Is Marvel Rivals throwing you easy wins to stop you from rage-quitting? Will the newly teased Retro 45 emulation device really be the ultimate N64 and Dreamcast handheld? And where the hell is that remake of Max Payne? It’s another edition of Morning Checkpoint, Kotaku‘s daily roundup of gaming news and culture. Also Hoagie heroes everywhere.
Marvel Rivals addresses matchmaking complaints as Steam reviews tank
Hi Rivals! As our game continues to thrive, we want to reiterate that Marvel Rivals does not use EOMM. We are currently working on a video to demonstrate our developer insights on the matchmaking and ranking system, which is expected to be released next week.
— Marvel Rivals (@MarvelRivals) August 12, 2025
“As our game continues to thrive, we want to reiterate that Marvel Rivals does not use EOMM,” the developers of the hit hero shooter at NetEase reminded fans on X last night. Anyone who hasn’t been following along might have been confused as to what the studio was talking about. But as PC Gamer points out, a flurry of “mixed” reviews over on Steam are full of players complaining about EOMM.
Unlike skill-based matchmaking, which is supposed to pit players of relatively similar ability and experience against one another for close and fair matches, engagement-optimized matchmaking takes recent win-loss streaks into account, trying to juice results to prevent players from getting so bored or demoralized that they stop playing. “This game is fun but EOMM actually just ruins the game,” reads one of the top Marvel Rivals complaints on Steam. “It’s either stomp or be stomped. Extremely rare that it’s in between. Quick Play is sweaty, it’s not at all casual. I can’t bring myself to play anymore.”
Adding weight to the EOMM conspiracies was the widespread belief, shortly after Marvel Rivals launched, that it was using bots to feed new players easy wins. NetEase is promising an upcoming tell-all on the game’s matchmaking system to finally put the debate to bed. “We are currently working on a video to demonstrate our developer insights on the matchmaking and ranking system, which is expected to be released next week.”
Progress on Max Payne 1 & 2 remake continues with Rockstar’s help
Remedy Entertainment reported its latest earnings and provided brief updates on all of its projects. “Control 2 development is on track towards meeting its next milestones,” it reported. “The focus is now on the gameplay, environments, and missions.” As for the Max Payne remakes, momentum is slowly building. “Collaboration with Rockstar Games remains close and productive, ensuring alignment as the project advances toward its next major phase.”
It said FBC: Firebreak, its live service spin-off of Control, underperformed, however. Remedy was “unsatisfied” with the initial launch on Steam, but plans to continue building on the Left 4 Dead-like coop experience. A major update is planned to arrive in September. A third new project is also in development at Remedy. Presumably it’s Alan Wake 3, or perhaps a new IP in the related Remedy-verse the company has been building?
Dev makes last ditch effort to save Riot Games’ canceled Minecraft clone
Hypixel Studios founder Simon Collins-Laflamme said he’s made his final counter-offer to try and purchase Hytale from the League of Legends maker after it was abandoned earlier this year following almost a decade in development. “The offer is 10x what the true market value is,” he wrote on X. “They have no team, no one can even start or compile the game anymore, I hired most who could and will continue to do so in the coming days. Hytale is for the players, by the players.”
Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced is about to look and run even better on PC
Support for Nvidia’s DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation has been added to the Rockstar game today. It’ll allow players to take advantage of better ray-tracing while using AI to maintain higher, smoother-looking framerates. Hopefully PC fans are happy with the results. Who knows how long it’ll be until GTA 6 makes it to PC?
The N64 and Dreamcast, together at last
MagicX, which recently launched a slick-looking dedicated DS emulation handheld called the Zero 40, has now teased a new device combining N64 controls with the power to emulate Dreamcast games. Retro 45 was first shown to fans on the MagicX Discord (via RetroHandhelds) with some slick renders. Who’s ready to play Jet Set Radio on a giant N64 controller with an LCD screen embedded in it?
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