matchmaking Archives

AppWizard

November 29, 2025

Call of Duty Warzone is planning “frequent meta shake ups” with weapon balancing up to four times a season

Raven Software has announced its strategic vision for balancing gameplay in Call of Duty Warzone, focusing on a dynamic meta and prioritizing trade-offs over universal dominance. The developers plan to introduce open matchmaking and a new experience inspired by Blackout on the Avalon map in spring. They aim to implement up to four meta updates each season, enhancing build diversity and ensuring meaningful loadout choices. Attachments will now be limited to five per weapon, and the Overkill Wildcard will be a default benefit for all players. Raven is committed to balancing Warzone attachments independently from BO7 multiplayer, fostering meaningful trade-offs and preserving weapon category identities. The largest magazines for assault rifles will be capped at 60 rounds, and slug ammo for pump-action shotguns will allow for one-shot headshots within range. As of December 4, pistols will be removed from ground loot to improve recovery satisfaction.

AppWizard

November 28, 2025

Warzone is getting Black Ops 7’s open matchmaking in Season 1, so you won’t have to take a shower after every match

Skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) in Call of Duty has been a contentious issue among casual players, often leading to feelings of exhaustion. Black Ops 7 has introduced open matchmaking in its casual playlists, a change that will also be implemented in Warzone. Game director Peter Actipis announced that open matchmaking is coming to Warzone in Season 1, launching on December 4. The new Resurgence map, Havens Hollow, will increase lobby size from 44 to 52 players for quads, and the Homestead point of interest has been redesigned to improve gameplay. Raven Software plans to implement more frequent meta updates, focusing on adjusting attachment effectiveness and rebalancing perks, including changes to the Survivor perk. Upcoming modes include Ampred BR, which increases base health, and High Octane BR, allowing players to start with preferred loadouts. Season 2 will bring significant changes to Rebirth Island, including a snowstorm that will alter the map.

AppWizard

November 25, 2025

My new RPG obsession has a toxic player problem, but its dev refuses to “whack on a leavers penalty” and call it a day

Fellowship, a multiplayer online dungeon adventure from Chief Rebel, has a daily peak user base of approximately 9,000 to 11,000 on Steam. Players have expressed frustrations regarding player behavior, particularly the lack of penalties for those who leave groups or queues, which affects match wait times. Community director Hamish Bode discussed plans to address these issues, including the development of an Eternal matchmaking system and improved communication tools. The team is also considering rewarding players who complete dungeons together to encourage positive interactions. Bode emphasized the need for a balanced approach to managing player behavior, acknowledging the complexities of implementing punishment systems alongside communication improvements.

BetaBeacon

November 19, 2025

Steamworks SDK adds Android ARM support, first game logged is Walkabout Mini Golf VR

Valve has released patch notes for their Steamworks SDK, which includes improvements to networking functionality, VR support, and overall performance optimization. One notable change is the enhanced matchmaking capabilities, aiming to streamline the gaming experience. Additionally, there are optimizations for VR support, such as for Walkabout Mini Golf VR on Steam, to provide a more immersive experience for players.

AppWizard

November 16, 2025

Concord’s surprise return might be short-lived as dev suspends invites after “worrying legal action”‘

A group of fans has initiated a project called Concord Delta to reverse-engineer Concord, a hero shooter from Firewalk Studios that Sony had declared "permanently sunsetting." They have developed matchmaking capabilities and planned private playtesting, but faced DMCA takedowns shortly after announcing their efforts. Following Concord's closure, refunds were issued to players, stripping them of legal entitlement to the game, complicating the reverse-engineering efforts. While boxed copies of Concord exist, the situation highlights the contrast between physical ownership and digital rights. The dissolution of Firewalk Studios raises doubts about a formal return for Concord, despite community enthusiasm for a potential free-to-play PC version.

