Skill-Based Matchmaking

The cluster discusses skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) in multiplayer games, debating its benefits for fair matches and 50% win rates versus drawbacks like long queues, smurfing, player frustration, and small player bases.

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Keywords

CS DPS BoEs AFK SBMM ELO LFR EV IRC CSGO player players skill game matched ranked playing games play win

Sample Comments

dpkirchner Sep 21, 2022 View on HN

Wouldn't a good skill based matchmaking system take care of that?

defertoreptar Dec 4, 2020 View on HN

Sounds like the matchmaking needs to factor in the standard deviation of the players' skill, like a Sharpe ratio for skill.

woolvalley Dec 1, 2018 View on HN

That means it has bad matchmaking either because of laziness or a shallow player base. You should be matched up with people of equal skill.

reaperman Nov 1, 2023 View on HN

With skill-based matchmaking, why does it even matter? Players should average 50% win/loss regardless of who they are playing against.

PhasmaFelis Dec 11, 2017 View on HN

I'd implied the same from the general player skill level. It's nice to play against people who are just as bad as me for a change!

emgeee Oct 31, 2023 View on HN

Most games don't have a big enough player base to support separate matchmaking pools

lobocinza Oct 14, 2021 View on HN

It is because losing in a competitive gaming is not fun. That's why those games take care to match you with players that are 'as good' as you.

teen Jul 22, 2020 View on HN

This has what dota 2 does. Every win / loss is worth the same points, the games are extremely close in terms of player rank, so and it's a team game so you get more variance than just your individual skill. Players eventually settle close to 50 percent win rate

bonzini Dec 4, 2020 View on HN

Assuming it's something like an Elo rating you can always opt out of skill-based matchmaking and request a specific opponent skill; if you win you will not win any rating, if you lose you will lose a lot.Content creators for chess also do "speed runs" from 1000 to 2500 Elo for example where they explain the mistakes and produce educational content while playing "easy" opponents. They don't do it just for the fun of owning people. CoD creators perhaps could do the

intended Nov 23, 2020 View on HN

There’s a term in gaming, that seems to apply here - playing the meta.Every time a game is released or a new patch changes the mechanics, a game is in a state of flux.New models are tried out, new build orders, and it’s more random, people experiment.Eventually though, the optimal strategy or set of strategies are known - the meta.It results in many striking metaphorical similarities1) not following the meta gets you abuse in team games, and is generally going to be suboptimal.