Commanders!

In May, we shared our plans for the next stage of matchmaker improvements. Since then, we've been testing these changes in live environment, assessing their impact, and refining them where necessary.

Now we're ready to take the next step with Update 2.4. The first part of this article is dedicated to the set of matchmaking improvements (primarily concerning light tanks) which has successfully passed testing and is ready for release. The second part covers the next batch of changes to be tested in 2.4 (and ensuring less map repetition).

Changes To Matchmaker: Ready to Deploy

Light Tank Roles

Light tanks are among the most influential vehicles on many maps, but they aren't all designed to perform the exact same role.

Some light tanks specialize in spotting, others in damage dealing, and some are versatile. Until Update 2.4, vehicles with different battlefield functions could often be matched against each other, resulting in uneven scouting matchups and inconsistent gameplay experience.

With the introduction of light tank roles (Scout, Support, Universal), the matchmaker will consider each vehicle's role when building teams. The goal is to create fairer and more predictable light tank matchups while preserving variety between battles.

The infographic below is an example of the effect of the changes. It shows (in green) the chance of the Manticore being matched against another Manticore before Update 2.4 (about 50%) versus the chance of the Manticore being matched against a light tank of the same tier and role after Update 2.4 (well over 90%)—for all maps and also separately for Malinovka and Prokhorovka (typical open maps where LT performance influences the battle outcome greatly).

ALL MAPS	MALINOVKA	PROKHOROVKA

No More Than Two Light Tanks per Team

Alongside the introduction of light tank roles, we are also implementing a limit of no more than two light tanks per team.

During testing, this resulted in more balanced battle openings and fewer instances of multiple Light Tanks competing for the same scouting opportunities. It also helped improve battle flow on maps where spotting plays a major role in determining the outcome.

Together with role differentiation, this change is designed to make light tank gameplay more consistent and enjoyable—for light tank players and their teams. From Update 2.4, the share of battles with four or fewer LTs and SPGs (combined) will increase from around about 80% to about 87%.

Improvements to the Matchmaker Core

We have also taken another important step in developing the matchmaker tech core. You will feel the impact of the improvements through more consistent teams and a more rewarding overall matchmaking experience.

The updated system can apply complex conditions regarding the number of vehicles of different types in battle. It also reduces the likelihood of players being temporarily denied queue placement during periods of high matchmaker load.

A stronger matchmaker tech core allows us to introduce new rules more efficiently and continue expanding the system—with features that were previously difficult or impossible to implement.

Next Round of Testing in Update 2.4

Less Map Repetition

One of the first new features made possible by the upgraded tech core is an improved map selection system. With Update 2.4, we begin testing a new feature designed to reduce map repetition.

The goal is not to completely prevent hitting the same map again (especially during longer play sessions) but to make it significantly less likely—and also to improve overall map diversity throughout an average session. The matchmaker will be better at tracking the maps you recently played on and using that information when creating future battles.

The infographic below shows the likelihood of not encountering the same map in playing sessions of various length (measured in battles and based on our modeling projections)—before Update 2.4 (left) and after (right). For example, for sessions of 21 to 25 battles the likelihood of not getting a duplicate map jumps from 1% up to 69%, and for more common sessions of 11 to 15 battles it increases from 40% to 97%.

Looking Ahead

Over the last several updates, matchmaking has been continually evolving with a series of focused improvements. Some of them are immediately visible in battle, while others affect the systems that enable future enhancements.

The changes being released now are another stage in that process, but not its final destination. Our goal remains the same: to improve battle quality step by step, validate every change through testing, and continue building a matchmaking system that supports fairer, more balanced, and thus more enjoyable battles.