To prevent misunderstandings, dear employees of the gaming studio Bungie, as an SBMM enthusiast I would like to briefly outline the qualities that make for an intense yet engaging match. [b]Elements of an exciting gaming experience in PvP (matchmaking types)[/b] MM Type 1: Sweatcore •Suspense; high level of difficulty; type of life consumption: unfrequent to spartan MM Type 2: Smartcrucible •Momentous gameplay; memorable online battles; type of life consumption: moderate to sparing I would like to point out that I suspect that in SBMM the first matchmaking type is preferred and also activated as soon as players appear better - measured by the average skill level; immediately after that, the focus is also on the tension experience, which, according to your observations, is apparently characterised by particularly close matches. Right? In practice, however, it looks somewhat different. The MM-Algo often only simulates a low-budget carry service, in which strong players are allowed to carry 1-2 bots non-stop. Only to be "suped" a thousand times in the last round, because the opponents have all eaten their fill; as if they had cashed in an "All you can it" annual pass at the burger shop around the corner yesterday. The matches don't feel "exciting" either, because it's almost always clearly foreseeable that the chances, realistically speaking, must be close to zero percent - and at this point at the latest, your SBMM algo is also reduced to absurdity, because it can't offer us any real suspense, it just makes you sweat sick round after round like a zebra in the belly of a crocodile and then you just often don't die much more dignified either. But maybe there would be a chance to lighten up the whole thing, it would just need a shining plot option with which we seamlessly combine entertainment in PvP with action as well as sufficient challenge, without limiting the tactical design options of the competitive players too much. But for that, tension would first have to be understood as more than the "icing on the cake", because: [spoiler] A flawless PvP match is not only exciting, but also interesting because it is tactically more demanding. [/spoiler] [b]So how could an entertaining playtime be reconciled with necessary tactical demands in SBMM? [/b] Instead of one-sidedly looking at the outcome of the matches and working towards a tight win/loss ratio, you could soon also direct your focus on other indicators that can also correlate with an exciting match. Possible quality characteristics are: 🔹Intelligence ("cleverly countered, carefully positioned and supported to the point") •Blood for Blood medals were earned for each team. This indicates exemplary teamwork 🔹Reliability ("creating conditions where both have a good chance of winning") •Both teams earned a "Survivor" medal in at least one round. This indicates that there is a high performer in both teams who supports the other companions, which in turn promotes fairness and consistency 🔹Economy ("A lot of effort, but also a lot of patience") •Team members on both sides always fill up their supers to the maximum almost simultaneously; the more players have supers full at the same time, the better; this indicates a more balanced understanding of the game on both sides 🔹Experience ("Battle tested, motivated and ... first pick"). •No one dies within the first 10 seconds of a round •No one collects more than 2 "Quick Strike" medals per game; This indicates that the level of play has been paradigmatically balanced and everyone now seems to know what he or she is doing P.S.: Got varicose veins now because of the SBMM ;)