'Titanfall' Beta Available For Improved Player Matchmaking

Everyone’s looking for the perfect match -- in “Titanfall,” that is. Los Angeles, Calif.-based Respawn Entertainment is promising players there will be some significant improvements in the first-person shooter’s skill-based matchmaking feature.

Currently, player matchmaking in “Titanfall” can be somewhat one-sided. While you may be new to the game, an experienced player could crush you in an uneven fight. This could result in your team’s or the opposing team’s immediate loss. That's no fun. Respawn is working to prevent this. Looks like we’ve come a long way from “Street Fighter 2” arcade matches when you’re embarrassingly beaten by that resilient eighth-grader who always steals your lunch money.

Respawn is currently holding an “improved matchmaking” beta to see which methods of matchmaking are effective and well-liked and which aren’t. One of Respawn’s methods for achieving this is to refine the search process. Instead of quickly finding a well-suited match, it may take more time to find players with a similar skill level. Respawn will also periodically split the teams apart and seek out new opponents for each team. If one team continues to destroy the other, the game will update the player skill set and find a better match for the next round.

"This should end some of the frustration with playing for extended periods when you're having an off night," Respawn said.

Last week, the develop also began taking action against cheaters by using FairFight, a non-invasive, customizable anti-cheat engine. FairFight is the same technology used by EA DICE in “Battlefield 4.” Respawn will continue to adjust the algorithm as more players seek out cheating tactics.

“Great news: You get to keep playing Titanfall,” Respawn told cheaters on March 25. “Less-great news: You only get to play with other cheaters. You can play with other banned players in something that will resemble the Wimbledon of aimbot contests. Hopefully the aimbot cheat you paid for really is the best, or these all-cheater matches could be frustrating for you. Good luck.”

If you’re banned, you’re still able to play the first-person shooter, but your punishment will be having to play with other cheaters – kind of like after school detention with dishonest gamers.

"Hopefully, the aimbot cheat you paid for really is the best, or these all-cheater matches could be frustrating for you. Good luck," Respawn said.

And if you’re a banned player and wish to join a party with other players who aren’t banned, the entire party will be regarded as a banned group in that session. Hey, hate the player, not the game.

"If you are a non-cheater and you invite a cheater friend into a party, you will be stuck playing against cheaters. If you stop inviting your cheater friend, you will once again get to play with the non-cheater population," Respawn announced. "You do not get permanently tainted just by playing with a cheater--you are only banned for cheating if you are actually cheating."

What do you think of the "Titanfall" matchmaking feature? Leave a comment or tweet me!