Olivia Richman 
Deadlock is looking to be the next major competitive game and that means players are trying to track their MMR, but it works differently than what fans might expect.
Valve’s MOBA-shooter hybrid ballooned in popularity and quickly had esports pros and streamers curious. Counter-Strike star Michael “shroud” Grzesiek predicted it could be the next big thing. Valorant pro Tyson “TenZ” Ngo has flip-flopped when it comes to his predictions for Deadlock, but ultimately wonders if it’s too complex for fans to follow.
That hasn’t stopped gamers from grinding to the top, however. Here’s how MMR works in Deadlock.
How to check your MMR in Deadlock
You can no longer check your MMR in Deadlock.
MMR stands for “matchmaking rating.” It’s a commonly used term in competitive games for a statistic that estimates a player’s skill compared to others. It then uses this for both rating players and putting together matches. Theoretically, this ensures that highly skilled players aren’t matched with complete newbies on a regular basis.
Previously, Deadlock players were able to check their MMR using a third-party tracker. Its existence created a defined goal for players to strive for; have the highest MMR in the world.
However, Valve limited tracking options after a patch in September 2024 during a time when developers needed more varied feedback that goes beyond top-level play experience. This feedback, it said, may not reflect the experience of newer players.
Valve may display players’ MMR once the game officially launches. At some point, Valve may remove some of the data tracking restrictions at this stage. Until then, MMR will be a mystery for players.
Why is there no MMR in Deadlock?
Valve never officially explained why MMR was removed from Deadlock.
It could be due to wanting the game to appeal to gamers beyond top competitive matches. Others believe that Valve is looking to change the game’s ranking algorithms. Deadlock is set to utilize a unique ranked ladder system and having MMR be the be-all, end-all might be confusing or reductive.
Even though there’s no way to track MMR in Deadlock now, the game still has skill-based matchmaking. This is used to ensure matches are fair and balanced. Even though players themselves can’t see their MMR, it’s still being used behind the scenes.
