Vortex Gaming

· We explore two terms frequently mentioned in the Overwatch matchmaking debate: EOMM and SBMM.
· EOMM (Engagement Optimized Matchmaking) optimizes matchmaking to increase player retention by reducing pressure during losing streaks or providing challenging matches during winning streaks, thus adjusting the play experience.
· SBMM (Skill-Based Matchmaking) calculates a player's skill using an MMR score and matches players of similar skill levels. This system aims to create fair matches, naturally leading players' win rates to approach 50%.
· Overwatch, like most competitive games, uses the SBMM system.

Category	EOMM (Engagement Optimized Matchmaking)	SBMM (Skill-Based Matchmaking)
Goal	Increase player retention	Provide fair matches
How it works	Alleviates pressure during losing streaks Provides challenging matches during winning streaks (Adjusts play experience)	Matches players of similar skill based on MMR (Naturally converges to 50% win rate)
Overwatch Application	Discussed in the past but not currently used	Currently used in Overwatch

· Due to the characteristics of the SBMM system, many players misunderstand that matchmaking is manipulated.
· When you go on a winning streak, your MMR increases, leading you to face stronger opponents, thus naturally increasing your chances of losing.
· Conversely, when you go on a losing streak, your MMR decreases, leading you to face weaker opponents, thus increasing your chances of winning.
· From a player's perspective, this process can feel like 'the system is intentionally making you lose to force a 50% win rate.'
· After a winning streak, as the game's skill level rises, even small mistakes become more noticeable, and teammates who make those mistakes might feel like 'terrible players.'
· After a losing streak, as the game's skill level lowers, you might feel like the game is going well, leading you to feel like you're 'magically on a winning streak.'
· The claim that Overwatch uses the EOMM system was addressed in a 2024 official Blizzard announcement, stating that the feature was deemed insignificant and turned off.

· A common misunderstanding regarding match manipulation is that 'win rate prediction' and 'win rate manipulation' are different concepts.
· MMR-based games calculate and predict the win rates of both teams before a match begins, but this is not manipulating the outcome.
· Win rate prediction is like calculating the probability of getting heads in a coin toss; it merely calculates 'which team has a higher chance of winning,' but the actual match outcome is determined by gameplay.
· Various in-game variables such as individual condition, mistakes, team composition, and teamwork cannot be controlled by the system.
· True win rate manipulation would require direct intervention in the match outcome itself, such as adjusting a specific team's damage or applying aim assistance, but Overwatch matchmaking does not operate that way.
· SBMM is a system that creates fair matches by pairing players of similar skill, and it merely finds opponents appropriate for your current MMR, not directly manipulating the results. In other words, SBMM is a 'system for matching opponents,' not a 'system for matching outcomes.'

· While there is no match manipulation, there are several real reasons why players might feel that matchmaking is strange.
· Average MMR Matchmaking: In the past, Overwatch matched teams based on their average MMR, but this felt unfair due to the game's role-based nature. Later, 'role delta' was added to try and match individual role MMRs as closely as possible, but skilled and less skilled players still coexist within a team, which can give the impression of encountering 'strange teammates.'
· 5v5 Change: With Overwatch's transition to 5v5, the impact of each individual teammate has significantly increased. Not only has individual carry potential risen, but so has the potential for 'reverse-carrying' (negatively impacting the game), meaning a single mistake has a greater effect on the game. The importance of tanks, in particular, has grown, making it difficult to turn the tide if there's a tank disparity. Since perfectly identical matches are impossible, match outcomes can feel more extreme.
· Skill Differences by Role: Even within the same tier and MMR, clear skill differences exist between roles. While carry methods, carry potential, and playstyles differ by role, MMR is primarily a metric that fluctuates based on match wins and losses, so these factors are not directly calculated, leading to a perceived discrepancy.
· Group Matchmaking: When matching groups, the group composition, number of members, and role distribution of both teams do not always align, creating variables.
· Other Variables: Smurf accounts and new accounts can also contribute to the feeling of unfair matchmaking.

· While Overwatch matchmaking might feel strange, this is not evidence of outcome manipulation.
· In competitive games, fair matchmaking is directly tied to the game's credibility, so there's no reason for developers to intentionally manipulate matches.
· 'Not liking the matchmaking' and 'the matchmaking being manipulated' are entirely different matters.
· However, it is true that there are aspects where players may not be satisfied with the current matchmaking system and feel it is unfair.
· One crucial point in the matchmaking manipulation debate is 'player count.' With a larger player base, developers can apply various filters such as MMR, server, role, and group, allowing for more fair and better matches with fewer matchmaking time constraints.
· The development team should continue to implement updates that maximize the player count and, at the same time, accurately identify player dissatisfaction points with matchmaking to create a more advanced matchmaking system than the current one.