: Intentional, should occur when you can’t use weapons in the water.

- Isla Innocentes-specific building glitch for MCOM's. Destroying fence next to building, levels the building, effectively destroying the MCOM in the process: Oops. We will work on a fix for this.

- "Most Scored By" Section shows more kills on a weapon than the cumulative kills for that round: Being researched.

- MG shield will sometimes block your view, instead of enabling you to see through it: DX9 specific, fix planned.

- 4x ACOG scope for different weapons "float" 1-2 inches in front of scope's model: Being researched (model redesign is difficult at this stage)

- GOL Magnum Sniper with 4x ACOG Scope & Red Dot Sight has graphical errors: This was a driver issue we believe to be fixed. Feedback please.


- Award Scores at the end of a match are bugged: Being researched.

- "Floating window" after destroying wall. Also, there are textures still visible from the grenade explosion on the wall: Unlikely to be fixed.

-Shadows are very pixelated. Max AA/AF & all HIGH settings won't help smooth out the jagged shadow edges: Unlikely to be fixed. Possible configuration issue.

- Awards (medals) are bugged when being awarded: Being researched.

- MEDK R+ and MEDK H+ descriptions are swapped: Being researched. Low priority at present.

- Loads of shit broken, game sometimes CTDs, its all gone to bollocks: We might fix this if we can be bothered, but generally, we'd much rather concentrate on the console gamers, as they tend to be where most of our money comes from. But thanks for buying it on the PC anyway, we knew we might make a bit of money here and there from it. Cheers!

being a multiplayer game where people HAVE to buy it, (and where the majority of the above bugs come from)

your logic sucks.

also the sales for the PC greatly surpassed what was expected - at one point PC players online outnumbered PS3 and Xbox players... I have a feeling BC2 was more of a tech dry run for BF3. BC1 produced the frostbite engine, BC2 ported frostbite to the PC, so the next title in the series (BF3) should add the polish and stuff that we want now :-)