The Black Ops 7 SBMM conversation has dominated the lead-up to the game’s launch, so let’s see if Activision has finally pulled back on skill-based matchmaking.
If you’re in the gaming circle and you’ve never heard the term ‘Skill-based matchmaking,’ you’re a lucky cat. The FPS community can’t go a week without bringing up SBMM. The more people learn about it, the more it becomes talked about, and the more mainstream it becomes, the more of an issue it becomes in shooters.
With Black Ops 7 needing a big push to match Battlefield 6 this year, a lack of SBMM could be the key.
Is SBMM In Black Ops 7?
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is finally doing away with skill-based matchmaking, as the default matchmaking system will no longer just take into account a player’s skill level when forming lobbies.
There it is. The one thing the CoD community has been crying out for over the last few years. Black Ops 7 will use ‘Open Matchmaking’ to create online multiplayer lobbies. On paper, this is going to be the most open and lottery-esque Call of Duty multiplayer title in years.
Here’s the official statement from Call of Duty:
“We can confirm that Open Matchmaking with minimal skill consideration will be the default for Black Ops 7 Multiplayer. Additionally, to help keep players together from match to match more often, persistent lobbies will be coming to Black Ops 7 at launch on November 14.”
The persistent lobbies change is also a welcome addition for many. Activision is seemingly throwing two Hail Marys to win over players and ensure it reigns supreme in the FPS war for the next year.
What Does Skill-Based Matchmaking Do In Call of Duty?
Skill-based matchmaking is an algorithm that uses player data to determine matchmaking factors ahead of everything else in Call of Duty and other leading multiplayer titles with SBMM.
Let’s simplify this: In Black Ops 6, the lobbies you were put into were predominantly determined by how the game adjudged your individual skill level. Let’s say that your combined K/D and W/L for the last 10 matches have been decent, and the game has given you a skill rating of 1.25 (for argument’s sake), Black Ops 6’s matchmaking would then try to put you in a lobby with other players that also have a 1.25 skill rating—give or take a few points.
If you have several bad games in a row, your skill rating could drop, and then you’re suddenly put in with players who (on average) are much worse than you. This means you should be able to dominate the lobby and be the MVP. But doing so would catapult your skill rating again and put you back with players on your level.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has followed in XDefiant’s path by removing SBMM by default. This means you’ll spend the full year being put into lobbies with players of all skill levels, with an emphasis likely on regional proximity over player similarity.
You’ve all wanted it, so now you can’t complain this year! Black Ops 7 has officially gone rogue, and all bets are off where matchmaking is concerned. Are you one of the many who wanted SBMM to be removed? Let us know through the Insider Gaming Discord. Tell us if you think this could single-handedly make this the best Call of Duty in a long time.
Check out if Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Has Early Access and the Season One Roadmap for more answers and guides.
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