The MOBA DOTA 2 (Steam) recently announced patch 7.33, which was supposed to make everything bigger: The map grew by 40%, and many new features were added. Now the patch is here, but one detail is frustrating many players: A new algorithm “Glücko” re-ranks them, and the algorithm that Valve trusts seems to have some flaws. A former professional player from Germany is particularly feeling these flaws.
What is the detail that players are upset about? Many celebrated the update to DOTA 2 at first and were impressed by how massive the patch is and what it changes. But one detail in patch 7.33 was either overlooked or is now much worse than expected:
DOTA has changed the Elo algorithm that was previously used to assess players’ strengths. Because only with a good distribution algorithm can fair matches be found: Strong players should compete against similar strong teams.
For that, it is important that an algorithm correctly assesses the skill level of each player.
Valve introduces new algorithm, it is said that they trust “Glücko” very much
The developers say: Over time, the distribution of the value in the old algorithm had shifted downwards, which was not wanted. That’s why with patch 7.33 a “new and improved distribution algorithm” was introduced, called Glücko.
Valve said: People would go through “short calibration phases” and then probably land on a different medal level.
The Steam operators assured that they have full confidence in this algorithm.
German professional falls down several ranks, is angry
This is now the result: A former top player of DOTA 2 is the German Dominik “Black^” Reitmeier. He has earned about $240,000 with DOTA 2, most of it in 2015.
He was demoted from “Immortal to Crusader” after calibration, a huge drop in ranking:
I have fallen from the highest rank, in the top 1000, to the third lowest. What algorithm does something like that?
Reitmeier says: People should imagine Lionel Messi taking a two-year break from football and then having to play in a youth team.
New algorithm in DOTA 2 is apparently still flawed
Are there other voices? Yes, indeed, apparently there are also players who were previously ranked low suddenly finding themselves at the top. The site Dotesports notes that it could be due to the new, wonderful “luck” algorithm that Valve trusts so much mixing up Turbo games with normal matches.
Therefore, players who only play Turbo might find it easier to climb.
In any case, at the moment many players of DOTA 2 seem to be playing against either much stronger or too weak opponents, which affects the mood that was so great when browsing through the patch notes.
