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NetEase has done a fantastic job with Marvel Rivals so far, turning it into one of the hottest games currently on the market. The hero shooter has millions of active players and has already received several massive content updates. Unfortunately, the matchmaking in Marvel Rivals has been rather controversial, with many players believing that it has a so-called losers queue.
Like many modern multiplayer games, Rivals has skilled-based matchmaking. However, there is a belief that the game is optimized for engagement. Due to this, it’s no surprise that a losers queue theory has been popular among players.
Does Marvel Rivals have a losers queue?
Marvel Rivals has a variety of game modes, but Quick Play and Competitive are the most popular. Quick matches have no skill-based matchmaking and are mostly intended for casual players. However, Competitive gameplay is a different beast. In this mode, players are ranked against opponents of a similar skill level.
While ranking up is relatively easy in comparison to other games, getting on a losing streak can be very frustrating. Interestingly, many players believe that such streaks are not a coincidence, and this is where a losers queue theory originates from. The theory boils down to this: If a player is on a winning streak, the game pairs them up with teammates who are on losing streaks in future matches. This matchmaking then results in a losing streak for the player, causing them to rapidly lose their rank.
Many players are convinced that a losers queue is a thing and that NetEase doesn’t want them to rank up. However, the truth is that there is simply no proof that shows that this is a fact. Furthermore, if this was the case, solo players wouldn’t be able to reach high ranks, yet many of them have been able to do so.
While there is no doubt that the matchmaking system in Marvel Rivals is flawed, the same could be said for any other multiplayer game. There are many factors that affect the matchmaking formula, and on top of that, many players are smurfing. The system is not perfect, but there is no doubt that NetEase will improve it in the future.
Marvel Rivals
- Platform(s): macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s): Fighting, Shooter