Valve's latest matchmaking system for the studio's competitive first-person shooter Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) could drastically reduce the number of reports regarding cheating, poor behavior, and generally negative experiences with other players.
According to a recent blog post, Valve's latest update for CS:GO has introduced a new system of matchmaking that utilizes what the studio is calling the "Trust Factor" to match suitable players with each other during competitive play. The intent of this system is to provide a better experience for players by reducing the amount of encounters with cheaters and unpleasant or "toxic" teammates and enemies.
The Trust Factor takes into account a number of different elements from the player's Steam account when matching them, including the amount of time spent playing CS:GO, how frequently they've been reported for cheating, and how often and for how long they play other games over Steam. According to the post, the Trust system has yielded fairly positive results during testing, with a general reduction of reports recorded overall.
Interestingly enough, Valve has opted not to disclose the full list of relevant factors in Trust, citing an unwillingness to worry players over any particular actions while playing the game. The studio also stated that due to the frequency with which the Trust system will be updated, such a list would be in constant need of updates, rendering it an unreliable source of information.
Nor will players have access to their account's Trust Factor and can only improve their unknown classification by continuing to "be a positive member of the CS:GO and Steam community." That said, the blog does suggest that players who play games over Steam regularly should have a more accurate reading. "The more you play, the more information the system has and the easier it will be for the system to determine who you should be matched with."
CS:GO previously utilized an optional "Prime" system of matchmaking that matched players together based on whether or not they'd verified their account with a unique phone number and, later, a certain level of in-game experience. Valve has stated that the improved Trust approach hasn't necessarily made Prime obsolete, and that the former is still available for players seeking a more refined matchmaking experience.
Other changes in the update include a significant number of changes to old maps, the removal of the Aztec, Italy, Vertigo, and Militia maps, and the end of Operation Hydra. For a full look at CS:GO's latest patch, check out the full summary over the official blog post.
