Activision Wins Patent That Uses Matchmaking - briefly
(hx) 10:00 PM CEST - Oct,19 2017
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Activision has successfully filed a patent designed for use in multiplayer matchmaking systems. In short, it's an idea to engender envy at teammates' or opponents' gear through the matchmaking algorithm itself. Here's the abstract from the patent, granted today after its filing two years ago:
A system and method is provided that drives microtransactions in multiplayer video games. The system may include a microtransaction arrange matches to influence game-related purchases. For instance, the system may match a more expert/marquee player with a junior player to encourage the junior player to make game-related purchases of items possessed/used by the marquee player. A junior player may wish to emulate the marquee player by obtaining weapons or other items used by the marquee player.
A big caveat: an Activision spokesperson tells us via email today that "This was an exploratory patent filed in 2015 by an R&D team working independently from our game studios. It has not been implemented in-game
Knowing that, this probably isn't a scheme that Activision will suddenly implement in Destiny 2 and Call of Duty: WWII. It's also not a reactionary move on Activison's part, as the patent took two years to go through. Still, with resentment for loot boxes and microtransactions at an all-time high, the timing is unfortunate for the publisher. |
Updated:10:44 AM CEST Sep,20
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