MMR (Matchmaking Rating) is a number that shows a player’s skill in competitive games. It helps match players with similar abilities for fair games.
Hello, gamers who love rankings! Today, we’ll discuss a term that sparks many gaming debates: MMR.
It’s not a new console or a unique graphics option.
It’s what games use to decide how skilled we are. Let’s break it down and understand MMR!
What Does MMR Mean in Games?
MMR means Matchmaking Rating. Games use this hidden number to measure your skill level.
It works like a report card, but instead of grades, it uses math to predict your chances of winning against other players.
The purpose of MMR is to make matches fair. No one wants to be a beginner-facing expert or an advanced player with no challenge.
MMR helps match you with players of similar skill, making games more balanced and enjoyable.
How the Term Started
People have been rating players for a long time. Chess has used the Elo rating system since the 1960s. Arpad Elo created it to measure player skill.
As online gaming became more popular, developers needed a fair way to match players instantly.
The term MMR became common in the early 2000s. Competitive online games, especially MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) games, helped spread it.
DotA (Defense of the Ancients) and later League of Legends made MMR a well-known term in gaming.
How MMR Works
Each game may have different methods, but the core idea of MMR stays the same:
- Starting Point: New players begin with a standard MMR.
- Winning and Losing: Winning raises MMR while losing lowers it.
- Opponent’s Skill: Defeating more vigorous opponents increases MMR more than beating weaker ones.
- Uncertainty: The system initially adjusts new players’ MMR more significantly.
- Hidden vs. Shown: Some games keep MMR private, while others display it as a rank.
- Team Games: The system tries to balance MMR between teams.
- Performance Impact: Certain games consider individual performance along with match results.
Popular Games That Use MMR
Many competitive games rely on MMR for matchmaking. Some well-known ones include:
- League of Legends: Uses MMR to match players and determine ranks.
- Dota 2: Displays MMR for ranked matches.
- Overwatch: Has a hidden MMR and a visible Skill Rating (SR).
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive: Uses a Glicko-2-based ranking system.
- Rainbow Six Siege: Determines player rank with MMR.
- Rocket League: Matches players using an MMR system.
- Valorant: Has a hidden MMR alongside visible ranks.
- Hearthstone: Uses MMR for matchmaking in ranked play.
Other Related Terms
MMR links to various other ranking systems and terms in competitive gaming.
- Elo: A rating system first used in chess, later adapted for gaming.
- Glicko and Glicko-2: Advanced systems that measure rating accuracy.
- Skill Rating (SR): People sometimes use it instead of MMR, but it might depend on a hidden MMR.
- Ranked Play: Competitive game modes that use MMR strictly.
- Smurfing: High-level players create new accounts to compete against weaker opponents.
- Boosting: A skilled player increasing another player’s MMR.
- Calibration: Placement matches decide a new player’s MMR.
- Decay: Some games lower inactive players’ MMR over time.
Understanding MMR helps players track progress and improve. While climbing ranks is exciting, the main goal is to enjoy the game and keep improving.
