Arc Raiders has implemented a significant matchmaking update, Patch 1.36.0, across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, which addresses a long-standing player request to track playstyles independently for its Solo, Duo, and Trio matchmaking pools.
Previously, the extraction shooter's matchmaking system attempted to group players with similar playstyles, differentiating between cooperative and aggressive tendencies. Developer Embark had acknowledged issues with this system, particularly in May, citing two core shortcomings. Firstly, defending oneself from aggressive players was sometimes incorrectly flagged as initiating an attack, potentially misplacing players within the matchmaking pools. Secondly, the system overemphasized rounds with minimal player interaction, leading to disproportionate impacts from less active matches.
The latest patch refines this behavior tracking and reduces the weighting of low-activity rounds. Crucially, the update introduces separate matchmaking profiles for each squad size: Solo, Duo, and Trio. This change allows players the flexibility to engage in varied playstyles depending on their chosen squad configuration. For instance, a player could opt for a more cooperative, material-farming approach during solo sessions while adopting a more aggressive, player-versus-player focus when playing with friends in a trio.
This granular tracking aims to provide a more tailored and enjoyable experience for Arc Raiders' player base, acknowledging the diverse ways players engage with the extraction shooter format.