matchmaking Archives

AppWizard

June 21, 2025

Rematch surpasses 1 million players in its first day of full release

Sloclap's 5v5 soccer game Rematch attracted nearly 93,000 concurrent players on Steam during its launch day and welcomed one million unique players within its first 24 hours. The studio released a small update to enhance stability and performance, addressing crash issues and a desynchronization problem when the ball hit the goalpost. Some players are still experiencing difficulties, and Sloclap is encouraging feedback. The update does not include crossplay functionality, which is being worked on but faced technical complexities. A basic version of crossplay exists, but further implementation is needed. The update includes fixes for ball sync issues, reduced crash frequency after scoring, various stability improvements, and updates to matchmaking.

AppWizard

June 20, 2025

FBC: Firebreak patch aims to improve the game’s early hours, which ‘do not provide a good experience,’ Remedy admits

Remedy has acknowledged that FBC: Firebreak did not meet expectations but believes many issues are fixable. A recent patch introduces balance changes to improve gameplay, including making Lost Assets easier to locate and allowing new players to start at Clearance Level 3 for the introductory job, Hot Fix. The patch also includes significant overhauls to core systems, enhancing progression and rewards, with recalibrated unlockable costs and streamlined gear progression. New players can now begin at Clearance Level 3 for the first Job, and must complete a full three-zone run at CL3 to unlock subsequent Jobs. The Operational Requisition has been divided into two categories: Essentials and Expressions, allowing players to access essential gear without unlocking unrelated items. Balancing changes include reduced construction times for certain items, increased health for enemies, and improved accessibility for the Stapler Corrupted Item. Audio issues have been addressed, including missing sound effects and music transition problems. User interface corrections include XP level indicators and crash issues in the Loadout menu. Gameplay improvements involve enhanced haptic feedback and visibility for Lost Assets. Visual enhancements include performance improvements and updates to environmental elements.

AppWizard

June 7, 2025

Sonic Racing CrossWorlds Has Hatsune Miku, Persona 5, Minecraft

Sega announced Sonic Racing CrossWorlds will be released on September 25, 2025, for most major platforms, with a version for the Switch 2 yet to be announced. The game features character cameos from franchises like Hatsune Miku, Persona 5, Like a Dragon, and Minecraft. The character lineup includes: - Amy Rose - Big the Cat - Blaze the Cat - Charmy Bee - Cream and Cheese - Dr. Eggman - E-123 Omega - Espio the Chameleon - Jet the Hawk - Knuckles the Echidna - Metal Sonic - Rouge the Bat - Shadow the Hedgehog - Silver the Hedgehog - Sonic the Hedgehog - Sonic the Werehog - Storm the Albatross - Tails - Vector the Crocodile - Wave the Swallow - Zavok The pricing is set at .99 for the Switch and .99 for the Switch 2, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC versions.

AppWizard

June 7, 2025

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds lands September with crossplay, Switch 2 and Minecraft

Sega has confirmed that Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds will launch on September 25, 2025, with early access available on September 22 for the Digital Deluxe Edition. The game will feature online cross-platform matchmaking and will be available on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. The retail price will be £64.99 for most platforms and £54.99 for Nintendo Switch users. Playable characters include Hatsune Miku, Ichiban Kasuga from Yakuza, and Joker from Persona, along with characters from the Sonic Prime Netflix series. A Minecraft-themed level, kart, and character will be included in a downloadable content Season Pass.

AppWizard

June 3, 2025

The worst part of Elden Ring Nightreign, like all multiplayer games, is that you need to rely on the kindness and intelligence of strangers

A player in Elden Ring reflected on their gaming experience while lying in the sand, feeling defeated after their teammates focused on attacking Gnoster, leaving them behind. They expressed a desire for a voice chat feature to communicate with their last standing teammate and noted the challenges of multiplayer dynamics. The player acknowledged both the frustrations and joys of teamwork, emphasizing the benefits of strategizing with friends during boss encounters. They mentioned FromSoftware's efforts to address single-player mode difficulties and remained hopeful for improved communication options in the game. The player continues their quest, seeking friends to share the gaming experience.

