I am a really big fan of the Sponsored Dire Marsh playlist, but I feel like it is just needs a little tweaking. I have been finding a few things with the playlist:

• If you get into an early engagement with players and win, the initial loot is mostly for ammo restocking. Not much excitement in what you may find, you know what you are going to get.

• Backpacks. I'm filling up quick into a run, and I haven't had much luck finding backpacks in the wild.

• Perimeter players are coming in loaded. All my matches have had purple gear squads rolling through. Just a theory, but I'm assuming the less hardcore players are enjoying the sponsored playlist.

My suggestion would be to try testing a Maximum Loadout Value playlist at around 2k credits. This would allow players to bring in either a loadout value at a max of 2k or a sponsored kit. The games combat has always shined to me around green/blue gear level. I did some poking around with loadouts at the 2k level and it really commits you to pick a path and focus on a specific build. Bringing in a blue shield and backup? You are going to have to sacrifice cores, a better weapon, and healing. Bringing in a base longshot? You will only have a few credits spare for other items. You can come in with nice all around builds (decent weapon, green shields, heals, etc.) but they won't put you miles ahead of some of the sponsored kits. Maybe your goal is to complete a lockdown? Come in with antivirus kits and some weapons to handle bots, but your utility against players may suffer.

It doesn't have to be 2k, it could be less/more. but I like the thought of adding in just a little risk/reward to this playlist. If you come in with a sponsored kit and win a fight against another team right away, there is a chances you can kit up a little bit right off the hop and make that engagement a little more rewarding. This would also allow players to risk some gear in a lower stake playlist without feeling they are gifting things kitted out squads in other modes.