Skill-Based Matchmaking and its Controversy in Multiplayer Games
This week, the gaming community has been buzzing about skill-based matchmaking (SBMM). One well-known streamer, Timothy “TimTheTatman” Betar, recently spoke out against it, claiming that SBMM is ruining multiplayer games and making him reluctant to stream them.
Popular YouTube star Dr Disrespect also weighed in on the issue, expressing his dissatisfaction with SBMM. He goes a step further and criticizes those who support the feature, clearly showing his disapproval.
In support of TimTheTatman, Dr Disrespect took to Twitter on October 27th to deliver a straightforward message: “Go get a life if you think SBMM belongs in pub lobbies.” The tweet received over 20,000 likes within hours.
SBMM is a system used in popular games like Apex Legends, Call of Duty, Fortnite, and more. This system matches players with others of similar skill levels based on recent performances.
For streamers, SBMM poses a challenge because it often matches them with equally skilled players. This results in intense gameplay that may not be entertaining for their audience on platforms like Twitch and YouTube.
During his livestream, Dr Disrespect responded to claims that only streamers complain about SBMM. He criticized these individuals, calling them “clueless idiots” and stating that the issue is much broader and affects everyone, not just streamers.
In a strong message, Dr Disrespect told them to “shut the fuck up” and consider the issue from a higher perspective.
As the release of Warzone 2 approaches on November 16th, it remains to be seen if Dr Disrespect and TimTheTatman will embrace the game despite their disagreements with SBMM in public lobbies, a feature employed by the Call of Duty battle royale.
All indications are that they will give it a try. However, if the experience proves frustrating, their interest in the game may not last long.