When information technology comes to competitive Soccar, Rocket League players are given the choice between four playlists: Solo Duel, Doubles, Standard 3v3, and Solo Standard.

Amid these, Solo Standard is unique as it's the simply playlist in Rocket League that prohibits party members from queuing together as teammates. The purpose, of class, is to offer solo players a oasis from the reward that party teams have over randomly created teams. These teams likely have experience playing together and/or are in a Discord chat that enables crucial existent-time communication between teammates. Playing with random teammates means that squad chemistry is pretty hit-or-miss, and in that location'south no hazard for advice too quick conversation and frantically-typed letters betwixt goals.

These factors seem similar enough to give a team the upper hand over a team of random players, so the need for a solo queue seems obvious: With no parties, both teams are on equal basis and every player is stuck with 2 random teammates and three random opponents. With the chance for more fair matchmaking between teams, it's no wonder that players are flocking to the Solo Standard playlist.

Except... they aren't.

Of the 198,000 concurrent players on a weekday evening, only one,100 (or 0.55%) are in the Solo Standard playlist, making it the least populated playlist in the game. The playlist has virtually 17,000 fewer players than the competitive non-solo Standard playlist and 200 fewer than Snowfall Twenty-four hour period.

This raises a few questions. Why is Solo Standard then unpopular? And why does this empty playlist take a permanent spot, while fan-favorite game modes similar Spike Rush are removed?

Solo Standard's unpopularity is likely due to a few reasons. Firstly, it doesn't actually add anything to the game - information technology simply removes the ability to team upwardly with your friends. The Actress Mode playlists take relatively depression thespian counts, only they offer a fun, novel experience for players when the ranked grind becomes dull. Solo Standard is the ranked grind, just with even fewer features that make the game fun.

Secondly, the low player count makes for some absurdly long matchmaking times, particularly at higher ranks. To most players, 10+ minute queues aren't worth a supposedly more level playing field, and I think most players would agree that the group's advantage isn't every bit dramatic as it seems— learning to gel with random teammates is part of the game.

In that location's no harm in leaving Solo Standard for those who similar it, simply it's perplexing to see why Psyonix would leave information technology while they insist on removing playlists that add new experiences to the game, namely Fasten Rush and Rocket Labs. Aye, Rocket Labs fizzled out later on a few months, but it added more than diversity to players' online feel, while Solo Standard does not. Rocket League developers have hinted at Spike Rush returning in the future, only I believe it would fit right in alongside the other Extra Modes for the players who loved it.

While much of Rocket League'due south magic is in its simplicity, players rarely see gameplay updates. The cars-meets-soccer formula lends itself to tons of variations that help keep the game feel fresh, but new game modes are frequently restricted to limited events or private matchmaking. When it comes to online playlists, I believe that more diversity is amend, and that Solo Standard adds little variety to players' experience. In the hereafter I'd love to see more game modes with dedicated playlists, which would add greater flexibility to online play and plenty more reasons for players to keep playing Rocket League.