over 5 years ago - /u/Jayfresh_Respawn - Direct link

https://preview.redd.it/x0g5kn6lry931.png?width=1553&format=png&auto=webp&s=5f70fe06a43f5448d39a6df899fd4f16eb5bdd2c

Hey all,

As we slide into the weekend we wanted to check in with some updates:

DEV TRACKER

The dev tracker was updated this week to include new issues reported that we’re tracking. Reminder that this tracker does not account for all the things currently being worked on and meant to provide visibility into some of the larger issues that we’re aware of and investigating or fixing.

We are currently working on the next client patch that is planned to go live next week. We’ll update then with status and patch notes.

Check out the dev tracker here.

https://preview.redd.it/bjnlk02try931.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=560dffc4970a5b0ebf9ce90e4801fcb74dd1ac1b

CODE: LEAF/NET

First some context as to what these errors mean:

  • code:leaf - the server never answered us when we asked it if we could connect
  • code:net - we were on a server and it disappeared on us and stopped answering

Back at launch we had a few different things that would display an overly generic timeout error, and the problem was that it could mean 4 different things (only one of which was a true timeout). So we added 4 different error strings and put random words in each one so that we could differentiate them both at the customer support level and also on our error tracking backends.

In our 1.2 patch, users started getting this more often. The consistent report is that it happens after an extended time on the Kings Canyon load screen just after a match starts.

The vast majority of players reporting the error are getting code:leaf. This means the backend created a match, our servers successfully talked to one another, we sent users there, and the player never got an answer from that new server.

We then gathered enough data to prove that servers don't think clients are timing out, but clients think servers are timing out. That was a strange finding. We also verified that we aren’t launching matches that are partially full - so code:leaf seems to hit every single player on that match server, not just some players.

So we’ve been investigating a lot of situations that could be causing this and working our way through theories to see what it could be and steadily eliminating possibilities. In addition to the work ongoing on our end, we’ve also been working with Multiplay and data teams to gather more telemetry.

We’ll keep you all updated on progress as we continue to work on this.

https://preview.redd.it/7n8qbk1nry931.jpg?width=1600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f5eb2211ade1b061e72bd58315c240c7904a26f1

CHEATING

We know reports of cheaters, especially in Ranked, have been a hot topic so this week we also wanted to provide a little visibility into some of the work that’s been going on behind the scenes to combat cheating:

  • Using machine learning to create behavior models that detect and auto ban cheaters.
  • Requiring TFA in certain regions on high risk accounts.
  • Improving detection that identifies and bans new spam accounts before they are used.
  • Ongoing work to adapt to new cheats.
  • Matchmaking that matches detected cheaters and spammers together.
  • Investigating how people party up for matches. Even if you are not specifically using a cheat, partying up with cheaters is still cheating.
  • Increasing resources whether that be people or tech.

As we’ve said before, the war against cheaters will be ongoing and remains a high priority for us. There will always be work to do, improvements to make, and new things to adapt to. We’d like to thank the players that have been getting involved with helping us squash cheaters over the last week whether it be submitting reports or assisting with the vetting process for suspicious behavior.

If you encounter a cheater you can report them here. If you can please try to capture video proof as well.

Understand that we are not going to discuss the details of a specific ban with players on any public forums. If you feel that you have been wrongly banned you can appeal it here.

ESPN EXP EVENT

Yesterday streamers, athletes, and celebs competed in a fun live event to raise money for The V Foundation. The players put on a great show and if you didn’t get a chance to watch the livestream last night you can check out the VOD here.

https://preview.redd.it/0lcfta8fpy931.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=987330aea67de217803a5d58bfc9648520bb339c

TWITCH PRIME LOOT

Starting today you can grab the next skin in the roster by linking your Twitch Prime account here. This time it’s Bangalore rocking the Dino Dynamo rare skin. And don’t forget to grab Wattson L-Star skins as well if you haven’t yet.

Claim the skins here. https://twitch.amazon.com/prime/loot/apexlegends/?ref_=SM_OM_APEX2_2019_CRWN

PATCH NEXT WEEK

We are currently working to release a client patch next week and will discuss the details of the fixes coming with it in the patch notes then.

External link →
over 5 years ago - /u/Jayfresh_Respawn - Direct link

Originally posted by [deleted]

[deleted]

Two Factor Authentication.

over 5 years ago - /u/Jayfresh_Respawn - Direct link

Originally posted by jdk2087

Well, thank you for updating us! I know leaf is bumming out a lot of people. I’m about to have a pretty gnarly tropical storm roll through down here so I was wanting to get in a few matches before no power for a week+.

