New Scenario Matchmaker Test 27/01/2026

[norealein]

Thank you for your effort to improve the SC experience!

Are you aware of the fact that some addons block the new SC window from showing up? And those are some delivered with very commonly used addon packs like VinyUI

So far I've found that: ea_scenariolobbywindow addon prevents the new interface from showing up at all.

Unfortunately some information and option is missing (can't enter preferences window, and the info on queue times and needed classes does not appear), and i have yet to find out which addon does that.
If someone maybe can provide more clarity on that.

[nat3s]

kudos, looking forward to trying it out when I get home!

[illumius]

Unified Random Queue

Instead of separate queues per scenario map, there's now a single random scenario queue, which will improve queue speed and map variety. We're just testing this single queue on PTS, and behind-the-scenes we're discussing how best to handle Weekend Warfronts and other Scenario types, which we'll share more on later.

There should be a separate queue for solo players and maybe 2. And a separate queue for premeids 3-6. If someone waits too long for a scenario, they can switch to the order side. The reward for participating and winning should be significantly higher than it is now. There should be a choice between running around Praag for 2 hours or playing a few scenarios.

[wonshot]

Maybe im sleepy, but isnt this pretty much the exact same set of changes as last test?

[gisborne]

Please make the renown bonus a flat amount rather than % based. 50% of nothing is nothing. I'd rather give up 50% of a possible 10k renown for a 2-3000 renown guarantee.

[NotHimothy]

This seems like a system with too many issues and will make queues even longer. Why not enable mixed faction queues so teams are randomized after each game? People will queue up after losing because they know the teams will be different after each game. If your team is getting stomped theres no point to re-queue, and this does not address it.

[Tuffy]

This seems like a system with too many issues and will make queues even longer. Why not enable mixed faction queues so teams are randomized after each game? People will queue up after losing because they know the teams will be different after each game. If your team is getting stomped theres no point to re-queue, and this does not address it.

+1 to mixed faction

Not only will make sc faster to queue but also will put an end to the very common scenarios of order having too many ranged and destro usually being a choppa blob

[wonshot]

Mixed factions goes against the story we are told at lvl1 when we create a character and ruins the whole reason why we are fighting.. Do NOT make that mistake again, its enough that monstrocity happend to ranked gamemode...

So far ive been queuing 3 hours on my WP. Queuetimes during NA was pretty acceptable. Could get 5 or so matches per armor potions, which is not too bad honestly.
Only had one scenario where we killed them so much they didnt come out any more and surrendeder. Had two turn-arounds. A handful of "we lose the fights but lets out rotate them on the objectives". Had one where we were spawncamped but we broke out as one guy snug out and backcapped giving them the choice between camping us, or reacting, as a result we won the fight and sc.
Only once did we have an unballanced match in terms of numbers, but that sounded like players on ror discord got quitter and the sc didnt backfill(?)

So far a 10/10 experience in matches, quality, time and mechanics plus UI!
On order I saw all 3 archtypes having the +50% bonus reward tag and being needed.

[Tushi]

I solo queued a little on this test, didn't get many pops before the problems with the queue started and I wasn't around after they were presumably resolved? But between this test and the last, I'll give what little feedback I have.

First, I really like the general direction the matchmaking is taking, the experience for the most part is far preferable to the old one when you get into a new sc. You can feel relatively confident that you'll queue up and at least have a comp you can work with to not get instantly stomped into submission with the subsequent afk'ing until you can .surrender. Sure there are still blowouts, but those are far rarer, and generally down to skill imbalance between the two sides rather than the automatic loss that sometimes comes from completely ineffective comps.

But..... Can we please ditch the backfilling entirely and just increase the punishment for leaving games prematurely, or at least make joining as a backfill optional. Give people the chance to reject the popup for a backfilled match, without getting quitter

It is bad enough normally, but with the new system where extras are meant to be thrown in to try and balance a slightly unbalanced sc, it will only be more frustrating.
Generally speaking, people don't leave winning scs. The overwhelming majority of instances where backfilling occurs will be people being thrown into a sc on a side that is already losing, and losing heavily enough that someone has ragequit, or the system deems it unbalanced enough that extra numbers are needed. This just feels awful, you sit there in queue waiting for a pop, only to be thrown into a losing sc, where your team more than likely already has a few afkers, or your team is disorganised and scrambling to recover with people scattered/waiting on staggered respawn timers etc etc. Even if you had a slim chance of regrouping and making a go at a comeback with the new people joining. Chances are high that the scenarion is already past the point of no return points wise, and that the .surrender isn't long to follow.

As for the new system where extra numbers are added to the losing side, again this just feels bad for the person being thrown in. These people find themselves in a gimped half party, just being added as extra fodder for the stronger side to farm. To top it off, after losing badly enough that extra people being brought in was deemed necessary, it's a fair bet that some people have gone afk to wait until .surrender. So now the new players have just replaced those afkers, numbers wise, but without the benefit of being put in a functional party.

TL:DR. Remove backfilling entirely, it doesn't work and just creates a negative experience for the person thrown into an ongoing sc. The changes regarding sc compositions is good and on the right lines.

[Alubert]

Long waits in line were inevitable.
I don't know why you're surprised.
If you want balanced groups in SC, waiting will be the norm.

As for mixed faction SC, it made some sense in ranked, but in regular SCs, I would definitely advise against it.