ChatGPT Aids Deadlock Dev in Matchmaking Code

Valve's upcoming MOBA-hero shooter, Deadlock, recently overhauled its matchmaking system, leveraging the power of ChatGPT. A developer, Fletcher Dunn, revealed on Twitter (X) that the Hungarian algorithm, recommended by ChatGPT, now underpins the game's hero selection process.

ChatGPT's Role in Deadlock's Matchmaking Overhaul

Deadlock's previous MMR-based matchmaking faced significant criticism from players. Reddit threads highlighted imbalances, with players consistently matched against more skilled opponents while their teammates lacked comparable expertise. One player commented, "I never had better/equally skilled teammates," echoing widespread dissatisfaction.

(c) r/DeadlockTheGame The Deadlock team acknowledged these issues, promising a complete matchmaking system rewrite. Dunn's use of ChatGPT to identify the Hungarian algorithm provided a solution, prompting him to praise the AI's utility. He stated, "ChatGPT has achieved an important milestone...I have a tab in chrome that is reserved for it, always open." While acknowledging the potential displacement of human interaction, Dunn remains enthusiastic about ChatGPT's capabilities.

The debate surrounding AI's role in software development continues, with some expressing skepticism about AI replacing programmers. However, Dunn's experience highlights the potential for AI to accelerate development processes.

Algorithms are fundamental to data sorting, and their application in gaming matchmaking is crucial. In Deadlock's case, the algorithm considers only one side's preferences (player preferences) to optimize team and opponent pairings. Dunn specifically sought an algorithm for a "bipartite matching setup," where two sets of entities (players) need to be matched optimally.

Despite the improvements, some players remain critical, expressing frustration with the current matchmaking. Negative comments on Dunn's tweets reflect ongoing concerns.

Game8, however, remains optimistic about Deadlock's potential, citing positive impressions from playtests. Further details on our perspective can be found in the linked article.