According to the reports of various users, in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet l’Online match RNG is fixed and not random, which players can use to their advantage to achieve a virtually certain victory, thus killing the competition.
In (very poor) words, RNG means “Random Number Generators”, i.e. randomly generated numbers. Since video games are based on mathematical calculations, there is no real randomness, but rather it is simulated with this system. Starting from fixed values and a so-called “seed” the outcome of mechanics related to randomness is determined. For example in Pokémon moves have an Accuracy value ranging from 30 to 100 (%) which determines how often they hit. It is thanks to the RNG that the game determines when an attack with less than 100 accuracy is able to hit the target or not.
According to the discoveries of Anubis and other players, apparently the RNG of the online matches of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet in the Battle Stadium always use the exact same seed for each fight. As a result, the outcome of attacks is never random but predetermined, which players can use to their advantage. It’s a bit like playing cards, but every time you shuffle the cards you always get the exact same hand.
Let’s take moves like Purofroge as an example, which are OHKOed (i.e. they immediately reset the opponent’s HP if they hit) but on the other hand they are also very inaccurate (30% probability). Thanks to this flaw in Game Freak’s algorithm, a player can exploit the “fixed RNG” to determine the exact turn in which the move will always hit. Needless to say, this potentially ruins Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s online matches and competitive scene altogether.
The hope of course is that Game Freak will resolve this flaw as soon as possible with a future update of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, as well as improve the performance of the two titles, which currently leave much to be desired.
