Valve's Deadlock Uses ChatGPT to Improve Matchmaking
Deadlock, Valve's upcoming MOBA-hero shooter, recently overhauled its matchmaking system, thanks in part to the AI chatbot ChatGPT. Valve engineer Fletcher Dunn revealed on Twitter (X) that ChatGPT helped identify the Hungarian algorithm as the ideal solution.
Addressing Player Concerns
Deadlock's previous matchmaking system drew significant criticism from players on Reddit. Many complained about consistently facing highly skilled opponents while being matched with less experienced teammates, regardless of their own skill level. One player commented, "I get harder games with better enemies, but never equally skilled teammates." This feedback prompted the Deadlock team to act swiftly. A developer previously announced a complete matchmaking system rewrite on the game's Discord server.
(c) r/DeadlockTheGame
Dunn credits ChatGPT with accelerating the process of finding a suitable algorithm. He stated on Twitter, "I have a tab in Chrome reserved for ChatGPT; it's always open." He's enthusiastic about the AI's capabilities, planning to share more examples of its effectiveness.
However, Dunn also acknowledges the potential downsides. He notes that using ChatGPT might reduce human interaction, replacing discussions with colleagues or the broader gaming community. This sentiment has resonated with some social media users who express skepticism about AI replacing programmers.
The Hungarian algorithm, as recommended by ChatGPT, addresses a specific matchmaking challenge: finding optimal matches when only one side (players) has preferences. This is a common problem in many online games.
Mixed Reactions
Despite the improvements, some Deadlock fans remain unhappy with the matchmaking, attributing recent issues to the ChatGPT-assisted changes. Comments on Dunn's tweets range from frustration to outright anger.
Despite the negative feedback, Game8 remains optimistic about Deadlock's potential, highlighting the game's playtest experience in a separate article (link omitted).
