[2021] Priority Pass Updates

Hey everyone, we wanted to follow up on the performance of the Priority Pass and some next steps we’re taking to improve the process.

So far, our data indicates that the Priority Pass is functioning as intended, generally providing shorter queue times for those who use them. The goal of the Priority Pass is to improve player experience and get players into matches quicker. In the same vein, we don’t want this feature to have a negative impact on the quality of matches for yourself or others. We want to do our part to discourage players from intentionally losing and ruining matches for the sake of earning priority passes.

Moving forward, we’re looking to make the following adjustments to address some of these learnings:

• Losing a match will now earn 1 pass, down from 2
• A Priority Pass will be refunded back to players who used a pass, but ended up waiting longer that than the provided estimated wait time for those not using a pass

We’re going to continue evaluating data, make appropriate tuning changes to the system, and are looking into how we can better communicate when you are rewarded passes after playing a match.

We hope you continue to enjoy the Priority Pass feature going forward. Let us know what you think about the feature, we’re listening! To learn more about the Priority Pass, check out our interview with Scott Mercer and our forum post outlining the feature’s goals.