Overwatch 2 players were excited about Season 4, which removes rank decay, but some were surprised after noticing that they de-ranked in the new season anyway.
Blizzard has removed the seasonal decay in the skill division for Overwatch 2, but the new ranking system changes have players de-ranking still. Some players have also revealed that they laddered up after
Season 4 began on April 11, causing confusion among the player base. Now, it has been made clear what exactly has been going on in Overwatch 2.
Overwatch 2 has let go of its STD (Skill Tier Divisions) ranking system, instead embracing the MMR-based ranking that many FPS games use, which is causing the rank adjustments. Here’s how it works.
Overwatch 2 rank changes explained
Players will no longer experience rank decay in Overwatch 2, meaning their rank will stay the same if they are inactive and return to the game. However, if they ranked up based on the previous STD system, the game would reevaluate their actual skill based on MMR.
MMR is short for MatchMaking Rating. It’s a hidden number in the form numerical pool which determines where a player places based on their skill. So, those who were ranked outside of their MMR pool will now be classified closer to their MMR to fix matchmaking in Overwatch 2. Conversely, players with a higher MMR and sitting at a lower rank should experience a boost.
So, if your rank degraded in Season 4, it’s likely because the system thinks you still need to work harder to deserve a higher rank. These changes are aimed at making Overwatch 2 matchmaking fair for all. And no, players aren’t losing ranks because of decay. Season 4 has removed rank decay, as developers mentioned.
Sometimes, competitive Overwatch 2 can feel unfair as enemies appear highly skilled. The MMR system will fix that, matching players with opponents near their rank ladder, increasing the odds of winning games.
Fariha Bhatti
About Fariha Bhatti
Fariha Bhatti is a long-time gaming writer who loves competitive FPS games and slots with particularly fun themes. She got her start playing classic games developed by SNK, from legendary fighting game series The King of Fighters to challenging platform franchise Metal Slug. She now spends most of her time playing Valorant and Counter-Strike 2 while working her way through new slot releases to find her next favorite. Fariha has been published at PCGamesN, TalkEsport and ONE Esports.
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