How come matchmaking is so focused on 50% winrate sandbags

[NaokiB4U-1416]

@Devils-1895

It is a lie. You have made an imaginary matchmaker in your head and claimed it’s what Overwatch uses.

The matchmaker has a very simple way of working. You have a skill rating and it tries to find you 9 other players of similar rating. If the queues get too long ( >10 minutes) then it finds you one person who plays the same role as you of similar rating and then expands the search.

The end result is each team has a similar rating and each player has someone on the other team of similar role of very close rating. If you win your rating goes up and if you lose it goes down. As a consequence of that last sentence you have a 50% win rate. As a spoiler though any non random matchmaker will generate a 50% win rate.

Wait… I’m confused. According to the dev’s own words, they attempt to get it to a “fair” match in which there’s a close probability for either side to win. If not they take players and move them to make it closer.

Specifically in this post/patch notes:

Overwatch 2 Retail Patch Notes – May 14, 2024

Overwatch 2 Retail Patch Notes – May 14, 2024 OVERWATCH 2 X PORSCHE Overwatch 2 and Porsche team up for an electric collaboration to showcase the shared essence of these two high-performance brands in an all-new event. Experience the fusion with Legendary Porsche D.Va and Porsche Pharah skins available now in the Premium Shop, plus earn other free high-voltage Porsche-themed cosmetics through event challenges now through June 3. COMPETITIVE PLAY UPDATES Demotion Protection Modifier The Demotio…

@Overwatch

MATCHMAKING UPDATES

• When a player is currently on a loss streak, the matchmaker will try to avoid putting the player on a team that is statistically calculated to have a lower chance of winning.

Developer comments: Loss streaks never feel good. Before each match, we make a prediction about which team will win the game, based on the information we have about the players on both teams. This is how modifiers such as Consolation, Reversal, Uphill Battle, and Expected give or take additional Rank Progress after each Competitive Play match. Since most matches will have a team that has a slightly higher chance of winning, placing a player on the team with the higher chance who is currently on a losing streak is aimed at helping them have a fair chance of breaking that streak. While this won’t guarantee they’ll win, it does provide a helping advantage.