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Frustration grows as arena royal matchmaking delays persist

Arena Royal Matchmaking | Players Frustrated with Slow Queues

By

Fatima Al-Nasir

Feb 13, 2026, 08:46 PM

Edited By

Emma Collins

2 minutes of duration

A group of players looking frustrated while waiting for their game to start in Arena Royal
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A recent uproar among gamers signals significant discontent regarding matchmaking times in Arena Royal. Many feel that the launch of this battle royale mode has come at a detrimental stage for the game. Players voiced their concerns in online forums, citing lengthy wait times and a dwindling player base.

Community Voices Growing Louder

Comments from players have been critical, emphasizing the necessary balance between player retention and game updates. One player noted, "You can’t release a game and pull it offline expect people to stay loyal." They highlighted how the game's decision to go offline temporarily could affect trust and engagement—a perilous move for any title trying to build a community.

Timing Is Everything: Issues with Player Populations

Players sharing their matchmaking experiences pointed to varying player populations affecting join times. A West Coast player remarked, "It really depends on the time you play"—emphasizing that prime hours can yield quicker matches. However, frustrations remain high outside peak times, with many players experiencing match queues upwards of 120 seconds.

The Multiqueue Dilemma

Another critical topic centers around the introduction of multiple queue options. One user stated bluntly, "I’m not sure why they added multiqueue to then add separate playlists on top of that." Confusion abounds as the fragmented queue system seems to prevent players from efficiently finding matches.

"The game is dying, you can’t split the player base like that."

Key Takeaways from Community Discussions:

  • 🚫 Unstable Player Base: Many claim the low population hampers overall game health.

  • ⏱️ Matchmaking Delays: Average wait times exceed 120 seconds, frustrating players.

  • Queue Confusion: Players are unclear on the benefit of the multiqueue system.

While some enthusiasts shout that the battle royale experience is thrilling, others warn—"launching a battle royale mode for a game on its last legs is certainly a choice." As discontent festers, the question remains: Can Arena Royal turn the tide before losing its remaining player base?

The online gaming community waits anxiously for developers to address these vital concerns.

Shifting Sands of Player Engagement

If the current trends continue, Arena Royal could face a growing player exodus. With matchmaking delays persisting, experts estimate around a 30% chance that developers will overhaul the matchmaking system in the next few months to address player complaints. In a bid to retain users, they might also enhance incentives for off-peak playtimes. Most importantly, a significant overhaul could provide a solid chance of reviving interest in the battle royale mode, potentially increasing player retention by 40%. However, if action is delayed too long, the game could enter a downward spiral that’s hard to recover from.

A Forgotten Tale from the Battlefields of Online Gaming

In a surprising twist, this situation mirrors the early days of another popular game, Z1. Back in 2016, it faced rampant criticism over similar matchmaking issues and player retention woes but managed to turn things around by streamlining its processes and enhancing player engagement. Much like the traits seen in Arena Royal now, Z1 was seen as faltering yet captured the attention of the community by making swift, meaningful changes. The crux lies in how quickly Arena Royal adapts; the possibility for redemption is there, but it will require deliberate and immediate action before the player base evaporates.