XDefiant Addresses Skill-Based Matchmaking

Ubisoft recently addressed how skill-based matchmaking would work in XDefiant. Only less than a week remains until the first-person shooter game’s release and fans are wondering if it will be similar to every other PvP shooting game. Major titles like Call of Duty and Overwatch heavily rely on skill-based matchmaking. It means that whenever a player hops on the game in any mode, they’ll likely go up against other players with a similar skill level.

However, it appears that Ubisoft wants to take a step in a different direction. The developers recently revealed that players who play in casual modes won’t have to deal with skill-based matchmaking. They said that implementing skill-based matchmaking in casual games could recreate stressful situations in ranked modes. While this comes as great news to naturally skilled FPS gamers, the newbies might be discouraged by the idea.

Skill-based matchmaking is one of the reasons why many players tend to stick around in the long run, especially newbies. The occasional smurf player likely pops up here and there but for the most part, most players match up against others at the same level.

Unfortunately, not everyone sees it in that light, especially the more experienced players. Highly skilled FPS gamers tend to hate skill-based matchmaking due to matches feeling less rewarding. These particular players want to feel their superiority when hopping on a game. Luckily for them, the developers are accommodating their demographic.

XDefiant’s Casual Modes will have a Different Type of Matchmaking

With Ubisoft casting away skill-based matchmaking in casual playlists, one might wonder how queueing for a game works. The developers said that XDefiant will prioritize players with faster internet connections. That means if an individual has a stable connection, they will go up against players with the same internet speed.

This type of matchmaking is quite concerning for those who don’t have the luxury of having high internet speeds. The developers didn’t confirm how matchmaking would work with lagging players. However, it’s safe to assume that having a poor connection could either put players in a laggy lobby or not even have that particular player enter a match at all. Everything is a blur as of now and it’s possible that the developers’ current plans won’t remain permanent.

Skill-Based Matchmaking remains in XDefiant’s Ranked Modes

While XDefiant’s casual playlists seem a bit chaotic at the moment, ranked modes seem to be more stable in terms of matchmaking. Thankfully, Ubisoft will retain skill-based matchmaking in ranked games. That means, newer players don’t have to worry about frequently facing scary opponents in the game like they would in casual matches. But there is still a possibility of at least one or a couple of gifted players appearing in ranked games, especially during the game’s early stages.

Newer players, particularly those who are new to the genre, could struggle initially. Eventually, most of the talented players will quickly rank up leaving all the novice players behind. By then, matchmaking in ranked should be balanced.

However, it’s going to take some time until ranked mode will become available to the player base. In the meantime, all players will have the opportunity to hone their skills and familiarize themselves with the game before getting into the competitive scene. Hopefully, the developers’ decision to get rid of skill-based matchmaking in casual playlists won’t backfire on them.