Does XDefiant Have Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM)?

The release of XDefiant has been marked by a few server issues and a debate about the use of Skill-Based Matchmaking. The news 6v6 arena-style shooter offers players the option of playing different agents pulled from many factions across the Ubisoft universe. Moreover, all the agents come with specific faction abilities and can be customized with different weapon options. Which then can be used to battle opponents in multiple game modes on maps inspired by familiar locations. 

However, the success of the game is only measured by how many players it can attract and hold on to. To this end, the use of Skill-Based Matchmaking can be crucial. So let’s find out where XDefiant lands when it comes to this subject.       

Is There a Skill-Based Matchmaking in XDefiant?

XDefinat does not use skill-based matchmaking in casual play, this system will only be used for Ranked mode. Considering that ranked mode will be added to the game with the release of Season One, currently, the game does not use skill-based matchmaking for any of its game modes.

Rank Points or skill ratings will be used in Ranked play to match players of similar skills. However casual play will prioritize ping to ensure a better gaming experience, without the use of skill-based matchmaking.   

Is Having No Skill-Based Matchmaking a Good Thing?

Skill-based matchmaking has been a topic of hot debate for some time in the FPS community. This system creates pools of players on a similar skill level and matches them to create balanced gaming experiences. Sadly, this leaves top-skill level players with a rather limited and small pool of players they can be matched with. This creates longer queuing times for them, and being that most of the top players are also content creators playing with the same skill level players usually make for boring and uninterested matches.    

On the other hand not having a skill-based matchmaking system can lead to chaos and frustration among low-skill players. Imagine playing a match with a player or players that hit only heads while you are struggling to grasp the basic game mechanics. This will be a good time for a player who dominates the game, but everyone else will feel cheated.