AppWizard

June 1, 2025

Why Elden Ring: Nightreign is both a hit and a headache for fans

Elden Ring Nightreign is a multiplayer game developed by FromSoftware, featuring fast-paced combat mechanics and eight distinct characters called Nightfarers, each with unique strengths and weaknesses. Players aim to defeat the Nightlord while surviving three in-game days on Limvel Island, facing various bosses and challenges, including a night boss that tests their skills. The game lasts approximately 14 real-time minutes per day, with a storm circle that closes in, causing damage if players do not move. Players can unlock new characters and relics through boss victories. The game is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series consoles, priced at an undisclosed amount. It has received a mixed reception, with a 78% aggregate score on OpenCritic and a "Mixed" rating on Steam from over 31,000 reviews. Players have expressed frustration with solo difficulty and matchmaking issues. In response, FromSoftware plans to release patch 1.02 to introduce automatic revivals for solo players and increase rewards. A mod called Seamless Co-Op allows PC players to team up without needing a third player.

AppWizard

May 31, 2025

It’s not just you: Elden Ring Nightreign’s matchmaking is taking forever if it works at all, and there doesn’t seem to be a fix⁠—aside from queueing with a full group

FromSoftware has acknowledged prolonged matchmaking times in Elden Ring: Nightreign, despite a player base exceeding 2 million. Players, particularly on PC, have reported lengthy waits, and initial recommendations from the studio, such as restarting the matchmaking process and altering NAT connection types on PlayStation, have not significantly improved the situation. Discussions on platforms like the Elden Ring subreddit and Steam forums indicate that there are between 200,000 and 300,000 players online on Steam at any time, raising concerns about matchmaking efficiency. Players are advised to form full teams of three for quicker matchmaking and to consider using Yui's Seamless Co-op mod for duo play as an alternative solution.

AppWizard

May 31, 2025

Elden Ring Nightreign Already Has A Two-Player Co-Op Mod On PC

Modder Luke Yui has released a Duos mode mod for Elden Ring Nightreign, available on the Elden Ring Nightreign Nexus for PC users. This mod allows players to team up with a friend without needing a third player, addressing player demand for a feature that was missing from the game's initial design. Elden Ring Nightreign was primarily designed for three-player co-op or solo play, leading to disappointment among fans. Game director Junya Ishizaki acknowledged that the duos option was overlooked and hinted at potential future support for it. The game is available on multiple platforms, including PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.

AppWizard

May 24, 2025

‘We’re gonna do right by you’: Splitgate 2 CEO apologizes for server meltdown after the open beta goes live

The open beta for Splitgate 2 was launched on May 22 but faced significant challenges, leading developer 1047 Games to take the servers offline shortly after. CEO Ian Proulx expressed disappointment over the situation and acknowledged that the team had hoped for a smoother rollout. Technical difficulties include slow matchmaking and delays in experience points and progress gains, with player experiences varying widely. The in-game shop is active, but players have faced delays in receiving purchased items, which will be honored upon the game's return. Proulx assured that all transactions have been recorded. The team is addressing various bugs during the downtime, but a timeline for the game's return has not been established. A more comprehensive update is expected later today.

AppWizard

May 22, 2025

Live service games are ‘innovating’ all the way back around to what worked 20 years ago, except way worse

Epic Games is introducing a free toolset for Fortnite that allows users to create and publish their own games, accompanied by a revenue-sharing program based on player engagement. Teravision, a studio using the Unreal Engine for Fortnite, has successfully released a roguelike game and plans to develop two more titles. Fortnite's multiplayer approach is shifting away from traditional matchmaking systems, aiming for a more creative environment reminiscent of past games like Garry's Mod and Team Fortress 2. However, the UEFN initiative has been criticized for lacking community spirit and producing low-quality content, with many games focusing on monetization rather than enjoyable gameplay. This trend reflects a broader issue in gaming where progression systems overshadow the core enjoyment of games.