Confirming (via Start) for Arena Matches

[sivanas]

Is there a reason why arena games start automatically vs regular games where players must explicitly hit start? The wait time for Arena mode in Europe is sometimes super long so I sometimes switch tabs while I wait causing me to miss the game.

[thoun]

This is nothing specific to this game
And the reason is that you can't choose your opponent in arena, if you could cancel, it would be a way to refuse an opponent you fear.

[LesserJester]

The problems with arena auto starts and potential solutions to this problem have long been reported, suggested and seemingly ignored by BGA. The bug report here is 3 years old and needs more upvoting as it is still unacknowledged. https://boardgamearena.com/bug?id=14271

An anonymised acceptance screen seemed sensible and would seem to be all that is needed. They can find time to implement ELO changes and a poorly received tables in progress redesign on everyone. Why not spend time making actual improvements that the community are requesting?

[ExaltedAngel]

And the reason is that you can't choose your opponent in arena, if you could cancel, it would be a way to refuse an opponent you fear.

There is no need for an automatic start though: the acceptance could just be done anonimously like in most videogames with matchmaking queues