Server Merge Retrospective and the Road Ahead

Welcome back Soldier! 

With the North American server consolidation now complete, we’d like to reflect on the impact of this change and outline where we’re headed next. The merger of Connery and Emerald — alongside the earlier unification of Cobalt and Miller in Europe — wasn’t just about infrastructure. It was a necessary evolution to protect and enhance the scale-driven gameplay that makes PlanetSide 2 unique. 

Looking Back: Achievements and Ongoing Challenges 

The consolidation aimed to reduce population fragmentation, improve matchmaking, and restore the scale of combat the game was built on. So far, we’ve seen: 

• Stronger peak-time continent populations 

• A revival of massive, 96+ vs. 96+ battles across multiple continents 

The Grand Server Merge Event II in early May confirmed that PlanetSide 2 can still deliver unforgettable moments when the community comes together. But the transition hasn’t been without issues. 

We heard concerns from many East Coast players about higher ping and latency fluctuations. While choosing a West Coast data center was a strategic decision based on load balancing, we know that came at a cost for some. Since the merge, our network team has made several backend improvements to routing paths. These changes have already led to noticeable connection stability improvements for many, and work continues in this area. 

We’ve also received feedback around faction balance during specific time windows. We're analyzing the data and reviewing our spawn and incentive systems to address uneven faction distributions — especially during off-peak hours. We'll provide updates as changes are tested and implemented. 

Infrastructure and Performance 

We’re continuing to monitor large-scale combat conditions, server health, and stability across merged environments. Additional infrastructure adjustments may be explored depending on evolving needs and community reports. 

New Directives – Launching This Month 

This month we also launch 4 Long Term Directives to the Collection category, each with their own rewards themed around emergency service vehicles: 

• Amerish Dog Tags 

• • EVL Hood Ornament 

• Indar Dog Tags 

• • EVL Flash Attachment 

• Hossin Dog Tags 

• • EVL Sunderer Exterior Attachment  

• Esamir Dog Tags 

• • EVL Siren 

The Infiltrator Rework – Summer Testing Begins 

This summer, we’ll introduce a reworked Infiltrator experience to the Public Test Server (PTS). This overhaul remains in development, but we’d like to preview our intent: 

• Expanded Support Role: Infiltrators will gain more tools for area disruption, enemy debilitation, and battlefield manipulation — without compromising their core stealth identity. 

• Prototype Systems: A Recon Drone gadget and revamped hacking interactions are being tested. These systems allow the Infiltrator to sabotage turrets, vehicles, and key base infrastructure more meaningfully. 

• Sniping Adjustments: We’re reviewing the role of long-range sniping within modern base layouts and will balance accordingly to encourage high-skill, high-impact play. 

All of these features will be refined based on test data and community input — expect ongoing updates throughout the summer testing phase. 

What’s Next 

We remain committed to improving core gameplay, server performance, and quality of life. Our current priorities include: 

• Continued weekly tuning of population and queue systems. 

• Additional server-side performance improvements. 

• A future Directives update that better ties rewards to factional cooperation and high-impact play (more info to come). 

We’ve also seen your requests for specific bug fixes (including hitching in large fights, UI slowdowns, and map bugs) — and many are now in the fix queue. 

Stay Involved 

We know this transition wasn’t perfect. But the merging of servers marks a turning point — giving us the foundation to rebuild bigger battles and deliver more focused content. 

Your feedback has been instrumental. When the Infiltrator changes hit PTS, we’ll open official feedback threads and surveys. Be ready to test, challenge, and shape the class with us. 

We’ll see you on the battlefield. 

PlanetSide 2 Team