Is Marvel Rivals using EEOM, bots in matchmaking? What we know
Matchmaking in Marvel Rivals should be straightforward, but some players are accusing NetEase of using the unpopular EOMM method and of overloading certain play modes with bots.
As one of the newest third-person shooters on the market, Marvel Rivals has seemingly swept the gaming community by storm. Many praise its free-to-play nature and its attractive cosmetics, unique heroes, and seasonal events. Marvel Rivals is even launching a new Season 1 esports tournament soon. Yet that doesn’t mean the game is perfect.
One of the biggest issues players have thus far is with the matchmaking system in Marvel Rivals. From the potential use of bots to unpopular methodologies in ranked play, there’s plenty that some players are upset about.
NetEase claims Marvel Rivals matchmaking is skill-based
According to developer NetEase, Marvel Rivals uses skill-based matchmaking in its ranked competitive mode.
Many games support a Skill-Based Matchmaking system, or SBMM, to pair players of similar ability together. The term is also interchangeable with Matchmaking Rankings, MMR, in many cases. For example, Marvel Rivals players who reached Diamond tier would expect to be on a team with and playing against other users who had reached a similar ranking. The more games won, the higher the raking will be, and thus game and opponent difficulty should scale up proportionally. Notably, skill-based matchmaking is in some ways specific to competitive mode. The game’s quickplay mode is handled separately.
Marvel Rivals players, however, hold complaints about the game’s matchmaking and point distribution systems. Many games, even higher-tier matches, end in an uneven victory. Moreover, significant numbers of solo players have reported being paired with teammates who have lower ranks, ineffective hero role combinations, and more. This could suggest that lower-ranked players are getting carried in some games and earning a disproportionate amount of points, leading them to appear more often in ranked. And others still allege there’s more going on than just skill-based matchmaking.
Potential EOMM, bot problems in Marvel Rivals
Despite what NetEase has said, some players are pointing out inconsistencies in matchmaking that suggest an EOMM system or even the use of bots.
Some have accused NetEase of using Engagement Optimized Matchmaking, or EOMM, instead of skill-based matchmaking. By design, EOMM is supposed to keep players invested by artificially changing matches to counter a win or lose streak. Those who lose are usually more likely to return for another round and may even experience longer loss rates if they show continued efforts.
Yet many argue that the EOMM system is unfair by essentially altering game results regardless of player skill. This is especially true if this matchmaking system is present in ranked, where players most want to test their true skills against their peers.
NetEase has not confirmed that Marvel Rivals is using EOMM rather than SBMM. Notable signs of EOMM include significant changes in win and loss rates, and a sudden change in competitor skill from game to game. In some cases, those competitors may even be automated bots.
Players have long been accusing Marvel Rivals of adding bots to the game. This is a common practice in some online multiplayer games. Bots can help fill up empty spots on teams or provide easy targets for newer players. However, many players get frustrated with the addition of bots because they feel they aren’t actually getting the practice against real players that they need in order to improve at the game.
In Marvel Rivals, many have accused NetEase of adding bots during quickplay in particular, when players lose too many games in a row. Some have called for their complete removal, or at least an option to turn these apparent bot matches off.
Fortunately, NetEase has been quick on the draw when it comes to responding to feedback. Though players have been making their frustration known with the matchmaking in Marvel Rivals for a while, hopefully they’ll see a response to that feedback soon. In the meantime, these heroes still have Dracula to worry about.
There are few things that writer M Alzamora loves more in life than Pokemon. And there are even fewer things that she loves more than her favorite Pokemon, Eevee. But M’s appreciation for gaming isn’t just limited to Nintendo’s famous pocket monsters. She’s interested in every type of game across every genre of gaming, and she has the credentials to prove it. M’s work has also been seen on Working Classicists and gaming sites.
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