6 years ago

For people still questioning SBMM

I have and will continue to supply comments on SBMM, as I have run a multitude of tests across various accounts on the subject. The devs are silent on this matter. I hold the belief that the community deserves to understand what’s happening.

There are two types of SBMM algorithms being used in Apex.

1) Solo queue
2) Team queue

What are the differences?

Solo Queue: When you jump into a game alone, the game tries to balance the teams by placing two lower skilled players with one high skilled player. This system isn’t perfect, and to avoid long wait time you will SOMETIMES be put onto a team with people of random skill. But overall, the lobby tries to balance the skill of solo queued players.

Team Queue: When you party up with a friend, the game tries to put you into lobbies with other premade teams and the lobby consists of players at the skill level of the BEST PLAYER in your party. Of the two SBMM systems, this is the “sweatiest”.

Advice to low skilled players: Queue solo. This will provide you with an overall easier experience than playing with some of your friends who may be better than you.

Advice to high skilled players: Quit Apex, lol. It simply is not rewarding to be a high skilled player in Apex. Queuing solo means you will almost certainly have very low skilled teammates and queuing with friends of your skill means that you will be playing games with absolutely no margin of error— these game may feel more difficult than ranked, and they are almost not even worth the effort of playing.

discussion

21 Replies

NitromethaneAP
6 years ago
Yeah its getting really disheartening getting two teammates who are lvl 30 and going up against pred/tournament premades who stack and are on voice. Atleast give us a soloq in 3s (and have a que for premades separated)...
My kd went from 4,3 down to 2,8 as a solo q player, my winrate is garbage at this point. Even if you manage to kill a squad, the teammates yonk all the loot run and die in 2 seconds, like wtf are you even supposed to do at that point. Solo tournament 3 stacks, who have atleast 1 or 2 players abusing the * out of aim-assist on PC? Just un-plug my mouse, connect my atari joystick and pop some adderall? Is that the gameplay? Just so you can enjoy pubs btw. I hate ranked with a passion and have never played it, after seeing what the "gameplay" was like. I.E hiding/camping and holding hands 24/7.
And they are not even looking into aim-assist on PC in next season, I see no point in playing this game anymore - why bother, when a random controller player who moves like a seal can lazer you in close range due to how busted it is. But guess what, they will give us cross play - yay, we get to fight more A.I aims.. No amount of good movement protects against aim-assist, just as it wont against aim-botters in close range...
I ran into this goibby, I cracked him with a Mastiff - took cover, jumped straight at him and hit him again (but not a clear shot) he was one hit, but he lazered me immediately with a prowler (I had purple armor). I was 100% sure I had that fight since I cracked him in first engagement with out getting hit, but then I saw his name after I died "controller165hz".
No wonder why all the really good MnK players left this game for Valorant
I had 3 games lastnight fighting full squads who all were using aimbots - every single person in the squad had aimbot, hope you guys on console will find it as fun as we do on PC. Not sure if you guys have ever been targeted at the same time by 3 different aimbots, but boy are you in for a treat.
hayhor
Hero
6 years ago
@Axs5626Sxa5001 I agree with almost everything you've said from my own experience except when I queue with two friends, both of whom are average like me, we get at least 1 monster team in almost every match. Sometimes 2 or 3.
Axs5626Sxa5001
6 years ago
@hayhor That’s the SBMM failing because they don’t want premades waiting too long.

If a Preteam is queued too long, the system will throw them into a solo lobby.
xMaxrayx
6 years ago
@Axs5626Sxa5001yeah how * get 3 predator vs 2 of my new teammate .
they should pop massage they didn't find match if you pre-made instead of ruining fun play of other.
Elamami3440
6 years ago
@Axs5626Sxa5001 @hayhor @NitromethaneAP
Devs confirmed that they're working on improvements for SBMM
xMaxrayx
6 years ago
@Elamami3440 i think its just for new "cross-play" player base, lets see how they will they do.
i get bored of this game
Elamami3440
6 years ago
@xMaxrayx Me too I shared a lot of ideas, was having fun sharing but now iam sick of it, i mean sharing LTMs! LTMs! and nothing happening, I have friend playing fortnite he always share LTMs concepts and the company take it
Axs5626Sxa5001
6 years ago
@NitromethaneAP A VERY serious issue that no one here seems to have a valid response to is:

Why is it OK that (overall) lower skilled players are winning MORE than people who practice to get better?

I’m diamond/Master level and I have Gold-skill level friends who win more pub matches than me. It’s actually ridiculous— I have won two matches in the last 15 days. My pub lobbies are literally half pred/diamond trails.

How is this ok?

How come people are concerned with the gaming experience of the lower skilled tier but not concerned with the experience of the people who happen to have decent aim?
pastaclown
6 years ago
@Axs5626Sxa5001 I've talked a little about this here: https://answers.ea.com/t5/General-Discussion/Serious-Fix-Needed-Proof/m-p/9372099#M99471
Essentially to the developer / publisher, it's OK because therein exists different types of players. You've got professional players / streamers who are going to buy skins no matter what. Then you've got the people who are average / higher skill who are going to do the same thing. Long time players might not buy as many cosmetics / packs as these players, but they're going to keep playing which bolsters how good your game is on paper through player retention, overall activity, etc. etc.
But newer / casual players? They're the most volatile group to profit off of, simply because they've got no real incentive to keep playing the game. If they're not having fun, they're not going to buy skins / keep playing, they're just going to move onto whatever is fun for them. That's why recent changes (SPECIFICALLY Pathfinder Nerf and the adding of Random Recoil to weapons) were implemented to ease newer players into getting a feel for the game without getting stomped by existing players. Through positive reinforcement (AKA netting newer players easy wins by tacking them onto higher skilled players) they're going to be more inclined to buy skins / packs than someone who got pub stomped for 4 matches in a row.
I've got a whole theory about the prevalence of E-Sports (specifically CS:GO) and streaming has created this culture of feeling like you have to have a skin in order to be good, or that not having a skin somehow makes you less of a player or it's shameful to not have one, and how in particular this has created a profitable environment that preys on peoples insecurities to order to sell overpriced cosmetics, and how this has influenced players as a whole to be very willing to pay top dollar for something that's completely non-essential. It's always mind boggling for me to read everywhere about people paying ridiculous amounts of money for things that you can wholly live without.
Axs5626Sxa5001
6 years ago
@pastaclown I absolutely appreciate your input.

I too have spoken about this topic; specifically here on this forum I have had TWO threads deleted by admins because I discussed how SBMM seeks to achieve “equal outcomes” (low skilled players winning as much as high skilled players).

It’s simply not right, but people here seem less inclined to discuss or acknowledge such a thing.