Marvel Rivals has quickly become one of the biggest live service titles ever made since its launch in December 2024. NetEase Games really succeeded in bringing the Marvel IP into a hero shooter format in an ultimate formula of fun. But there seem to be some cracks in the formula, at least according to popular streamer Nickmercs.
Twitch streamer Nickmercs went on a rant during one of his recent livestreams where he accused NetEase Games of manipulating matchmaking to artificially balance player performance. The system he describes is one that already exists and is often used. It is likely that NetEase uses Engagement Optimized Matchmaking for Marvel Rivals.
During a live stream on February 4, 2025, Nickmercs accused Marvel Rivals of intentionally creating an uneven matchmaking experience to maximize player retention. He alleged that after winning several games in a row, the system “flags” a player’s account and places them on teams with weaker players. A lot of us probably relate to this but is it true?
“Don’t defend Marvel Rivals devs, it’s the truth… it’s by design to keep you on the game longer, they want you to continue climbing”
Nickmercs says Marvel Rivals will feed you wins/losses to keep you playing pic.twitter.com/TJkSjuBxw6
— Jake Lucky (@JakeSucky) February 4, 2025
According to him, this cycle is “by design” to keep players engaged longer, rather than rewarding pure skill. His words have had mixed reactions as a lot of people relate with him and admit to facing the same things. But on the other hand, isn’t this just how every online game is? We have played these games before!
Nickmercs’ theory isn’t entirely new. Engagement-based matchmaking (EOMM) is something that’s been in various multiplayer games. Unlike traditional skill-based matchmaking (SBMM), which pairs players of similar skill, EOMM is designed to maximize player retention. Some believe developers intentionally place skilled players in difficult matchups to balance engagement levels across the player base.
Interestingly, NetEase Games has previously published research on its matchmaking system and it does explain the engagement-based matchmaking theory. The studio’s document titled OptMatch: Optimized Matchmaking via Modeling the High-Order Interactions on the Arena contains an algorithm designed to balance player satisfaction. So you can blame your losses on this.
It suggests that factors beyond just skill, such as playstyle compatibility and engagement metrics, are considered in matchmaking. This implies that while the system may not be outright “rigged,” it is optimized to keep players invested by ensuring they don’t win or lose too frequently.
I’ve got hours into ranked, and it 100% is the truth.
I mostly solo que, and you can definitely see this. It’s a business, and they grade the games’ success on playtime, but it comes at the cost of the players’ state of mind.
Companies need to find a better route. Things take…
— Kreeped (@Kreeped) February 5, 2025
Many gamers believe that engagement-based matchmaking isn’t just about balancing matches, it’s about keeping players addicted. The idea is that if players experience a mix of wins and losses, they will keep playing to “prove themselves” or chase a win streak.
But in the end, we should just focus on improving rather than blaming matchmaking for our losses. The main goal of Marvel Rivals is so that we the players can have fun, so let’s do just that.
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