Long-awaited Halo: The Master Chief Collection matchmaking patch out now
UPDATE: our initial tests show improvements.
UPDATE: Eurogamer YouTube producer Ian Higton has downloaded the patch and played Halo: The Master Chief Collection's various playlists to see if it's improved matters.
His tests show reasonable matchmaking times and party stability, suggesting whatever 343 Industries has tweaked under the hood has had the desired effect.
Here's what he found, with times in minutes and seconds to a full lobby, then being in-game.
- Team Halo 2 Anniversary - Full lobby: 1.40. In-game: 3.20. Good connection, all players joined.
- Halo Championship Series - Full lobby: 0.38. In-game: 2.08. Good connection, all players joined.
- Rumble pit - Full lobby: 1.38. In-game: 2.41. Good connection, all players joined.
- Team Slayer - Full lobby: 0.50. In-game: 1.39. Good connection, all players joined.
- Snipers - Full lobby: 1.05. In-game: 1.47. Good connection, all players joined.
- Big Team Battle - Full lobby: 1.16. In-game: 2.10. Good connection, all players joined.
- Halo: Combat Evolved - Full lobby: 0.44. In-game: 1.20. Good connection, all players joined.
- Halo 2 Classic - Full lobby: 1.09. In-game: 1.52. Good connection, all players joined.
- Halo 3 - Full lobby: 3.58. In-game: 4.41. Good connection, all players joined.
- Halo 4 - Full lobby: 3.10. In-game: 4.21 - Good connection, all players joined.
- Team Hardcore - Full lobby: 7.48. In-game: 8.26. Good connection, all players joined.
Ian reports plenty of people online currently playing the game. "While some playlists struggled to find that elusive last player so the game could start, all matches were always full when I finally got into them.
"For me it's probably the best it's been for matchmaking."
It's worth noting that ranked matches are still only available in Team Halo 2 Anniversary.
ORIGINAL STORY: Microsoft has released the long-awaited patch for its troubled Xbox One-exclusive shooter Halo: The Master Chief Collection.
Highlights include improvements to matchmaking times and party stability. Also of interest to Halo 2 players: developer 343 Industries has made improvements to multiplayer shot registration.
Here are the patch notes, courtesy of Halo Waypoint:
- MATCHMAKING: Made a variety of updates to improve matchmaking performance and success rates
- Improved matchmaking search times/time to match
- Improved stability throughout the matchmaking process across all titles
- PARTIES
- Improved party stability
- HALO 2
- Made improvements to multiplayer shot registration
- Improved campaign stability across a variety of levels
- Addressed stability issues for matchmaking and custom games
- Fixed issues around resuming H2A Campaign from "remastered" mode
- Improved medal display consistency
- HALO: CE
- Fixed issues regarding aim assist which resulted in the reticle being pushed away from an enemy
- Improved shot registration consistency between host / client in peer-to-peer custom game matches
- Resolved a variety of UI inconsistencies, including team color randomization, medals, and in-game scoreboard display
Early reports indicate the patch has helped matters. Let us know how you get on in the comments below.
