I believe the Matchmaking Portal is not required for matchmaking since the player can set the island code directly or choose the island from the discovery section. Either way, it seems the Matchmaking Portal, with its Island Code field, is optional for matchmaking. At least this is my current understanding.
If so, then does matchmaking only work on fully listed public islands? Like would it not work on unlisted published islands? In my Island Settings I have the Max Players and Team Size both set to 4, and the Teams set to Cooperative.
Should this setup just work if I change the map from Unlisted to Listed? I am worried about listing my map before I fully test to make sure its matchmaking features actually work and people can have fun randomly with other people.
So the matchmaking portal has many uses, for instance, you will find that lot of creators will place them in their maps to
Allow players to matchmake into new creations that they have made
Re-match make into the same island if there are not enough players ( this is used primarily for players to search for larger lobbies)
Even they can be used to advertise your favorite maps or your friends in your island to help get them players. ( sort of like a hub)
You will see creators place matchmaking portals in the pregame, main lobbies or even in a special area that the player is teleported to before the game ends.
To answer your questions:
When matchmaking portals are placed on your map, they should work on your map whether it is listed or unlisted. What’s important is the map code that you use in the matchmaking portal itself has to be listed or unlisted. Entering a private code will prevent players from entering that map.
Your next question:
Testing is always great, so be sure to jump in there and test all you can. You should find that whether your map is listed or unlisted whatever code you have placed in the matchmaking portal should work as long as the code itself is listed or unlisted and not a private code.
Read up more on how you can use the matchmaking portal here
I hope this helps and if it does please let me know!
I appreciate the detailed help and information surrounding the matchmaking portal device. However, it almost seems like matchmaking does not require the Matchmaking Portal Device. Is this possible?
Players are able to matchmake into games through discovery by
clicking on a map and joining game
entering in an island code ( on the designated tab)
Matchmaking portals are personal matchmaking devices that you an implement on your map for specific purpose (as reflected in the info above )
So no, it is not necessary to have a matchmaking portal within your map or game to enable players to matchmake into your game. They will either have to find your map on discovery or enter the code.
However if you have other maps to share that you would like them to matchmake into, then implementing a matchmaking portal within your map will allow you to do that
Okay, I will keep testing. I tried it with my current settings by both me and a friend entering an unlisted island code and we couldn’t get into the same game session. I will keep testing it, maybe there is something we are doing wrong. Thanks.
No you are not doing anything wrong. As long as the map is not private, published and unlisted - The only thing you need to do is join the map, then invite your friend to your lobby, they will then be able to join your game that way -
Or invite them into your lobby and you can both join in together.
Testing is always great, so be sure to jump in there and test all you can. You should find that whether your map is listed or unlisted whatever code you have placed in the matchmaking portal should work as long as the code itself is listed or unlisted and not a private code.