Please change region-based matchmaking!

[yaeca]

On the PC version of MHW, searching for online sessions and SOSes will only show you results from players in nearby regions. This depends on your Download Region in the Steam settings, which you can change anytime. You don't even need to restart Steam or MHW for it to take effect in game (just hit cancel when Steam asks you to restart).

The problem is that this region filtering causes search results to be way too limited. For example, I've seen sessions that show up when I choose a US East server, but not when I'm on a US West server. I tested this many times to make sure the sessions were still there and not just disbanded or full. There is no reason for these sessions to be hidden from people on the same continent, much less the same country.

I've noticed the same problem with other regions that are close to each other, like Western Europe and Northern Europe, or Japan and Korea. Players from Australia or other low population regions are going to see far less online activity if they don't know about changing their download region.

Example of west vs. north EU: https://imgur.com/a/sEm5Xjl

The PS4 version doesn't have as much region filtering (if any), so you see players from all over the world, and the online tends to be more active. Of course the PC version probably has a lower population too, but having a strict region filter on top of that makes the online much less lively than it could be. It can be hard to find players if you're looking for specific quests or playing at off-hours.

It would be great for online activity if the region filter were removed, or at least made less limited. MHW uses Steamworks for lobby matchmaking, so I'm guessing it's the distance filter setting that's set to the default currently, and could be changed to allow wider results:
https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/api/ISteamMatchmaking#ELobbyDistanceFilter

[𝓇𝒾𝓃𝒶𝒶𝒶𝒶𝒶]

That would probably add more lag, some hunts are already unplayable because of it.

[yaeca]

It would, if you're not hosting the quest there might be a small delay before the monster reacts to things like staggers or statuses. But it's rarely unplayable unless the connection is really poor quality. There aren't many complaints about this on PS4 either, which probably has worse connections overall (more Wi-Fi users).

[Kushboo Dankbar]

Dude this is a great idea, thanks for the heads up! It gets annoying when literally no SOS appears

[Washing Machine]

Yeah dunno, I got into some real lagfest yesterday where Bazel was skating backwards and everything was delayed by several seconds. Doubt I was the only one dealing with it since it ended in a triple cart.

Highlight was when I tried to flash pod the carpet bombing, nothing happened Jhoe marches in, suddenly Baz teleports to the ground from the carpet bombing to roar as turf war begins, and THEN my flash pod goes into effect and interrupts them.

[Dagný]

Originally posted by yaeca:

I've noticed the same problem with other regions that are close to each other, like Western Europe and Northern Europe

I didn't notice that at all, I've played with people from several different european countries. I'm sure It's the most active region right now, I can flare an SoS on a meaningless quest and 3 players will quickly show up.

[yaeca]

Originally posted by Dahlia Hawthorne:

I didn't notice that at all, I've played with people from several different european countries. I'm sure It's the most active region right now, I can flare an SoS on a meaningless quest and 3 players will quickly show up.

Western and Northern Europe aren't completely separated, but many sessions/SOS won't show up in both regions.

https://imgur.com/a/sEm5Xjl

I took these screenshots seconds apart from each other and refreshed a few times to show as many sessions as possible. Some are shared (I'm guessing the host is from somewhere in between these two countries), but many are hidden if your download region is set to Sweden.

[Corrupt-nz]

Capcom no come here

[yaeca]

Yeah they probably never check here, but I've already tried submitting a ticket. Just want to get more people aware of the issue.

[Fraktal]

Originally posted by Otachi-nz:

Capcom no come here

I’m right here babe.

[陆战队大头.]

YEAH

[Preacher JLU]

Originally posted by Otachi-nz:

Capcom no come here

Yeah, I have never ever seen Capcom answer anything in the forums on steam.

[侍Kage]

Originally posted by Sᵘᵍᵃʳˡᵉˢˢ ᴛᴇᴀ:

That would probably add more lag, some hunts are already unplayable because of it.

No. I'm from europe and changed my download region to china/japanese. I play with asian people all the time and had no lag at all. Works perfectly fine, there is no reason to limit it like this. It must be worldwide matchmaking, it would make everything easier.

[sedna16]

I think the lag is based on steam's servers

[Kyshion]

Originally posted by Sᵘᵍᵃʳˡᵉˢˢ ᴛᴇᴀ:

That would probably add more lag, some hunts are already unplayable because of it.

Not true. I am from SEA region and I was able to play with a streamer from US without any lag or delay. I have no idea why there is a filter anyways.