Unlock Matchmaking Success with Cutting-Edge AI

Valve's upcoming hero shooter, Deadlock, recently overhauled its matchmaking system, thanks to a surprising source: the AI chatbot ChatGPT. A Valve engineer, Fletcher Dunn, revealed on Twitter (X) that ChatGPT helped him identify the Hungarian algorithm as the ideal solution.

Deadlock's Matchmaking: From Criticism to ChatGPT Solution

Deadlock's previous MMR-based matchmaking faced significant criticism from players. Reddit threads were filled with complaints about uneven matches, with skilled players frequently paired against less experienced teammates. One player commented on the disparity between their skill level and that of their teammates, highlighting the frustrating imbalance.

(c) r/DeadlockTheGame The Deadlock team acknowledged these concerns, promising a complete matchmaking system rewrite. Dunn's use of ChatGPT accelerated this process, leading to the implementation of the Hungarian algorithm.

Dunn enthusiastically shared his experience, highlighting ChatGPT's growing usefulness. He even dedicated a Chrome tab solely to the AI chatbot, showcasing its impact on his workflow. While celebrating this achievement, Dunn also acknowledged the potential downsides, noting that using AI could reduce human interaction and collaboration. A social media response echoed this concern, highlighting skepticism around AI replacing programmers.

The Hungarian algorithm, a type of bipartite matching algorithm, is designed for situations where only one side (in this case, the players) has preferences. It aims to find the optimal match based on those preferences, resulting in fairer and more balanced gameplay. This contrasts with traditional algorithms that might consider both sides' preferences equally, potentially leading to imbalanced matches.

Despite the improvements, some Deadlock fans remain unconvinced, expressing continued frustration with the matchmaking system. Negative comments on Dunn's tweets reflect lingering dissatisfaction.

Here at Game8, however, we remain optimistic about Deadlock's potential. You can read our full analysis and playtest experience in the article linked below!