Hopefully I can get a few in. Everyone else in Louisiana, stay safe!

Be safe!

over 5 years ago - /u/thezilch - Direct link

Originally posted by [deleted]

It'd also be easier to report cheaters if your spectating system let us rotate through the squad that killed us...it's very frustrating to be *one* click away from reporting a cheater, but being unable to do it.

It's coming.

over 5 years ago - /u/Scriptacus - Direct link

Originally posted by karp_490

Hope i havent missed you, i had a few issues id like to bring up

  1. If i somehow manage to spectate the cheater, its very easy to report that person for cheating ingame. If my own teammate is cheating however, there is no correct option to report them for cheating. Only options like harassment/spam, and i have to view their profile and report them through the overlay. Can we get a way to report ingame similar to reporting people we spectate.

  2. Loot distribution. Im not calling for disruptor rarity changes or anything like that, but with all these new attachments that have been added, it feels like the distribution was overlooked. Several times a day i can run through one wing of skulltown (like 8 buildings) and not find a single weapon. Ill have loads of shields/meds or hopups/attatchments, but guns just seem rarer than they should be. I dont mind a bit of rng when i drop in a hotzone, but its pretty bad atm.

I'll add cheating to the teammate report list on monday

over 5 years ago - /u/Scriptacus - Direct link

Originally posted by APater6076

And the loot distribution? It feels like there are no more loot areas than before but with more loot items available finding a gun at game start is a total lottery at times. I've been through two full buildings and not found even a Mozzy. But I have found a stack of Heavy ammo, a helmet, 2 white stocks, a white light magazine, a white Shotgun stock, a white energy magazine, two stacks of shotgun ammo and a frag grenade.

I'll see if we can't do some regression testing with the spawn rates, but overall the distribution hasn't changed to my knowledge. The loot system weights spawns by loot category (weapons are a separate category); adding a new item to a category changes the distribution only within that category. (e.g. if we added a new grenade without touching the weights of the existing grenades the only effect across all loot in the match would be that those other grenades spawn less frequently to make room for the new one)

over 5 years ago - /u/Scriptacus - Direct link

Originally posted by oxEBVBSCTvkkTVRUxwoK

u/Scriptacus: I read that loot distribution is different when we're not playing with a full squad. Is it true? Does it apply only to 1+1+1 matches or also to 2+1 ones?

Thanks a lot!

EDIT: So... Are loot distributed according to a fixed percentage or according to probabilities?

I guess what I'm asking is... Are we guaranteed to have at least one of each item during a match? cc u/Scriptacus

Loot distribution does not dynamically change.

over 5 years ago - /u/Scriptacus - Direct link

Originally posted by TwitchingShark

What was the reasoning behind this choice? Is it just easier to maintain?

Generally, players will do whatever they can to gain advantage. If their actions can influence, for example, the contents of a loot bin, they'll do so. e.g. if a lot bin was more likely to contain armor if you don't have any armor, some players would start removing their grey/blue armor before opening loot bins.

over 5 years ago - /u/Scriptacus - Direct link

Originally posted by Lou3h

Not sure if this was added at some point without me being aware. But is there a way to report a cheater in the situation where you get second place to a person that's cheating when they become champion?

Something like a "players met" list from the game you just played would be nice for the situations where you can't spectate the person to report them in-game.

Not currently, but I'll see what we can do

over 5 years ago - /u/Scriptacus - Direct link

Originally posted by Omfg_My_Name_Wont_Fi

Is loot distribution also determined by the number of players landing in a given location? It feels like skulltown loot is crazy when multiple groups land there and less than lackluster if it’s just 1 or 2 squads.

Nope, loot is determined before players even drop

over 5 years ago - /u/Scriptacus - Direct link

Originally posted by myriadic

is loot in ranked any different than normal mode?

Nope

over 5 years ago - /u/Scriptacus - Direct link

Originally posted by myriadic

sorry, but i have one more unrelated question, if you don't mind

are rings pre-determined? if so, do you have a ballpark number of possibilities? do ranked/unranked get the same ring combos?

i've started taking screenshots and have 14 rings...just don't want to waste my time if it's truly random

It's random, but there are some validity checks on the final locations, meaning there are some places that the ring can't end.