Valve's upcoming MOBA-hero shooter, Deadlock, recently overhauled its matchmaking system, leveraging the power of ChatGPT. A developer, Fletcher Dunn, revealed on Twitter (now X) that the Hungarian algorithm, identified through a ChatGPT interaction, now underpins the game's hero selection process during matchmaking.
Deadlock's Matchmaking: From Criticism to ChatGPT Solution
Deadlock's previous MMR-based matchmaking faced considerable backlash from players. Reddit threads showcased widespread frustration with uneven skill distribution in matches, often pitting experienced players against newcomers. One player commented on the disparity between their own skill and that of their teammates, highlighting the negative impact on gameplay. Another echoed this sentiment, noting the significant skill imbalance between teams.
(c) r/DeadlockTheGame Responding to player concerns, a Deadlock developer announced a complete matchmaking system rewrite. Dunn's use of ChatGPT accelerated this process, providing a solution for a system where only one side (the player) expresses preferences.
Dunn enthusiastically shared his ChatGPT success, highlighting the AI's increasing utility in his workflow. He even dedicated a Chrome tab solely to ChatGPT, underscoring its importance. While celebrating this efficiency, he acknowledged a potential downside: the replacement of human interaction, whether in-person or through online communities, with AI-driven problem-solving. This sparked debate, with some users highlighting skepticism surrounding AI's potential to replace programmers.
Algorithms are fundamental to data sorting, as exemplified by search engines like Google. In gaming, an algorithm could optimize team composition based on player preferences. Dunn's query to ChatGPT focused on finding an algorithm suitable for a bipartite matching problem (two parties involved), prioritizing one side's preferences.
Despite the improvements, some players remain critical, expressing continued dissatisfaction with the matchmaking's performance following the update. Negative comments on Dunn's tweets ranged from frustration to accusations of negligence.
Game8, however, maintains a positive outlook on Deadlock's potential, suggesting that Valve is developing a compelling game. Further details on our playtest experience can be found in the linked article.
