Matchmaking

Before an online match begins, matchmaking searches the available population and decides who should play together. Its rules may consider skill rating, party size, region, latency, platform, input device, wait time, role preference, behavior, and playlist. These goals can conflict: a very even match may require a longer queue or a more distant server. Ranked systems usually prioritize competitive balance, while casual modes may favor speed and connection quality. Matchmaking is distinct from team balancing, which can redistribute the selected players after a lobby has formed.