Call of Duty developers discuss ‘skill-based matchmaking’ in a lengthy update
Skill-based matchmaking in Call of Duty is always a controversial topic, and last fall the teams behind Activision’s still-dominant shooter franchise promised to be more open about the way players are linked together in games of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3. In a new blog describing the problem in depthit seems the Call of Duty team is hoping to demystify players’ No. 1 complaint about the game’s main multiplayer mode and explain how matchmaking actually works.
One of the biggest insights from the latest Call of Duty blog: Matchmaking in multiplayer games may not work the way you think.
“The biggest priority regarding multiplayer matchmaking is to provide our players with a fun experience,” developers said in a comprehensive overview of how players are organized into teams in online games.
“We often see the community calling our matchmaking system ‘Skill-based Matchmaking’. Call of Duty considers skills (or more specifically player performance) as a component, as most players in the industry do, but skills are not the dominant variable,” the developers said. “We consider and prioritize several factors to create lobbies.”
These factors are determined by connection (“the most critical and weighty factor in the matchmaking process”) and the time to match, developers say. And yes, skill is part of the matchmaking criteria, as is playlist diversity, giving players a variety of maps and modes to see.
Since players will likely have a general understanding of how connection and match time affect matchmaking, the way Call of Duty developers determine skills is probably the most illuminating insight.
According to developers, skills are determined based on a player’s overall performance, taking into account kills, deaths, wins, losses, mode selection and recent matches as an overall benchmark for all multiplayer experiences. “This is a fluid measurement that is constantly updating and responsive to your gameplay,” developers say. “Skill is a factor not only in matching players against suitable enemies, but also in finding teammates.”
These skill provisions have already been implemented in some form Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfaredevelopers say, noting that “continual refinement is necessary to provide our players with the best possible experience.”
“We use player performance to ensure that the difference between the most skilled player in the lobby and the least skilled player in the lobby is not so large that players feel like their match is a waste of time,” the developers say. “Our player outcomes data clearly indicates that skill inclusion plays an important role DutyThe Multiplayer matchmaking process (as it currently stands) increases the variety of outcomes experienced by players of all skill levels. In other words, all players (regardless of skill level) are more likely to experience proportionally more wins and losses.”
Some longtime Call of Duty players and prominent streamers have pushed back on the use of skill-based matchmaking, especially in casual or quick play modes. They say it makes games overly competitive (or “sweaty”), and takes away the joy of taking down a weaker opponent.
Developers say data shows lower skill players are likely to leave matches (or stop playing altogether) if they are “consistently on the losing side.” And fewer players means smaller player pools to match against others, and lower skill variance. “Ultimately, if only highly skilled players remain because lower skilled players quit out of frustration, the result is an ecosystem that is generally worse for everyone,” developers say.
They add: “We also understand that many high-skill players want more variety of experiences, but often feel like they only get the ‘sweasiest’ lobbies. We have heard this feedback clearly and will continue to test and actively explore ways to address these concerns.”
In an FAQ on the blog, developers also explain some common assumptions and misconceptions about how matchmaking works in Call of Duty multiplayer. They say that player involvement (time played) is not factored into matchmaking. They also said that spending money in Call of Duty does not affect how players are matched with others, nor does their “partner” or “content creator” status.
The Call of Duty team also says it does not plan to remove skill measurement as a factor in matchmaking, nor give players the choice to opt out of the matchmaking algorithm.
Whether this statement will satisfy Call of Duty players complaining about blowouts, “sweaty” lobbies, or manipulated engagement remains to be seen. But for players who want more insight into how they’re linked together, skill-based and otherwise, it’s worth reading and considering for your next match.