Here’s how matchmaking will work in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will ditch the “For Fun” and “For Glory” matchmaking types and group online competitors according to new systems, including preferred rules and a ranking called Global Smash Power.

Director Masahiro Sakurai outlined the new features in this morning’s Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Direct. Broadly speaking, users may set and change their preferred rules for online play. The matchmaking system will then attempt to group as many people with similar preferences together, and then randomly select one fighter’s set as the rules for that match.

Sakurai said matchmaking will prioritize proximity over rules, so if the system finds a battle closer to the player, they may end up in a pool whose fighters have less similar rule preferences.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will also feature local co-operative multiplayer (two players on one Switch fighting online) and local wireless play (two Switches connected via WiFi network).

As for Global Smash Power, this new ranking will govern the strength and experience of one’s opponents when being match-made. Basically, Global Smash Power is someone’s rank relative to all other players in the world. The number will fluctuate as more players join the game. A high enough Global Smash Power will let players access elite battles, Sakurai said. He expects that Global Smash Power will be balanced and rebalanced after launch.

Other online features:

• Spectator mode returns.
• Players may also set up and join battle arenas, choosing to participate or view based on where they place their icons on the arena screen.
• Other modes of the game will be playable while waiting for an online game to be found.
• Smash Tags are new; every player designates a Smash Tag for their fighter. Players collect the Smash Tag of those they defeat (the defeated player does not lose their Smash Tag, however).

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, with a roster of 74 fighters, launches Dec. 8, 2018 for Nintendo Switch.