AppWizard

November 11, 2025

You haven’t truly experienced PC gaming until you’ve done these 8 things

The author reflects on nostalgic moments from PC gaming, including early experiences in Rust where they learned about trap bases. They mention the humorous "door stuck" video and the persistence of antisocial behavior in competitive gaming, highlighting various griefing techniques documented on the Team Fortress 2 wiki. Ted Litchfield describes the frustrating process of troubleshooting a new desktop build, often leading to unhelpful advice and a rite of passage for PC gamers. Andrea Shearon shares a memorable experience in Final Fantasy 14, successfully clearing a challenging trial with strangers, fostering camaraderie. Lincoln Carpenter discusses the immersive flavor text in the roguelike game Caves of Qud, enhancing the gameplay experience. Evan Lahti emphasizes the camaraderie in the military simulation game Arma, while Tyler Wilde mentions memorable moments in Battlefield 6 and Sea of Thieves. Christopher Livingston notes the frustration of managing multiple digital game launchers, which can deter players from gaming. Morgan Park reflects on the joy of playing lesser-known multiplayer games like Gotham City Impostors and Knockout City, fostering a unique sense of community.

AppWizard

November 2, 2025

Arc Raiders players stuck in login queues and long matchmaking times as it blows past its Steam player peak of 330,000

Players of Arc Raiders are currently experiencing challenges related to server strain, voice chat, and party system issues, which Embark Studios is working to resolve. The game recently reached over 330,000 concurrent players on Steam, leading to matchmaking errors and lengthy queue times of 5 to 10 minutes. SteamDB recorded a peak of 337,834 players, but numbers have since settled around 286,000. Players are sharing their frustrations on platforms like Reddit, and some humorously refer to the game as a "queue simulator." Despite the difficulties, some players find that persistence in the pre-game queue can eventually allow them to rejoin the game, though this may lead to matchmaking stalls.

AppWizard

November 2, 2025

Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection launches to mixed reviews on Steam

Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection includes the first four Mortal Kombat games, the WaveNet version of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, and Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero, along with an interactive documentary about the series. After its release, 55% of reviews on Steam were negative, mainly due to input lag and issues with online multiplayer. Players criticized the online experience, noting limitations in matchmaking. Developers announced upcoming updates to add features like lobbies and fix bugs, while a hotfix has already been released for audio issues. The documentary included in the collection received positive feedback.

AppWizard

October 28, 2025

Once a promising blend of League of Legends and World of Warcraft, I’m gutted that this new roguelike only lasted a month

Vela Games has announced the closure of its fantasy PvE roguelike title, Evercore Heroes Ascension, just one month after its full release from Early Access. The game will officially shut down on October 30, 2025, at 4 AM PT / 7 AM ET / 11 AM GMT. Despite initial excitement and various development changes, including a shift from a MOBA/MMO hybrid to a co-op roguelike format, the game struggled to maintain player engagement and received a 'Mostly Negative' rating on Steam. Vela decided to eliminate matchmaking and multiplayer features, reducing the experience to a solitary adventure, which disappointed many fans. The developer expressed that they could not sustain the game due to early negative reviews and limited resources.

AppWizard

October 25, 2025

Xbox fully surrenders the console wars: ‘Halo is on PlayStation going forward,’ a fact that just doesn’t seem real

Xbox president Sarah Bond described the era of platform-exclusive games as "antiquated," indicating a change in Microsoft's gaming strategy. The PS5 logo was featured in the trailer for Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of a title that defined the Xbox brand. Master Chief, originally a symbol of Xbox, is now recognized as a character on multiple platforms, marking a departure from his legacy as a platform mascot. Master Chief's journey began over two decades ago with Bungie and later Microsoft, and he became synonymous with the Xbox brand. His identity is shifting from being a mascot to simply being recognized as "the guy from Halo." The character's transition may diminish his significance but could also allow Halo to reach new audiences. Halo's impact on gaming includes setting standards for multiplayer experiences and introducing innovative features in its sequels.