The new skill-based matchmaking is active in Fortnite. Players complain about mixed platforms. Epic Games is going ahead with the plan anyway.
What is the issue with matchmaking? Epic Games introduced the skill-based matchmaking with update 10.40. So far, the new feature is only available for the solo mode. However, they did not mention that the matchmaking mixes all platforms.
Players see mixed platforms as a major problem because it is not fair. Especially console players feel disadvantaged as they now have to play against PC players who often have an advantage. The stronger console players become, the stronger opponents (PC players) they face.
The FPS for PC players is often higher than for other platforms. As a Reddit user describes: “A Switch player with a maximum of 30 FPS, which are also unstable, will still have a disadvantage against a PC player who plays with more than 60 FPS. It does not depend on the skill level of the game.”
Epic Games Releases a Statement on the Issue
What does Epic say about matchmaking? Epic has acknowledged the players’ problems and issued a statement about it. This is what they say about matchmaking:
“So far, we have implemented the new player search system in selected regions for solo mode. The duo mode is expected to follow later this week. (…) However, the new player search system captures different skill levels across different platforms. (…)”
With the new player search system, Epic aims to create fairer matches for all players, while also considering each platform individually. To ensure everyone gets fair matches, Epic wants to keep an eye on match analyses and player feedback.
Additionally, Epic Games has noticed an issue with smurf accounts and wants to look into it further. They say: “Creating smurf accounts is a bannable offense.” To prevent such smurf accounts from forming, Epic will ban players who exploit this system.
A professional who played with a smurf recently received a ban.
You can see the entire statement from Epic Games here on the Epic Games website.
The matchmaking stays as it is
What does this mean for players? Epic Games will implement this new system despite the complaints from the community. Players still have hope that it will improve through match analyses and feedback. Those who have been playing Fortnite for a while know that Epic can make changes that then stay for a while.
Epic Games is known for adding new things to the game and then stubbornly keeping them in, even if the entire community complains about it. There have already been several such situations in the past:
- Once, turbo building was nerfed and the players were not happy about it
- The health steal mode (Siphon) was introduced and later removed. Players begged for its return, but Epic remained stubborn
- The hashtag #RemoveTheMechs trended on Twitter, but Epic left the robots in the game. Now it is known that the mechs were supposed to be part of the story.
Here you can see everything that is already known about the extension of Season 10 and the Overtime Challenges:
