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The matchmaking system in Call of Duty has been a hot topic of debate for years, often sparking theories and tests to uncover how it works. At the center of this ongoing discussion is Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM), a controversial feature within the franchise.
SBMM consistently faces scrutiny, particularly with each new CoD title release, like Black Ops 6 or Warzone‘s annual integration, as some players argue that it disrupts the variety and enjoyment of “traditional” matchmaking. It remains one of the most divisive aspects of the series. That being said, here’s everything you need to know about SBMM in Call of Duty.
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What Is Skill Based Matchmaking In Call Of Duty?
Skill Based Matchmaking (SBMM) in Call of Duty refers to, as the name suggests, a matchmaking system that uses statistics based on players’ skills as factors to group them in a lobby with other players of similar characteristics. Instead of relying on other factors such as connection to match players, this system relies on player statistics to make the matches as equal as possible and in many cases protect new players who do not yet have much experience with the franchise or the particular game.
Why Is SBMM Controversial?
Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM) has become a highly debated topic, with many players arguing that the system overly favors newcomers, negatively impacting the gameplay experience of seasoned players by placing them in lobbies with equally skilled opponents.
While less noticeable in earlier titles of the franchise, Advanced Warfare (2014) is often cited as one of the first games to make SBMM more apparent. However, it wasn’t until Modern Warfare (2019) that many felt SBMM reached an extreme, fundamentally altering the traditional Call of Duty experience.
Despite the yearly resurgence of this debate with each new release, Activision had previously never formally acknowledged the use of SBMM. It was in April 2024 when they decided to explain, for the first time, how matchmaking in Call of Duty works, publishing several White Papers. These official documents revealed that non-ranked lobbies prioritize matchmaking factors in the following order: connection quality, time to match, player diversity, recent maps and modes, skill and performance, input device, platform, and voice chat preferences.
Does Black Ops 6 Have Skill-Based Matchmaking?
While skill is a factor in Black Ops 6’s matchmaking system, it remains unclear if it is a primary determinant for assembling players in a lobby. According to the matchmaking White Papers shared by Activision, skill is not the top priority for matchmaking in non-ranked modes, but it is still accounted for during the process.
Neither Activision nor the development teams behind Black Ops 6 have explicitly confirmed that SBMM (Skill-Based Matchmaking) is the driving force behind the matchmaking system. While skill is considered, it cannot be confirmed that it overrides other factors outlined in the matchmaking process.
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