Smart Match is one of Xbox’s several new features that is planned to enhance the player’s search experience. It’s an interesting concept and can be read about here.
I’m just going to assume that Microsoft will implement this in Halo, because it’s one of their largest and most successful franchises (just as they’re including their own dedicated servers). It’s unclear whether or not all games will be required to utilize “Smart Match”, but more details will assuredly come with time. In fact, the whole announcement was somewhat confusing and "cloud"y.
This is laregly important for our community, because the lack of search options in Halo 4 was disappointing to some fans (especially if they didn’t live in America…). With this new feature, their worries may be alleviated!
> This same pattern depending on the title can include player attributes to search for such as very specific skill or social elements like spoken language or even people of similar age.
As far as I can tell, this means the developer will be able to pick and choose what characteristics are important for matchmaking. Then, the system will group players based on those attributes. This is extremely good news to hear–especially for Halo fans.
So what do you think about Smart Match? Will Halo: Xbox One see the lag improvement that we’re all desperately begging for?
I encourage anyone who’s purchasing an Xbox One to read the article! It also includes some other well-thought-out features.
> As far as I can tell, this means the developer will be able to pick and choose what characteristics are important for matchmaking. Then, the system will group players based on those attributes. This is extremely good news to hear–especially for Halo fans.
This is already how it works (at least in Halo).
Players are matched based on a number of factors (maybe not as granular as age) but language/geo-location/skill/dlc etc. are all used to determine who is and who is not an ideal match.
If these options are exposed to the user is a different story (i.e. toggle options). People complained that there was no visible regional filter for Halo 4 (even though it is baked in by default).
Reports have come out saying that a game will be able to adjust a players reputation based on detecting ‘grief’ behaviour. Team killing or driving your team’s warthog off a cliff might affect your reputation and therefore who you are matchmade with.
I can’t wait for all the team killers to only be match made with other team killers! Who would be left to kill the other team?
> So what do you think about Smart Match? Will Halo: Xbox One see the lag improvement that we’re all desperately begging for?
Halo Xbox One will be using dedicated servers (and not peer-to-peer like previous titles). The host-advantage type lag you have experienced in previous titles won’t happen in the Halo Xbox One.
Good news all around.
> I just want to be matched based on my VISIBLE RANK.
Initially you are being matched to players with similar TrueSkill (CSR). Being able to see it or otherwise doesn’t make a single difference. We get it, you want an in-game CSR - Take it elsewhere.