POR ESTO TUS PARTIDAS SON TAN DIFÍCILES (EMPAREJAMIENTO DE FORTNITE EXPLICADO)

What is Fortnite's Skill-Based Matchmaking and Why is it Failing?

Introduction to the Issue

• The speaker expresses frustration with Fortnite's matchmaking system, highlighting a common experience of defeating bots only to be quickly eliminated by skilled players.

• The video aims to explain how skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) works in Fortnite, its problems, and potential solutions.

Understanding Skill-Based Matchmaking

• SBMM was introduced in Season 10 to create fairer matches as the skill gap between new and veteran players widened.

• Theoretically, SBMM should protect beginners while providing experienced players with balanced challenges; however, this is not happening in practice.

Problems with Current Matchmaking

• Players often face highly skilled opponents regardless of their own average skill level, indicating a failure in the matchmaking algorithm.

• Epic Games provides limited and outdated information about how SBMM operates, claiming it pairs players based on similar skill levels rather than current rankings.

Analysis of Matchmaking Ranks

• Research indicates four hidden ranks within the matchmaking system:

• Rank 1: Exclusively faces bots.

• Rank 2: Approximately 75 bots and 25 mixed-platform players.

• Rank 3: About 70 bots and mostly console users.

• Rank 4: Roughly 60 bots and primarily PC/PlayStation players.

Factors Influencing Matchmaking Outcomes

• Device type significantly impacts matchmaking; for instance, Switch, Android, and iOS users are restricted to ranks one or two regardless of performance.

• Account level also affects rank; reaching certain milestones can lead to being placed against real opponents prematurely.

Additional Insights on Matchmaking Dynamics

• Player search volume influences match quality; lower player counts during off-hours result in more bot encounters.

• Inactivity can temporarily revert a player's rank back to facing only bots for easier wins but does not last long-term.

• Overall, factors unrelated to player skill—such as device type and account level—can misalign player experiences with their actual abilities.

Case Study Example

• A subscriber named Panic has impressive stats yet consistently faces lower-ranked matches due to playing during less populated hours. This highlights systemic issues within the SBMM framework.

Understanding the Impact of Bots on Player Experience

The Role of Bots in Skill Matching

• The existence of bots in games may lead to mismatched player skill levels, as Epic has not disclosed specific statistics used by their algorithm for skill assessment.

• Players can easily inflate their stats by defeating bots, skewing metrics like eliminations and damage, which do not accurately reflect true skill levels.

• A graphical representation (Gaus bell curve) illustrates that most players fall within an average skill range, complicating matchmaking for those slightly above average.

Matchmaking Challenges

• Rank one is primarily filled with novices, leaving only three ranks to accommodate over 95% of players, leading to significant disparities in skill during matches.

• Players ranked four often face both skilled opponents and professionals due to the small percentage of high-skill players available for matchmaking.

• The presence of bots reduces competition early in matches, increasing the likelihood that skilled players encounter less experienced ones first.

Consequences for Team Play

• In lower ranks (2 and 3), while issues exist, they are more pronounced at rank four where the gap between good players and pros is substantial.

• Changes made at the start of chapter 7 altered team matchmaking; now it considers only the best player's rank, disadvantaging novice teammates against superior opponents.

• Experienced players may feel guilty about playing with friends who are new to avoid ruining their experience due to mismatched skills.

Psychological Implications

• This system contradicts Fortnite's original appeal as a casual game meant for fun with friends; it inadvertently punishes innocent players while trying to prevent veteran exploitation.

• Many users create secondary accounts to play casually without overwhelming new friends, counteracting Epic's intended goal.

Learning Curve Disruption

• The disparity in player skills disrupts learning opportunities; this imbalance hinders enjoyment and improvement within the game environment.

• Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s flow theory suggests that motivation arises from a balance between challenge and ability; extreme mismatches lead either to boredom or frustration.

• If public matches require extensive training akin to professional play just for enjoyment, then the matchmaking system fails its fundamental purpose.

Analysis of Fortnite's Player Matching System

The Purpose of Player Matching

• The matching system is designed to act as a "nanny" for less experienced players, providing solo matches against AI to help new accounts secure victories right after game installation.

• Epic prioritizes keeping novice and average players satisfied, as they represent the majority and are crucial for the game's economic engine. Losing them could lead to a significant drop in revenue and skill levels among remaining players.

Impact on Game Experience

• Fortnite does not employ traditional skill-based matchmaking; instead, it uses an algorithm optimized for player engagement, focusing on maximizing playtime rather than balancing skill levels.

• Recent surveys indicate that 45% of players on YouTube and over 70% on Twitter express dissatisfaction with the current matchmaking system, highlighting growing frustration among the community.

Decline in Player Numbers

• Data from Fortnite.gg shows a decline in concurrent player averages from 200,000 during previous seasons to around 160,000 in December and dropping further to 121,000 by January.

• The decrease is more pronounced in Battle Royale mode compared to Zero Build mode due to greater skill disparity affecting gameplay quality.

Consequences of Current Strategies

• A declining player base poses risks for future updates; reduced income may lead Epic Games to allocate fewer resources towards game improvements.

• Increased bot presence has been noted (from a minimum of 28 bots last year to at least 60 now), which diminishes match quality and contributes further to player attrition.

Recommendations for Improvement

• Urgent changes needed include reverting team-based matchmaking back to considering overall group skill level rather than just the top player's ability.

• Reducing bot numbers significantly is essential; while some bots are necessary for new players, their inflated statistics harm overall match quality.

Further Suggestions

• Increasing hidden ranks would help balance matches better by avoiding mismatches between slightly above-average players and top-tier competitors.

• Removing restrictions on Nintendo Switch users and mobile platforms would allow skilled players from these devices equal opportunities in ranking up.

Final Thoughts on Matchmaking System

• A more precise measurement of player skills should be implemented that focuses solely on performance against human opponents rather than account level or bot interactions.

• Proposing two distinct modes: one training mode against bots mandatory for novices and another classic Battle Royale without matchmaking or bots could enhance gameplay experience.

Discussion on Skill-Based Matchmaking in Fortnite

The Need for Balanced Matches

• The speaker argues that while skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) leads to unbalanced games, it could be improved by allowing more varied matchups, which would enhance the gaming experience.

• A study by Activision in 2024 indicated a 90% drop in player retention when SBMM was softened, suggesting that Epic Games may prioritize retaining newer players over veteran ones.

• The speaker expresses skepticism about Epic Games' commitment to fair matchmaking, implying that their failure to achieve this is due to a lack of will rather than capability.

Community Concerns and Player Experience

• Emphasizing the importance of community care, the speaker warns that neglecting loyal players can lead to a game's decline and eventual expiration.

• The speaker clarifies that their complaint is not about seeking easy victories but rather about wanting balanced and enjoyable matches for all players.