Fortnite and Destiny 2 have recently made the shift from forced SBMM to selected SBMM; both of these games have received an increase of overall players AND positive feedback from the community.It makes me question the future of multiplayer games in general. I understand that forced SBMM is an effective strategy to make more money by the publisher, but if other companies are offering their consumer OPTIONS (no SBMM or SBMM), AND finding success on that front, it makes me wonder how long games like Apex will take until they follow suit. Personally speaking, I have given up on Apex. I quit a week ago and am happy with my decision. The current SBMM algorithm places me in public lobbies with more than 50% pred/diamond trails. I lost close to 200 games recently just to see if the SBMM algorithm places me in easier lobbies— nope. My lobbies are still 30-40% diamond and pred trails. THIS MAKES THE GAME CONSISTENTLY UNPLAYABLE.I’m not even actually against SBMM in theory. I want new/lower skilled players to avoid getting consistently stomped by the top players. But the current system is just grueling to the point where even skilled players are having a miserable time. What I am going to say next is going to be a hard pill to swallow:Lower skilled players occasionally running into high skilled players and sweating is NOT as bad as forcing ALL players to play opponents who make you sweat ALL the time. TL;DR: Publishers are slowing moving aware from FORCED SBMM. EA should follow.

@Axs5626Sxa5001 I'm not very good but one win and then next game I'm typically murdered by a 34000 kill wraith. Something is very strange in this sbmm.

Options usually split the playerbase. When a match has 6-12 players it's relatively OK, but for BRs, where there are 60-100 players, splits are bad. SBMM relies heavily on having a large enough pool to bracket players properly without forcing them to wait long until queues fill up.Anyway, there might be a slim chance for optional SBMM if crossplay proves to be succesful, but don't get your hopes up.

@DarthValtrexI feel like revamping the game menu and modes could achieve that balance you are referring to. I think that “Play Apex” should have rank built right into it. It’s the core mode and it should have a SBMM mechanism built into it (by virtue of a visible rank). Then I think there should be a secondary non-SBMM mode that grants players different rewards (in game currency, etc) to provide lower skilled players incentive to roll the dice and possibly play players of higher skill. Ultimately though, it would be left to the player to choose which game mode to play. If the majority of the community really values and benefits from SBMM, then that secondary mode would be dead. I would be curious to see how that plays out.

I literally just dropped a thread about SBMM becoming more difficult since the update. I am one of those skill players that does not play with a premade and it is getting extremely frustrating. Selective sbmm would be a dream come true for me.

@SHIZNICKMASTAIt is what it is. I spent months going back and forth on quitting, despite being a top 100 Ps4 player. There comes a point where you have to voice your opinion with your time and wallet. Other companies are starting to acknowledge that forced SBMM makes gaming miserable for about 2/3rds the community. So the best thing we can do is show them we won’t play their game until things are adjusted.

The actual future of multiplayer games

12 Replies

SHIZNICKMASTA
6 years ago
I literally just dropped a thread about SBMM becoming more difficult since the update. I am one of those skill players that does not play with a premade and it is getting extremely frustrating. Selective sbmm would be a dream come true for me.
hayhor
Hero
6 years ago
@Axs5626Sxa5001 I'm not very good but one win and then next game I'm typically murdered by a 34000 kill wraith. Something is very strange in this sbmm.
Axs5626Sxa5001
6 years ago
@SHIZNICKMASTA

It is what it is. I spent months going back and forth on quitting, despite being a top 100 Ps4 player. There comes a point where you have to voice your opinion with your time and wallet. Other companies are starting to acknowledge that forced SBMM makes gaming miserable for about 2/3rds the community. So the best thing we can do is show them we won’t play their game until things are adjusted.
DarthValtrex
Hero (Retired)
6 years ago
@Axs5626Sxa5001If the lower 50-65% opt for SBMM and the top 50-35% opt for no SBMM, isn’t that the same difference?!
and the stars simply don’t back up your claims. 82-95% of the player population benefits from SBMM.
DoYaSeeMe
6 years ago
Options usually split the playerbase. When a match has 6-12 players it's relatively OK, but for BRs, where there are 60-100 players, splits are bad. SBMM relies heavily on having a large enough pool to bracket players properly without forcing them to wait long until queues fill up.
Anyway, there might be a slim chance for optional SBMM if crossplay proves to be succesful, but don't get your hopes up.
Axs5626Sxa5001
6 years ago
@DarthValtrex

I’m not sure players are “opting” for SBMM. People might say that they are “for it”, but I’m unsure that is actually the case for the majority of the community. I’m ok with SBMM, but not FORCED SBMM.

