After Activision Blizzard Experimented on Call of Duty Players, SBMMless Lobbies May Happen

Right in the middle of heated debates concerning skill-based matchmaking in the Call of Duty franchise (Modern Warfare 3, Warzone, and the upcoming Black Ops 6), Activision is said to be looking at quite a drastic step.

The gaming giant is looking toward a NO-SBMM playlist that could pave the way to quell the growing player thirst for ease and variety in the multiplayer experience. This is big because it could change the matchmaking strategy for the Call of Duty multiplayer ecosystem forever.

Call of Duty: Player Demand X Developer Dilemma

Players have criticized SBMM for years, stating various cons against its use. While the current system makes almost every match highly competitive, high-skilled players claim that it kills some of the fun factors and puts them at risk of burnout. In short, it’s not decent for the long haul.

Some players even liked it better when the matches weren’t so predictable. Once in a while, some sweet relief came through fighting opponents of worse cadres. Taking heart from these sentiments, Activision is now mulling the possibility of an SBMMless mode. Before the launch of Black Ops 6, the devs need to rethink their Zombies.

This mode would cater to those seeking a break from the rigorously balanced matchmaking, allowing for more casual and unpredictable gameplay. However, the decision is fraught with complexity. Activision has been concerned about the broader implications for player engagement and retention. 

While the company understands that some players might enjoy this change, some others might view the experience as less enjoyable, specifically those with lower skill levels. Hence this approach could lead to a bifurcation of the player base, as highly skilled players move toward the new mode and perhaps leave other players behind.

Testing the Waters With the New Call of Duty?

Based on Activision’s internal data, the results of the SBMMless mode are mixed. High-skilled players have indeed enjoyed short-term satisfaction by dominating matches, but there’s a concern that lower and mid-skilled players might feel overwhelmed, leading to decreased engagement and retention. The devs still need to weigh out on the potential impacts carefully.

Activision revealed the findings of several experiments they had conducted within the game. One of these included running an experiment where the influence of SBMM was turned down for part of the player base in Modern Warfare 3. It turned out that players with skill discrepancy quit playing games way earlier and were less likely to come back, as compared with their skilled peers under standard SBMM settings. 

This finding underlines the tightrope that SBMM is trying to ride: making things competitive but enjoyable for the vast majority of all players. Reportedly, fans believe that Helldivers 2 should also implement the matchmaking of Call of Duty.

Furthermore, it was highlighted that while high-skilled players might benefit from the reduced SBMM in terms of performance and enjoyment, the overall health of the player population could suffer and the company doesn’t want that to happen. Lower and mid-skilled players, who by the way constitute a significant portion of the community, are more likely to disengage if they frequently encounter mismatched opponents.

At the end, there is only one way to find out whether this change will hit the right spot for everybody. Activision surely will need to tread very carefully to ensure that any changes to the matchmaking system do not alienate part of its player base. 

What do you think of this new direction of Call of Duty that Activision is pondering? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.