Valve's upcoming MOBA-hero shooter, Deadlock, recently overhauled its matchmaking system, employing an algorithm sourced from the AI chatbot ChatGPT. This revelation, shared by Valve engineer Fletcher Dunn on Twitter (X), highlights the evolving role of AI in game development.
ChatGPT's Role in Deadlock's Matchmaking Overhaul
Dunn's Twitter thread detailed how ChatGPT suggested the Hungarian algorithm as a solution to Deadlock's matchmaking challenges. This followed considerable player criticism of the previous MMR system, with complaints focusing on uneven team skill levels and mismatches between player experience and opponent skill. Reddit threads showcased player frustration with consistently facing highly skilled opponents while being teamed with less experienced players.
(c) r/DeadlockTheGame Responding to this feedback, a Deadlock developer announced a complete matchmaking system rewrite. Dunn's use of ChatGPT accelerated this process, providing a suitable algorithm. He expressed his amazement at ChatGPT's capabilities, noting its increasing usefulness in his workflow.
Dunn's tweets also highlighted a nuanced perspective on AI's role. While acknowledging the efficiency gains from using ChatGPT, he expressed some concern about the potential displacement of human interaction, both in-person and online. This sparked a debate on social media, with some users echoing concerns about AI replacing programmers.
The Hungarian algorithm, as recommended by ChatGPT, addresses a specific matchmaking problem: optimizing matches where only one side (e.g., the player) has preferences. This contrasts with traditional algorithms that consider both sides' preferences. In Deadlock's context, this means prioritizing a player's preferred teammates or opponents based on their skill level.
Despite the improvements, some Deadlock players remain critical, expressing ongoing dissatisfaction with the matchmaking system. Negative comments on Dunn's tweets reflected lingering frustration and skepticism about the changes.
Despite the mixed player reactions, Game8 remains optimistic about Deadlock's potential. For a more in-depth analysis of the game and its playtest, please see the link below.
