Overwatch is once again addressing the ranked system and making changes to the skill rating.
Even after the second season, the development team of Overwatch is still not quite satisfied with the ranked gameplay mode. Especially regarding the calculation of the skill rating, there are several issues that are problematic for the developers.
Many players have experienced this season that they entered relatively high (Gold or Platinum) and then lost a few hundred points. The reason for this is that the rating from the previous season was used as the starting position (adjusted by the 10 placement matches). This led to significantly more players being classified as “Gold” and “Platinum” than planned and subsequently being downgraded (because they lost multiple times). This was not a pleasant experience for most.
For Season 3, the formula used to determine players’ initial placement will be changed, so players will generally start with a slightly lower rating. Therefore, some players will not enter Season 3 with the same rating they started Season 2 with – even with the same performance.
In general, such classification is important to ensure that not all players start completely from zero each season. Otherwise, this would lead to many professionals encountering beginners at the start and being mercilessly crushed – not a fun experience for either side.
The second season of Overwatch ends on November 24, 2016. There will be a one-week break before the third season starts on December 1, 2016. At that time, the “Competitive Points” and other rewards will likely be distributed.
For more news and articles about Blizzard’s hero shooter, you can find it on our Overwatch game page.
