Summary
Skill-based matchmaking is a controversial feature in modern shooters. It’s been an issue with Call of Dutysince the series introduced it, with complaintspopping up year after year, and games likeDestiny 2andFortniteboth include the feature.
Newly releasedDelta Force, which got off to a stunning start,peaking at over 118,000 players on Steamthis past weekend, has quickly moved to reassure fans that SBMM won’t be part of its game.
Delta Force Won’t Feature Skill-Based Matchmaking, Uses Alternative For New Players
In a statement shared onReddit, the Delta Force team confirmed that its first-person shooter won’t feature traditional Skill-based matchmaking; instead, it will pool all new players together and all experienced players together.
It said:
“We’ve made a simple distinction between new and experienced players. All experienced players are placed within a large matchmaking pool, and there is no crazy SBMM in place that makes sure everyone is at a 50 percent win rate. We are doing so because it is important to protect the experience of every new player, ensure global matchmaking efficiency, and ensure that all players are not subjected to the pressures of SBMM.”
It is important to protect the experience of every new player, ensure global matchmaking efficiency, and ensure that all players are not subjected to the pressures of SBMM.
It added that “we refuse to create high-pressure games for top-tier players or force a 50 percent win rate balance” and that “we don’t want new players to be overwhelmed when they first get into the game, and we want to give them some time to learn.”
The move has been met with delight on theDelta Force subreddit, with one player sharing, “That’s probably why I am having a blast with this game compared to the latest CoD releases. I enjoy both CoD and BF, but something felt incredibly wrong with the latest Call of Duty releases. One game, you are playing against bots, and the next one, you are against all the top streamers.”
With sentiment high around Team Jade’s decision to ditch the feature, it will be interesting to see if any of Delta Force’s contemporaries follow a similar path.
