Destiny 2 will have different matchmaking settings between its two PvP playlists, in an attempt to offer a mix of competitive and casual environments. In the Destiny 2 beta on consoles in July, developer Bungie implemented its signature blend of connection-based and skill-based matchmaking in both its Quickplay and Competitive playlists, but that's about to change in the beta for PC and for the full game itself.

It appears that Bungie listened to feedback during the console beta that said skill-based matchmaking should be toned down or removed in the casual Quickplay playlist. While skill-based matchmaking isn't going away entirely in Quickplay, it is being reduced. To further emphasize the more casual experience, Bungie is also extending the score cap for a match and adjusting the Mercy Rule trigger:

Matchmaking times will be shorter, with less emphasis on Skill. This is the fastest route to a game, but you may face opponents outside of your comfort zone. The winning score in Control has been extended from 75 to 100 to allow for more time to play and use your abilities. Because too many matches were shorter than we expected (some Guardians weren’t even able charge their Super) we’ve extended the trigger for the Mercy rule so it will come into play less often.

In the Competitive playlist, skill will remain a driving force with a mix of connection-based matchmaking to help reduce latency during the match. This seems to be what fans will traditionally recognize as classic Destiny matchmaking:

Matchmaking takes more time to introduce you to players that are closer to you in skill with a good connection. These matchmaking settings may take longer, but we feel that the quality of the gameplay experience will be worth the wait. We have also made improvements to the way we calculate your skill in Countdown to better reflect how you’ll perform against your opponents.

These changes will be present for the PC beta, which goes live with early access (for those who pre-ordered the game) on August 28. Bungie will likely be watching this beta, just as it did the console beta, to judge how the new matchmaking settings are functioning out in the wild.

Hardcore fans of Destiny are pretty happy with the changes announced to matchmaking, considering that the topic in Destiny 1 was an ongoing point of contention between developer and fans. As always, the PC beta and (even more so) the full game will be the true test for how the new matchmaking feels.

Destiny 2 releases September 6, 2017 for PS4 and Xbox One, and October 24 for PC.

Source: Bungie