Marvel Rivals Matchmaking: Does SBMM Need A Rework?
Does the matchmaking system in Marvel Rivals truly deliver balanced and engaging matches, or does it fall short of its aspirations? Despite the game's stated goal of fair competition, many players find themselves consistently thrown into matches that feel anything but balanced, raising serious questions about the efficacy of its matchmaking algorithm.
Matchmaking in Marvel Rivals aims to create fair, balanced matches, but lets face itit doesnt always feel that way. Sometimes you get completely overwhelmed, sometimes you crush the enemy team, and other times you wonder how you ended up in a lobby with players way beyond (or below) your level. A winning streak is inevitably followed by a losing streak and vice versa. There are no balanced rounds in public. See for yourself and look at the players' statistics after a game in which one side was completely overrun.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Game Title | Marvel Rivals |
| Developer | NetEase Games |
| Genre | Hero Shooter |
| Matchmaking System Goal | Create fair, balanced, and competitive matches. |
| Reported Issues | Unbalanced matches, frequent uneven skill levels, engagement optimization concerns. |
| Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM) | Implemented but perceived as inconsistent, especially in casual modes. |
| Engagement Optimized Matchmaking (EOMM) | Speculated use, with the goal of retaining player engagement through curated win/loss patterns. |
| Competitive Mode | SBMM is more strictly followed. |
| Casual Modes | SBMM is less emphasized. |
| Common Concerns | Players matched with teammates on losing streaks when they're on winning streaks. |
Reference: Example Website on Marvel Rivals Matchmaking
The term is also interchangeable with matchmaking rankings, MMR, in many cases. Some players believe Marvel Rivals uses Engagement Optimized Matchmaking (EOMM) instead of pure SBMM. This system has one main goal: According to this theory, the game might create patterns of wins and losses to keep you hooked. I thought it would, but man, do the matches ever feel unbalanced. Either teams that could win without me or teams where we have no chance at all.
Does it just not have it? I sure go up against some really, really good players at times, like way better than I am, and sometimes people on either team just seem absolutely useless. Like it's their first game. (I know about bot matches and I'm not...). The motive behind this feature is to create a more balanced and competitive gaming atmosphere, where players match against opponents of comparable skill levels. Matchmaking in Marvel Rivals aims to create balanced, competitive matches where everyone has a solid shot at winning.
I've noticed that in recent competitive matches the matchmaking seems completely random. I've had several occasions where I've been matched with teammates of very low or very high skill levels, and there doesn't seem to be a proper balance between the teams. Has anyone else had this experience? What are your thoughts on how the matchmaking system works? The only other matchmaking system similar in experience to Marvel Rivals is League of Legends, which are both free-to-play titles.
Engagement Optimized Matchmaking (EOMM) is what it feels like in practice. I understand losing matches, but the extent and recurring trends I see with my losses are: 1) Getting queued with teammates who are on a losing streak when I'm on a winning streak. Asking this because it seems like every match I play is far too easy, and whenever my team loses it's usually because one or two of our teammates are clueless on what to do. It feels like I'm hardstuck in really low-skill lobbies, which makes no sense because I constantly have a K/D ratio of 2.00 or more. Does anyone know what's up with this really weird matchmaking? The motive behind this feature is to create a more balanced and competitive gaming atmosphere, where players match against opponents of comparable skill levels. Thus, every match regardless of c...
We would like to show you a description here, but the site won't allow us. Marvel Rivals has some serious SBMM issues. If there's only one thing that'll kill this game, it's their matchmaking system. When you hop into quick match, conquest, or custom games in Marvel Rivals, the SBMM system takes a more relaxed approach, almost nonexistent even. These modes prioritize getting you into matches quickly and having fun with the games roster of 35 characters. Marvel Rivals has the worst SBMM system in gaming history. I played for 15 hours and none of my matches were close or balanced. Either I'm winning too easily, or I'm getting wrecked. I play a match, get 40 kills and 0 deaths. Next match, I can't even step outta the spawn zone without dying in the next 2 seconds. It feels like I'm either playing against some kids in...
Some players believe Marvel Rivals uses Engagement Optimized Matchmaking (EOMM) instead of pure SBMM. This system has one main goal: According to this theory, the game might create patterns of wins and losses to keep you hooked. The motive behind this feature is to create a more balanced and competitive gaming atmosphere, where players match against opponents of comparable skill levels. Matchmaking in Marvel Rivals aims to create balanced, competitive matches where everyone has a solid shot at winning. However, unlike the competitive mode, the SBMM is less strictly followed in casual modes. The only other matchmaking system similar in experience to Marvel Rivals is League of Legends, which are both free-to-play titles. Engagement Optimized Matchmaking (EOMM) is what it feels like in practice. I understand losing matches, but the extent and recurring trends I see with my losses are: 1) Getting queued with teammates who are on a losing streak when I'm on a winning streak. Is there SBMM in Marvel Rivals? We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. Even in Overwatch, which does have SBMM, there's still quite a few stomps.
It's really hard to have every game be balanced since you have no idea what a person will pick; there's just so many variables in a match in a hero shooter. It means there are fewer stomps, the average game is closer, but stomps still definitely do happen. Matchmaking is one of the most controversial aspects of competitive online games, and Marvel Rivals is no exception. Marvel Rivals, developed by NetEase Games, uses a unique matchmaking system that pairs players based on their skills and engagement. This article breaks down how Marvel Rivals matchmaking works, its importance, and the various factors that influence it. So I played vs AI when I first started trying to find which heroes fit my play style bast, I'm not a terrible player; I've gotten MVP multiple times in vs AI (though my aim can be off, not sure if I have aim assist off; the option menu is a bit of a confusing mess, and I'm playing on game pad in hopes for a more casual input-based matchmaking over giga sweats mouse and keyboard players). Tonight I tried...
