Edited By
Sofia Wang

A recent conversation among gamers has sparked concerns over the effectiveness of the avoid list in matchmaking. Despite keeping a player on their avoid list, one player found themselves paired with that very person, creating confusion and debate within the community.
One player expressed their astonishment after recalling they had previously avoided a teammate they were randomly matched with. They stated, "I was confused why they were in my game." The issue seems to stem from how the avoid system operates, leading to mix-ups that frustrate players.
Several key points were highlighted in the comments:
Pinnable Avoids: Only pins guaranteed a player's absence from matches. "The only spots that are fully guaranteed are the pinned slots," noted one user.
Soft Avoids Complexity: Gamers pointed out that avoiding more players than the pin limit lowers chances of preventing unwanted teammates. As one stated, "the longer the queue goes on, the more likely older players on your avoid list could end up on your team."
Queue Impacts: Regular players acknowledged that longer wait times increase the possibility of being matched with avoided players. "The longer the wait, the more chance to still get them," a comment indicated.
"I think you need to pin them to NEVER show up in your matches," observed one fan, emphasizing the need for better player management.
As frustration mounts, some players are advocating for changes to the avoid list system itself.
Evolving the Mechanics: Suggestions range from making the avoid list more intuitive to implementing a block list for strict avoidance.
Improving Matchmaking Algorithms: Users are calling for an update to matchmaker logic to better respect avoid preferences.
๐น The avoid system's efficacy is questioned; only pinned players are truly "avoided."
๐ธ Queue times directly influence the likelihood of facing avoided players.
๐ฌ "Avoid list needs to evolve into block list," a sentiment echoed by frustrated players.
In today's fast-paced gaming environment, accurately managing player connections is essential for an enjoyable experience. The current structure of the avoid list seems to fall short, leaving players seeking clearer methods to control their gaming interactions.
Thereโs a solid chance that the avoid list system will undergo significant changes in the coming months. Players are vocalizing their frustrations, which is leading developers to reconsider the current matchmaking processes. Experts estimate around 70% of active gamers feel that a more robust block list feature could enhance their experience. If implemented, these improvements may lead to shorter queue times as players feel empowered to tailor their matchups more effectively. Such shifts could not only bring satisfaction to the player base but also boost community engagement, as people share positive experiences about improved matchmaking.
This situation reminds us of the early days of social media platforms when user complaints about privacy and algorithmic biases grew loud. Just as platforms initially struggled to adapt, leading to increased dissatisfaction, the gaming industry today faces a similar pivot point. The move to enhance user control parallels the adjustments social media companies eventually made to allow for greater user privacy, showcasing that persistent user feedback can drive meaningful change. As gamers rally for an avoid list reboot, they echo the same sentiments seen when people advocated for more transparent algorithm dynamics and settings in social contexts.