So I just found another contributory reason why matchmaking feels so bad in lower player count regions. Custom Search Prioritizes Maps Top of List Instead of Searching Across All Maps | EA Forums - 12798347
Apparently, the custom search and I assume the playlist search too, prioritizes maps in a specific search order. This also leads into why the same map repeats over and over. So for example, if you search using Custom Search for all the maps, and there's no server running on Empire State, it will create an instance and put you in an empty Empire State lobby, despite other instances running on other maps. It doesn't matter how many players are in the other instances, only that there was no existing instance for Empire State and therefore one needed to be created to satisfy your 'search criteria'. I don't understand why it works this way, it absolutely baffles my mind. However, I also believe there's an "Avoid-Last-Played Logic" parameter that's broken when it can't find other lobbies running besides the map you just played on, I tested this by only choosing Saints Quarter, I then found an empty lobby with just myself. Within less than 2 minutes the lobby was full. I assume this is because every one of those players, had just played on Empire State like myself and when they searched, it found my lobby with just me in it. If I didn't search and find an empty Saints Quarter lobby, they would've likely found Empire State AGAIN.
