Private vs Public Bot Lobbies in Black Ops 6: What’s the Difference?

Black Ops 6 has once again brought players a range of multiplayer experiences, including the controversial and increasingly popular feature—bot lobbies. These lobbies allow players to face AI-controlled enemies instead of real-life opponents, often used for practice, farming, or even testing new weapons. But not all bot lobbies are the same. There are two primary types: private and public. Understanding the distinction between them is essential for anyone aiming to make the most out of their gameplay in Black Ops 6.

What Are Private Bot Lobbies?

Private bot lobbies are matches created by players where the participants are exclusively bots, and the game is hosted in a private match setting. These are customizable and often used for low-pressure training, experimenting with loadouts, or warming up before jumping into real matches. They don’t require matchmaking with other players and can be set up directly through the game’s private match settings.

The appeal of private Black ops 6 Bot Lobbies lies in full control. You can choose the map, difficulty level of the bots, game mode, time limit, score limit, and other conditions. This makes them ideal for newcomers trying to learn the ropes or seasoned players wanting to master specific weapons or movement mechanics without interruption or stress.

Understanding Public Bot Lobbies

Public bot lobbies, on the other hand, involve AI bots but are integrated into a more multiplayer-like environment. These may occur when real players fill only a portion of a lobby and bots are automatically added to complete the game. Sometimes, these are hosted in hybrid public matches to simulate competitive gameplay with both bots and players involved.

Unlike private matches, players don’t have control over the lobby’s configuration in public bot lobbies. The bots in these matches are generally of moderate skill, designed to balance teams and offer a challenge that somewhat resembles real PvP scenarios. However, because they are AI, they lack the unpredictability and strategic depth of actual players.

Customization Differences

One of the biggest differences between private and public bot lobbies is customization. Private bot lobbies let you fine-tune every element. You can adjust bot difficulty from recruit to veteran, tweak spawn settings, turn off killstreaks, or set unique class restrictions. Want to practice sniper shots on Nuketown with only two bots standing still? You can do that.

Public lobbies offer no such flexibility. You’re stuck with whatever settings the game deems appropriate for the matchmaking process. That means random maps, bot behaviors you can’t adjust, and no option to pause or replay scenarios. For players who want precision in their practice or testing, private lobbies are the clear winner.

XP and Progression Impact

A common question among players is: Do you gain XP in these lobbies? The answer depends on the mode. In most cases, private bot lobbies do not reward meaningful progression. While they may let you test gear, achievements and XP gains are either disabled or limited. They are not intended for farming progression but for practice.

Public bot lobbies can sometimes offer progression benefits, especially if they are part of standard matchmaking. You may earn weapon XP, rank XP, and even complete some challenges if the bots are part of a real multiplayer match. However, because bots are involved, these lobbies are often excluded from ranked playlists or major competitive events.

Skill Development Potential

If your goal is to become a better player, both lobby types have their place. Private lobbies are excellent for muscle memory training. You can repeat the same scenario over and over, work on aim, recoil control, or positioning, all without worrying about dying repeatedly to better players. They are also perfect for learning new maps and callouts in a pressure-free environment.

Public bot lobbies simulate real-world gameplay more closely. The unpredictability introduced by human players, combined with the presence of bots, helps you develop tactical decision-making skills under slightly more competitive circumstances. If you’re transitioning from practice to ranked games, public lobbies serve as a solid intermediate step.

Social Experience and Team Coordination

Private bot lobbies are generally solo or with invited friends. They’re useful for coordinating with teammates, trying out team strategies, and practicing communication. You can design 2v2 or 3v3 mock matches to experiment with tactics and map control techniques.

Public bot lobbies, however, throw you into a mix of unknown players and bots. This creates an environment where communication is limited, and team play becomes more spontaneous. While less controlled, it’s useful for adjusting to the chaos of actual multiplayer matches, where teammates might not always follow the plan.

Realism and Challenge Factor

When it comes to realism, public bot lobbies edge out private ones. Because you have no control over how bots act, the difficulty and flow mimic real multiplayer dynamics more accurately. Enemy behavior, spawn unpredictability, and objective play can more closely resemble the chaos and uncertainty of live opponents.

Private lobbies, while customizable, can feel stale or artificial. If you always set bots to recruit, you’re not challenging yourself. Even at veteran levels, bots don’t replicate the creative and aggressive tactics of real players. However, this can be mitigated by increasing difficulty and adjusting rules to force more strategic gameplay.

Safety and Rule Enforcement

One key area often overlooked is the safety aspect. Private lobbies are risk-free. There’s no toxic behavior, trash talk, or cheating—because you control the environment. It’s a space free of pressure, perfect for younger players or anyone trying to escape the negativity sometimes found in public matches.

Public bot lobbies, despite having bots, still include human players. This introduces potential for toxic interactions, unbalanced matches, or exposure to exploits. While not as intense as fully competitive lobbies, they do carry some of the same risks, especially when voice chat is enabled or matchmaking doesn’t balance teams well.

Use Cases and Player Goals

The right choice between private and public bot lobbies comes down to your goal. Want to improve your accuracy, learn maps, or warm up your reflexes? Private is the way to go. Want to farm some light XP while playing casually and dealing with a mix of bots and humans? Public is your best bet.

Competitive players often rotate between both. They use private lobbies for drills and public lobbies for real-time stress testing. Casual players might favor public lobbies to avoid high-skill lobbies filled with sweats, using bot-populated matches for light-hearted fun.

Limitations and Future Potential

Both lobby types come with limits. Private bot lobbies don’t simulate the true game experience, and their lack of progression can be a turn-off for some. Public Black ops 6 Bot Lobbies may feel dull after a while due to predictable AI and lack of meaningful challenge when too many bots are present.

Future updates in Black Ops 6 could introduce smarter AI, better customization in public settings, or hybrid modes that blend progression with practice. These improvements would further blur the lines between both types and offer more dynamic gameplay for all skill levels.

Final Verdict

Private and public bot lobbies in Black Ops 6 serve different purposes but are both invaluable in their own right. Private lobbies offer a safe, fully controllable environment ideal for focused training and experimentation. Public bot lobbies provide a more realistic, dynamic setting that’s still forgiving compared to full PvP lobbies.