EA’s DICE has labelled dedicated servers “the best solution for online PC gaming hands down”.

Speaking shortly after Activision’s Infinity Ward announced that it would be dropping dedicated server support for more console-like matchmaking in the PC version of Modern Warfare 2, Battlefield producer Gordon Van Dyke criticised peer to peer solutions that he says often result in a "host with the most" situation.

“A lot of buzz has been floating around the internet lately about dedicated servers and we wanted to make sure our all our players have the best understanding of how Battlefield will be played on the PC,” Dyke said in a post titled ‘Dedicated To Our PC Players’. “Since Battlefield 1942 DICE has used dedicated servers for all platforms. This formula has worked well, and still works well, for us and for the gaming community. We have stayed true to this practice and will continue this tradition into the upcoming title Battlefield: Bad Company 2.

“Other games use player-hosted or peer to peer solutions, often resulting in a host with the most situation; where the player hosting the match has an advantage over other players connected to their game. Everyone else is dependent on the host's internet connection and if they don't have a great connection neither will you regardless how great of an internet you have. Also, unless server migration is implemented the game ends when that hosting player quits the game forcing you to find another player-host or start your own.

“With dedicated servers everyone gets non-stop action with no connection penalties based on some other player and their internet. This makes dedicated servers the best solution for online PC gaming hands down! So rest assured PC players, Battlefield will stay true to its roots offering dedicated servers to all its players and continue the tradition of the ultimate FPS gaming experience!”

Over 160,000 people have signed a petition against Infinity Ward’s decision to drop dedicated server support for Modern Warfare 2, although the developer maintains that its solution, IWNET, “takes the benefits of dedicated servers and allows them to be utilised and accessed by every player, out of the box”.