The developers behind Overwatch 2 have finally provided a reason why they won't reset MMR in the sequel, after fans were understandably divided by the decision.
Overwatch 2 trailer screencap - YouTube
As reported by DotEsports, the decision to not go for an Overwatch 2 MMR reset is not exactly as concrete as fans might think. According to principal designer Scott Mercer, the team is only planning a so-called MMR decay system. Instead of performing a traditional reset, OW2 will just lower the overall MMR of accounts who haven't played in quite some time. And the reason they gave for that is because a complete MMR reset would mean the game will be completely unbalanced for a while - weeks, if not longer.
Mercer says that they do not want the game to be imbalance even for a short period of time, saying that the team doesn't think it will be a great experience for players. There are now two camps that either agree or disagree to this, with the disagreeing ones saying that a complete Overwatch 2 MMR reset might be helpful to "deserving" players as they can climb to the top far quicker.
What that would mean is that with an MMR reset, players who struggled for a long time in lower skill tiers could immediately climb up the ranks if they manage to rake in wins early on. Whereas the proposed decay system, in comparison, could mean that lower ranked players could still languish in their tiers struggling to get out.
Forbes, however, does recommend something that could help players be ranked higher despite the MMR decay system. Since the game will be free-to-play, people can just start fresh and create a new Battle.net account to log in. By doing so, they won't be carrying their old MMR from OW1 and will be able to start fresh.
For now, Activision Blizzard hasn't confirmed the specifics of the MMR decay system in the game. How much MMR could you lose by not playing for days? For weeks? For months, or even years? It remains to be seen at this point.
Overwatch 2 is scheduled to launch on October 4th, with a second beta set for Jne 28th. There, players will get their first taste of new heroine Junker Queen's kit, as well as a new map.
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For The Unaware: What Is MMR And Why Is It So Important In Overwatch 2?
The simplest answer is this: MMR, or matchmaking rating, is the system that developers use to help classify players according to skill level. The higher your MMR is, the higher your rank. And based on your MMR, you will be grouped with other players who have the same skill level as you, ensuring a fair competition.
French video game player Hans Sama from the team Misfits Gaming competes in final of the "LCS", the first European division of the video game "League of Legends", between Misfits Gaming and G2 Esports at the AccorHotels Arena in Paris on September 3, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / CHRISTOPHE SIMON
MMR systems work in simple ways. It goes up when you win and goes down when you lose, writes DotEsports. That's it. Winning is an indication of both individual skill and ability to play with a team - which is something that Overwatch 2 is.
It's a team-based game and often (or at all) you will never win on your own. Racking up enough wins means you are a good - or even great - player, causing your MMR to rise and letting you be grouped with others who are as good as you are.
On the other side, losing is obviously the clear opposite. Lose enough and it will make your MMR drop, indicating that you lack experience and the right skill to compete at higher levels of the game. If for some reason you get grouped with people who have a higher MMR than you, you'll be destroyed - and it will never be a fun time.
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This article is posted on GameNGuide
Written by RJ Pierce