Can we do something about losing games due to leavers?

General Discussion
1

I am not one to post on the forums very often, I really don’t enjoy to. However, I am over leavers in my competitive matches. About two weeks ago, I had 6 different games where there was one leaver, the only one to get cancelled was when someone on the other team had left. This really wasn’t an issue with me, I don’t like losing but one leaver doesn’t mean you lose the match, just makes it harder to win. The final game where there were leavers, yea plural, was when I had an issue. My entire team left mid comp game (we weren’t even getting rolled, they just all left!), how am I suppose to win? Why is this going to stay on my competitive record? If it is on my competitive record, why can’t I get something in return (i.e. comp points, currency, anything).

So, I contacted support about this, not knowledgeable at the time of what powers they do and do not have. I didn’t receive a response until about four days later. Very vague response, basically telling me they can’t do anything, good luck trying to get a dev to see this. I was very frustrated already, so in retaliation I responded back with a pretty angered response. I didn’t receive another response until another week later, this response was less vague, however had the same concept. I was basically being told: “Post on the forums like the other millions of daily Overwatch users and maybe, just maybe a dev will care enough to read the first sentence”. So, once again… I responded asking to be put in contact with a higher up to basically be told the same thing.

Anyway, sorry for the rant. But I feel like when my entire team leaves, something other than “ThaT uSer WilL be PenTalIzed” should happen. I feel like that game should be cancelled the moment someone’s entire team leaves… or at the very least give the opposing team a win on their record and wipe the game completely for the only user who ended up staying. I have played this game since the release of Overwatch 1, and Blizzard is not going to keep their customers here if they don’t change simple, little things like this.

Sorry for the essay, and thank you to anyone who reads this. I get how some may feel opposed to my ideals for this, but there’s definitely a better system other than a red box that tells me if I leave that I will get penalized, even though I am already getting a penalty for 1v5ing in a comp match half way through.

For those who don’t believe that this was in a comp game and that my entire team didn’t leave mid match… Here’s the game code. Not sure if it still works, this is the one I gave to customer support (and I doubt they even cared to check it for the leavers names).

Code - HTVH36

6 Likes
2

The issue of leavers/throwers/etc has been a thing in every multiplayer game since forever, nothing can be done about it. The reason it feels so much worse in OW is because this game is extremely team-dependent, to the point where your individual performance is heavily tied to teammates. So realistically you have 2 options:

  1. Stop taking comp seriously. There are a long list of factors beyond your control that can randomly result in losses (or wins), and so there’s no point getting invested in match outcomes. If these random factors are bothering you, that’s your own problem to overcome in your mind. Play for your own fun.

  2. Stop playing comp and stick to QP. This is what most players are already doing. Comp is just QP with much longer queue times and slightly longer match format. Anyone who thinks that comp is for playing “seriously” is only setting themselves up for frustration when they realize that most comp players are just messing around and playing as if it’s QP.

3

QP is even worse for people leaving, its becoming an epidemic that means 2/3 games get thrown. Other games still manage to do something in the way of penalties that help lower the rates of leavers (yes it’s never gonna go away but it can be improved), and Overwatch 2 needs it. If you can’t take comp seriously then what’s the point of comp?

1 Like
4

I see where you are coming from, however, comp can be taken seriously still to an extent. That comp points are a big thing to play comp for. Not saying that’s the only reason, cool shiny gold guns are awesome but not worth the frustration. No, comp is meant for that longer format, some enjoy and prefer that. Yes… You are right, there is stuff I cannot control nor can many control, however, Overwatch is one game that is very team dependent and yet feels like it is more of a drag to get through with loss teammates. Even implementing a system where you can vote to surrender (i.e. CS & Valorant) would improve the overall quality of having teammates who decided to leave, that way you do not need to sit in said match the entire time getting destroyed by the enemy team. Blizzard doesn’t handle more than 2-3 leavers well, at least in most team games you either lose less elo, your MMR isn’t affected or you get something in return. What do you get in Overwatch if your entire team leaves? I can tell you: A loss on your competitive record, making it harder to rank up in the future. Obviously a lot of ranking up is up to you, however, there’s so many “uncontrollable variables” that 100% can be either controlled and/or developed to be better.