I’m not even talking exclusively about Apex here. SBMM locks players into one experience: ultra competitive. This is true regardless of skill level. This notion is grueling, particularly for players on the right of the skill bell curve. Now you could say to me “but without SBMM, the game is grueling for those on the left side of the skill bell curve.” Unfortunately, I do think that may be the lesser of two evils. I don’t think there is anything wrong with players on the right side of the distribution curve winning more games than those on the left. In fact, the reality that some players on the left of the skill curve are actually winning MORE than really good players is just crazy to me.

But gaming publishers want players on left side of the skill curve winning as many matches as possible so they will be more inclined to spend money— and that’s what forced SBMM is all about, money.

Look, let’s see how things play out for Fortnite and Destiny; so far they are reporting positive feedback from the removal of forced SBMM. They are giving the player base power in the form of options. Those who genuinely want to continue the feel of SBMM can choose to play in those game modes. And those who would like more variety in their gaming experience will choose to play the non-SBMM modes.
DarthValtrex
Hero (Retired)
6 years ago
@Axs5626Sxa5001 I definitely understand where you're coming from especially if you're a top 100 player on your current platform. The top tier lobbies are really sweaty. I basically die in them instantly 99% of the time. If I'm managing to actually contribute to the team and pull some weight. It's extremely stressful for me. Every fight is intense and every fight takes 100% focus, 100% of my skill and 100% of my legends abilities to win. It's fun every once in a while or when you're in the mood for it. But it can be frustrating especially if you just want to casually game with buddies and talk about life and you game with half your brain cells.

So I get the desire to have a pubs or relaxing round. But I also get the need for some type of sbmm for the lower skill players (bottom 60-50%). I'm some place in the middle on the topic of SBMM. I see a need for it, but I also see how it can be bad.

Let's say they divide the server into 2 sections, the top 50% and the bottom 50%. Who ever is on the bottom end of their split is going to hate it. Who ever is on the top end of the split will love it. People in the middle of the split will have mixed feelings on it.

Implementing SBMM of some sort in BR is proving to be extremely difficult for the game. They turn it down, people come on here complaining about being matched against people who have thousands of kills, top tier badges and so on. They turn it up and it leads to the above for you. Finding a happy medium where everyone can say this works is proving to be extremely hard. It might not be possible, but at least they have tried and who can blame for them at least attempting it?
Axs5626Sxa5001
6 years ago
@DarthValtrex

I feel like revamping the game menu and modes could achieve that balance you are referring to. I think that “Play Apex” should have rank built right into it. It’s the core mode and it should have a SBMM mechanism built into it (by virtue of a visible rank). Then I think there should be a secondary non-SBMM mode that grants players different rewards (in game currency, etc) to provide lower skilled players incentive to roll the dice and possibly play players of higher skill. Ultimately though, it would be left to the player to choose which game mode to play. If the majority of the community really values and benefits from SBMM, then that secondary mode would be dead. I would be curious to see how that plays out.
DarthValtrex
Hero (Retired)
6 years ago
@Axs5626Sxa5001 I could see a revamp to ranked that's really more SBMM based and less points based. I could also see a pubs area that's divided into 2 or 3 groups. pre-mades, partial pre-mades (teams 2 with 1 rando) and solo queuing. If the player population could support a split like that then that might work a tad better.
hayhor
Hero
6 years ago
@DarthValtrex They already somewhat weight sbmm depending on premades. I can tell you the lobbies I'm in get much harder when I have a full team of three. Itempz and jankz have both recently said they notice a difference as well.