Developer Follow-up: Dropships in Ranked
[p]Thank you for your continued feedback on the readdition of Dropships in Ranked. We hear you, and we are continuing to monitor conversations in community spaces and official channels.[/p][p][/p][p]We wanted to add context to - and elaborate further on - our decision to add Dropships back to Ranked matches.
[/p][p]When making a decision of this magnitude, one we know will impact a substantial portion of the community, we consider input from a number of different sources. Chief among them are: playtests, surveys and feedback from our players globally, and live game data. With the initial implementation of Drop Zones for Ranked, early feedback sparked polarizing discussions that became more critical over time, especially in certain regions.
[/p][p]In Season 26, our data indicated a noteworthy decline in Ranked population with the implementation of controlled Drop Zones.
[/p][p]In Season 27, we addressed top player frustrations surrounding loot distribution across POIs and scoring, but did not see a meaningful impact on the declining Ranked population data. After the results of Seasons 26 and 27, we decided to revert the Drop Zones, aiming to keep Ranked populations healthy and strong to ensure faster and fairer matchmaking for all.[/p][p][/p][p]We know it’s early, but since the launch of Season 28 we have seen encouraging data to suggest more players on their Ranked journey and more matches being played, resulting in a more healthy game experience. We know stats don’t fully capture how matches feel and play out. We’re actively monitoring gameplay and testing potential adjustments based on what we’re seeing in the game and hearing from you. [/p][p][/p][p]One of the biggest challenges for our team is to balance conflicting needs in a substantial global player base. In some situations, the needs of one subset of players may directly contradict the desires of another. It is rare that one solution appeases the entire playerbase. While it’s a difficult feat, we are dedicated to making choices to ensure the long term health of the game and playerbase. [/p][p][/p][p]We will continue to monitor this topic, and we will return with another update next week.[/p]
[/p][p]When making a decision of this magnitude, one we know will impact a substantial portion of the community, we consider input from a number of different sources. Chief among them are: playtests, surveys and feedback from our players globally, and live game data. With the initial implementation of Drop Zones for Ranked, early feedback sparked polarizing discussions that became more critical over time, especially in certain regions.
[/p][p]In Season 26, our data indicated a noteworthy decline in Ranked population with the implementation of controlled Drop Zones.
[/p][p]In Season 27, we addressed top player frustrations surrounding loot distribution across POIs and scoring, but did not see a meaningful impact on the declining Ranked population data. After the results of Seasons 26 and 27, we decided to revert the Drop Zones, aiming to keep Ranked populations healthy and strong to ensure faster and fairer matchmaking for all.[/p][p][/p][p]We know it’s early, but since the launch of Season 28 we have seen encouraging data to suggest more players on their Ranked journey and more matches being played, resulting in a more healthy game experience. We know stats don’t fully capture how matches feel and play out. We’re actively monitoring gameplay and testing potential adjustments based on what we’re seeing in the game and hearing from you. [/p][p][/p][p]One of the biggest challenges for our team is to balance conflicting needs in a substantial global player base. In some situations, the needs of one subset of players may directly contradict the desires of another. It is rare that one solution appeases the entire playerbase. While it’s a difficult feat, we are dedicated to making choices to ensure the long term health of the game and playerbase. [/p][p][/p][p]We will continue to monitor this topic, and we will return with another update next week.[/p]