Many other games are structured like this:
1 main “quick match” playlist
1 main “ranked” playlist
Other modes such as PvE, custom games etc.
The main benefits being that all the population of the game is searching in very focussed playlists and as we know, more population in a playlist drastically improves skill matching, connection matching, providing an overall better multiplayer experience.
I think this would work extremely well for Halo moving forwards, indeed I think the fact that there are so many separate playlists has become quite a weakness of the game where once it was a great strength. Everyone has their favourite way to play, but there are just so many ways TO play, the dwindling population is split between a bunch of playlists leading to higher search times and lower quality matches both in terms of connection and skill disparity.
I think having an improved custom games browser where players can go to play a specific gametype and having condensed playlists is a good solution for the matchmaking problems we are seeing currently.
It’s probably too late for any major changes in Halo 5 despite the fact that I think it would be of greatest benefit to adopt this strategy NOW as the population trails off. But I’m hopeful for Halo 6.
Supporting Evidence: Games that feature the 1 main social, 1 main ranked playlist idea include Heroes of the Storm, Counter Strike, League of Legends and Overwatch.
Question:
If Halo moved to a 2-main-playlist format, would retaining different player count playlists be important enough to warrant additional playlists? FFA and Doubles and 12v12 are brilliant ways to play. Would a 2-main-playlist format with everything else in the ‘open-market’ of the Custom Games Browser work for Halo?