Skill-based matchmaking has been a long-running point of tension in the Call of Duty community, and with the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, the debate has quickly resurfaced. Before release, the studio announced that SBMM would be dialed back in most playlists, a move that was largely seen as an attempt to regain player trust. However, only days into launch, players began claiming that SBMM was still heavily influencing their matches—sparking a new wave of controversy.
SBMM Accusations Rise After Launch
Despite marketing that emphasized “reduced SBMM,” many players reported that matches still felt unusually competitive, with lobbies filled with opponents at similar skill levels. Combined with other early concerns—such as the confirmed use of AI during development—the SBMM debate rapidly gained traction online.
This prompted Treyarch to step in and address the situation directly.
Treyarch Clarifies How Matchmaking Works in Black Ops 7
In a public statement, Treyarch acknowledged the discussions surrounding multiplayer matchmaking and outlined how the system currently works across playlists:
- Open Playlists:
These playlists minimally consider skill and use persistent lobbies, allowing players to remain with the same match group instead of being reshuffled every round. Treyarch emphasized its commitment to this system moving forward. - Quick Play:
Quick Play also uses Open Matchmaking, meaning SBMM is again only minimally factored. Treyarch stated that this is functioning as intended. - Recent Fixes:
A Quick Play issue that caused playlist selections to be overridden has now been fixed. Players should see more consistent matchmaking behavior following the update.
The studio’s message reinforces that strict SBMM is not being used in the majority of playlists—though whether players are convinced remains to be seen.
Community Reception: Mixed But Mostly Positive
Outside of the SBMM debate, Black Ops 7’s multiplayer component has been generally well-received. Many players praise the map designs, mode variety, and the amount of launch content available. The Zombies mode has also generated excitement, though opinions remain divided on some of its changes.
The campaign, however, has sparked significant backlash. Early disappointment led to widespread review-bombing, making it the most contentious part of the release so far.
What Comes Next?
Whether Treyarch’s clarification helps settle the SBMM debate will become clearer in the coming weeks. With Black Ops 7 operating as a live-service title, ongoing updates will continue to shape gameplay and player perception.
The next major update is scheduled for November 20, bringing the long-awaited debut of Nuketown and additional multiplayer content. As the game evolves, the community will be watching closely to see if matchmaking behavior shifts—or if suspicions around SBMM continue.
