Overwatch gets a new feature – the group search. This allows players to select other teammates based on harsh criteria.
Finding the right teammates in Overwatch is sometimes not so easy. When no friends are online, you are at the mercy of the matchmaker and hoping to encounter players with a similar attitude. To address this issue, Blizzard is introducing a “Looking for Group” feature. With the group search tool, players should be able to find like-minded individuals more easily and even commit to roles.
What settings are available? Those who create a group for the group search can choose several settings and criteria that other players can search for. These include the following options:
- Game mode (Quickmatch, Arcade, Ranked, etc.)
- Voice chat required?
- Fixed roles
- Minimum recognition level (1-5)
What the recognition level is all about, we have explained here:
What are “Fixed Roles”? Similar to the group search in MMORPGs, players can be assigned fixed roles. This way, you can specifically search for players who always play a Tank or always play a Healer. Corresponding players can then prepare for this and are forced by the tool to fill such a role in the match. For example, anyone applying for the role of “Support” and joining the group can only select support heroes in the match.
No matchmaking, just a helper tool: Jeff Kaplan from the Overwatch team emphasizes that the group finder is not a “matchmaking” tool. You are using a browser where you can search for other players. No consideration is given, for example, to a person’s skill rating. However, you can specify these criteria in the group description, such as only looking for “serious, adult players with a ranking of 3000+ for the ranked mode.”
What do you think of this group search? An important feature for Overwatch? Or does it just increase the pressure on some players?
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