Modern Warfare 2 Ranked Play dev reveals secret to confusing SR system
After Modern Warfare 2 players expressed their dismay with Ranked Play SR, a dev took the time to explain how the system works. Here’s what you need to know about the secret skill value in MW2 Ranked Play’s system.
Modern Warfare 2 Season 2 delivered the highly anticipated Ranked Play mode to the Call of Duty title. So far, the competitive experience has been well received by players as the release of Ranked Play coincided with a major boost in Modern Warfare 2 Twitch viewership.
While most players have been focused on battling like CDL pros and earning Ranked Play rewards, others have brought up two minor issues with the mode: the overpowered ISO Hemlock and how much SR players gain after each match.
Luckily, the ISO Hemlock was quickly moved to the list of restricted weapons after countless complaints. Now, the devs also shared more insight into the Skill Rating system in Modern Warfare 2 Ranked Play.
Ranked Play dev explains SR gains in Modern Warfare 2
Lawrence Metten is a Lead Game Designer at Treyarch and had a hand in creating Modern Warfare 2’s Ranked Play. On February 27, Metten took to Twitter to break down how the Ranked Play Skill Rating system works after players expressed frustration with the mode’s SR gains.
Since the launch of Modern Warfare 2 Ranked Play, players have shared their frustration with how little SR they gain after a dominant match and how much they lose after a tight one.
As Metten explains in a Twitter thread, the reason is due to Ranked Play’s Hidden Performance Range. HPR directly impacts your SR gains and losses. Let’s find out exactly what HPR is in Modern Warfare 2 Ranked Play.
What is HPR in Modern Warfare 2 Ranked Play?
According to Metten, HPR is a “hidden skill value” that determines how good a player is in Modern Warfare 2 Ranked Play and judges how well that player is expected to play against other players.
Every player in Modern Warfare 2 has a Hidden Performance Range. If you “beat players with a higher HPR than you,” your HPR will go up and if you fail to meet the expectations set by the system, your HPR will drop.
In other words, the HPR system is judging your skill level in Ranked Play. If you perform better than expected in a match you should gain more SR than usual. However, if you perform really well in a match, but your HPR indicates that it was expected, then you shouldn’t expect major SR gains.
As Metten explains: “We see a lot of questions like ‘I top fragged, why did my teammates earn more SR?’ If you see someone else earning considerably more or less SR than you, it’s likely due to a difference in how close either of you is to your HPR.”
It’s normal for your SR gains to stabilize from the large amount you’ll accumulate at the start of your Ranked Play journey. This is a sign of your SR catching up to your HPR, also known as your Skill Rating matching up with the level of skill that the system thinks you’re capable of.
However, it’s important to note that your HPR can rise: “if you manage to improve your overall performance your HPR will rise – and carry your SR with it.”
For more, check out the best Modern Warfare 2 audio settings, PC settings, and controller settings to have you dominating Ranked Play.
Image Credit: Activision