Editing Matchmaking

{{Status|Gameplay}}
{{Outdated}}
{{Redirect|Playlist|the campaign feature in [[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]|Mission playlist}}
[[File:Bungie.net goodbye.jpg|100px|thumb|Statistics of Multiplayer Matchmaking data, recorded from September 4, 2009 to March 31, 2012]]

'''Matchmaking''' is a [[multiplayer]] system which allows players or teams to be matched with others for the purpose of playing an online multiplayer game via an [[Xbox LIVE]] Gold Membership.<ref>[http://www.giantbomb.com/matchmaking/92-3334/ '''GiantBomb''': ''Matchmaking (Video Game Concept)'']</ref>

== Overview ==
Matchmaking is a multiplayer system that provides players the ability to enter into a game with less effort. Individuals or teams search for a game, and are matched by the system with other similar players. Once an appropriate number of players is found, the match is made and the game can begin. ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' is the only ''[[Halo]]'' game that did not feature any [[Xbox LIVE]] support. However, upon the release of ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'', ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' now supports Xbox LIVE compatibility, along with every other game in the collection.

Occasionally, the matchmaking service of a title will be taken offline for one reason or another. 
*''Halo 2''{{'}}s matchmaking was taken offline in [[2010]] due to the discontinuation of Xbox LIVE services on the original [[Xbox]] as a whole.
*''Halo 3'', ''Halo: Reach'', and ''Halo 4'' all had their services taken offline on [[2020#January|January 13, 2020]].

===''Halo 2''===
{{Main|Halo 2}}
In ''Halo 2'', the matchmaking system was fairly simplistic and very user-friendly, though it does not have any form of custom games search system that is present in ''[[Halo: Custom Edition]]''. There are two options available in the matchmaking system; the Quickmatch and Optimatch.

The Quickmatch option immediately put the player in any available match from the most recent matchmaking playlist the player selected. The player, however, did not have any control over the gametype. Optimatch, on the other hand, allowed the player to search their preferred gametypes from a playlist and enter any available match.

The matchmaking data from ''Halo 2'' would be used to help develop TrueSkill, the skill-based ranking system used in future ''Halo'' titles and other video games.<ref name="trueskill">[http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/news/features/trueskill.aspx '''TrueSkill:''' ''Matchmaking Made Easy for Xbox Live'']</ref>

====Optimatch Playlist====
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
* [[Rumble Pit]]
* [[Double Team]]
* [[Team Slayer]]
* [[Team Skirmish]]
* [[Team Training]]
{{Col-2}}
* [[Team Snipers]]
* [[Team Hardcore]]
* [[Big Team Battle]]
* [[Team SWAT]]
* [[H2 Challenge]]
{{Col-end}}

===''Halo 3''===
{{Main|Halo 3}}
In ''Halo 3'', players can choose from two forms of matchmaking; ranked and social with each having different gametypes. In both playlists, players are awarded Experience Points (EXP) for winning a match. Should they lose, no EXP will be given. However, if the player quits the game during a match, one EXP will be deducted from their account. Unlike ''Halo 2'', if a party has a high variability of skill levels in the current playlist, it will acknowledge it as a "mixed party" and will attempt to match with another party or several parties of a similar mix of ranks between the players.

''Halo 3'' is the first ''Halo'' game to use the TrueSkill ranking system in matchmaking.{{Ref/Reuse|trueskill}}

===''Halo Wars''===
{{Main|Halo Wars}}
''Halo Wars'' matchmaking system matches players together based on their TrueSkill ranking system, similar to other Halo titles.{{Ref/Reuse|trueskill}} Players earn ranks by increasing their unique overall score. By playing and completing online matches against other players, a player's score is increased. When certain milestones are reached, as a player's score passes a pre-determined amount, a new rank is assigned to the player.<ref>[http://www.halowars.com/faq.aspx#MatchMaking '''HaloWars.com''': ''Halo Wars Matchmaking FAQ'']</ref>

===''Halo: Reach''===
{{Main|Halo: Reach}}
''Halo: Reach'' redefines the matchmaking system by introducing the Arena matchmaking system while preserving the standard matchmaking system from ''Halo 3''.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/reach/article.aspx?ucc=playlists&cid=25234 '''Bungie.net''': ''The Arena'']</ref> Additionally, [[Firefight]] and [[Campaign]] now possess matchmaking capabilities. The game also utilizes the TrueSkill ranking system, like ''Halo 3'' and ''Halo Wars.''<ref name="CVG">[http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=240709 '''ComputerAndVideoGames''': ''Bungie details its Player Investment'']</ref>

The Arena matchmaking system focuses only on [[Slayer]]-related gametypes and is somewhat similar to ''Halo 2''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Optimatch option where players are able to alter their matchmaking settings by their preferred gametypes and playlist.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=BWU_031910 '''Bungie.net''': ''Bungie Weekly Update: 03.19.10'']</ref> In the Arena, players need to get rated for 5 days to get placed in a skill Division (Onyx, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron), in a 3-month-long seasons.{{Ref/Reuse|CVG}} At the moment arena is all about wins and losses.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=Arena_Explained '''Bungie.net''': ''Welcome to the Arena'']</ref>

To qualify for ranking, players will have to play a certain number of games a day to gain a "Daily Ranking" which will be an average of a player's best games from the day. From thereon, players will need a certain number of "Daily Rankings" in order to get a divisional ranking and compete in a season. If a player needs to get a ranking on five days to get a ranking for a season, then the player will have to play a couple of games every day for five individual days. Players will be informed the minimum participation they need in the Arena for each season.
{{Clear}}
===''Halo 4''===
{{Main|Halo 4}}
{{Expand-section}}
''Halo 4'' uses a system similar to Halo: Reach. While campaign matchmaking has been removed Firefight's replacement, [[Spartan Ops]], has a matchmaking system.

On January 13, 2022, most of Halo 4's online services were shut down. Despite 343 Industries's announcement stating that Halo 4's matchmaking was going to be shut down, it does in fact still work, albeit with limited functionality.{{Ref/Site|Id=Halo4StillUp|URL=https://www.trueachievements.com/forum/viewthread.aspx?tid=1350898|Site=TrueAchievements|Page=Forum Thread #1350898|}}

===''Halo 5: Guardians''===
{{Main|Halo 5: Guardians}}
{{Expand-section}}

===''Halo Wars 2''===
{{Main|Halo Wars 2}}
{{Expand-section}}

===''Halo: The Master Chief Collection''===
{{Main|Halo: The Master Chief Collection}}
{{Expand-section}}

===''Halo Infinite''===
{{Main|Halo Infinite}}
{{Expand-section}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HR - LaunchPlaylists.jpg|''Halo: Reach{{'}}''s launch matchmaking playlists.
</gallery>

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

==Related links==
===External===
*[http://halo.bungie.net/online/Playlists.aspx?mode=1 '''Bungie.net''': ''Matchmaking Playlists'']
*[http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/trueskill/ TrueSkill™ Ranking System]

{{Gametype}}
[[Category:Xbox Live]]
[[Category:Multiplayer]]