Hi friends!
We have noticed that a number of PvP modes and maps have a very low pick rate. Some of them are played by less than 5% of players. We know how upsetting it can be to wait long while searching for a match. Our primary goal is to make the gaming experience more comfortable for you by reducing the time you need to find a match. So, not to split the matchmaking queues, we want to reduce the pool of available maps and modes, rotate some of them biweekly and add the rest of maps occasionally as an event. We expect that the changes will go live till the end of the month.
Details
What PvP maps and modes will stay in the game?
User preferences and high popularity among players are our main criteria when deciding which maps to include in the rotation. Thus, such popular maps as "D17", "Residence", "Oil Depot" or "Widestreet" will stay. But not all locations in the current rotation are favoured by players and not everyone is ready to spend their free time on them.
Most Popular Maps that will Remain in Quick Play on a Permanent Basis
Plant the Bomb: D17, D17 Modern.
Team Death Match: Oil Depot.
Blitz: Residence, Hawkrock.
Free for All: Widestreet.
Bag and Tag: Exclusion Area.
Capture: Construction.
Storm: Invasion.
We plan to rotate the less popular maps in Quick Play every two weeks. However, these maps will remain available on a permanent basis in Ranked Matches and Custom Rooms.
Biweekly Rotation List
Team Deathmatch: Hangar, Street Wars, Farm, Airbase, Highway, Downtown, Truck Parking, Phantom Zone Convoy, Dock.
Plant the Bomb: Bridges, Bridges Modern, Pyramid, Pyramid Modern, District 2.0, Gas Station, Destination, Destination Modern, Trailer Park, Factory, Palace, Yard.
Bag and Tag: Coliseum, Icebound.
Free for All: Downtown, Motel, Sanctuary, Forest.
Capture: Vault, Deposit, Longway, Ruins.
Storm: Black Mamba, Highhill, Blackwood Base, Blackgold 2.0.
Some of the maps in the game duplicate each other, for example, "Bridges" and "Bridges Modern". The ultimate plan is to have only one version of the map on a permanent basis, and to add the second one on a seasonal basis or during events.
The majority of thematic maps (like Cemetery, Xmas Oil Depot, Bedlam, Red Sand, Residence Xmas etc.) will stay and will be added to the game for particular events and holidays the way it was done before.
What will happen to the rest of the maps?
We plan to remove the rest of the maps with the lowest pick rate (including the modes "Domination", "Destruction" and "Battle Royal"), but that doesn't mean that you will never see them again. The maps can return to the game on the event basis. Moreover, we plan to rework some of them and add new ones.
We'd like to point out that each of the maps has a chance to return to the game within a time-limited event. We will consider the in-game stats, all possible options and your feedback, and will adjust the rotation list if needed.
We have announced our plan in advance to collect your suggestions, and we'll be grateful if you share your thoughts about it in our social media:
Discuss on Discord
Discuss on Facebook
See you in the game!