Duration: 27:16

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A video essay on the impact of Skill Based Matchmaking on our modern gaming landscape. SBMM is used in the majority of our multiplayer experiences and has been for a long time. But in recent years players have begun to notice issues that many are attributing to more aggressive SBMM systems as well as engagement based systems such as Engagement Optimized Matchmaking (EOMM). This analysis will discuss these various issues and will offer solutions as well as an alternative mindset for these systems going forward.

This is an issue affecting a lot of multiplayer games such as Call of Duty, MW3, Warzone, Halo, Halo Infinite, MCC, Overwatch, Rainbow Six: Siege, Rocket League, Dead by Daylight, Apex Legends, Fortnite, and many more competitive multiplayer games.

Topics under consideration include, SBMM, Ranked vs Social modes, Casual vs Competitive design, the Skill Gap, inconsistent matchmaking, unfair lobbies, average team skill, Trueskill, developer and publisher mindsets, variance, and more.

Footage includes gameplay from COD MW3, Halo Infinite, Rocket League, R6:Siege.

Here is the video on Casual vs Competitive Design I referenced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn8uIEXJ4bA&t=1702s

Here is the video by Mint Blitz, he has done a lot of discussions on Halo's SBMM specifically and his experiences as a high level player: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-KWdHVggeo&t=232s

Commentary and Video Essay is by Favyn

Edited by FoxyGrandpa: https://www.youtube.com/@FoxyGrandpa1

Thumbnail by Chubby: https://www.behance.net/ChubbyCagle