5

It absolutely amazes me that still, after all this time, Blizzard have not added backfill to Competitive.

The one game mode that needs it the most and it doesn’t have it.

1 Like
7

I agree, it is so wild that it isn’t included already. Something does need to change about how leavers are with comp games, whether it be backfill, or something else. I do feel as backfill can be annoying for players who join mid match… But at the same time I don’t think it will be as common as it is in QP.

8

There are already built in penalties for leavers that increase exponentially. The game is cancelled if there is a leaver in the first minute or two, but not after that. If you are a really skilled player, no amount of leavers will prevent you from climbing, as you will win more often than lose. Leavers will always drop in rank, so if you are climbing, you will be moving in the opposite direction from leavers. Also you can block two people with the “Avoid as Teammate” tool.

9

You’re right, my entire team leaving mid comp match is me not being able to have “enough skill”. The original post isn’t about all leavers, it’s about more than 2-3 because at that point it is impossible, especially if those leavers are your tank or support. Also, the avoid teammate tool can only do 3 now instead of 7, so it’s practically useless. I am not saying that I can’t climb, I am saying I shouldn’t receive a loss if my team all decides to leave and I don’t.

1 Like
10

It seems fair to me that the team that wins recieves a Victory, and the team that loses recieves a Defeat. It would be more unfair if the team that loses did not lose. You are only upset because it is happening to you.

11

It isn’t unfair at all, a 1v5 is unfair. I have to stay in said game so I don’t get a penalty… Just to end up receiving a loss. It is a waste of my time if the loss is going to stay on my record. What makes that fair? Explain how I could’ve prevented my entire team from leaving? Explain what should I do in that situation because you said “doesn’t matter how many people leave”. No matter what, the opposing team is happy they won the game, the people who left still receive the loss and the person who stayed doesn’t receive a loss or a win… That’s fair. The leaving issue was not this big in Overwatch 1. Not to include, that’s a way more fair situation then the game getting cancelled as soon as it’s a 1v5. I also stated that it could be something else… Such as instead of removing it off my record, give comp points for having to deal with the game. That wouldn’t effect the game too hard and it would also put everyone as ease.

12

If someone leaves from your team there will be a timer that counts down on the left-hand side. Once that timer hits zero you can leave the match without penalty. It’ll still be counted as a loss, but that’s all.

13

Still isn’t a fair system. At what point does me having the ability to leave make it fair to lose a game because my entire team left? The loss is the penalty for my entire team leaving.

14

The possible outcomes are: Win, Loss, or Draw. You didn’t Win or Draw, so Loss is the only possibility. Overwatch is a team based game. If your team leaves, your team loses. That is the game you are agreeing to play when you queue. If that is not agreeable, I suggest 1v1 mode.

15

Homie, I am not sure if you understand anything I have said so far. Because all you keep saying is “Seems pretty fair”, “A loss is a loss”… Like no, A. it is not fair, B. it is not “a loss is a loss” because had my entire team not left it is more than a winnable game, even if two teammates left. I still receive a penalty for my entire team leaving, my teammates; i.e. not my doing, not my decision.

16

So if your teammates stayed and you won, would you still say, “It’s not my doing, not my decision”? It sounds like you are saying when your team wins, it is because of you, and when your team loses, it is because of your teammates.

17

No, now you’re just purposely ignoring context. If one or two people leave, the game is more than winnable… If my entire team is to leave, then it isn’t winnable. The point of the post was not about 1 or 2 people leaving, it was about more than 2. You stated a team game, if that is the case… Where is my team? You are trying to use whatever little words that I say without context to create an objective to win this argument, that isn’t how it works. Please understand that you cannot take little things out of context and expect to win an argument.

18

For real! I’m so sick of losing games because my teammates leave but then when their teammates leave the game ends. Can’t tell you how often this happens to me its stupid. i think anyone that stays in the game and loses if the team has a leaver should be given a draw.

1 Like
19

I think leavers should lose double SR/MMR and those who stayed loses half.

2 Likes
20

That’s a fair resolution, I do agree with this.

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21

I completely agree with this. This would be way better than having to take the loss with no benefits for something I can’t control.

1 Like