Call of Duty’s SBMM debate unfortunately rages on in MW4, and I don’t know what to think or feel anymore

In 2026, the debate over skill‑based matchmaking remains a contentious topic for Call of Duty and other multiplayer titles.

Should matches prioritize skill, latency, or a blend of multiple criteria? This question has lingered for years, particularly within Call of Duty, and continues to occupy players’ thoughts.

Activision’s recent social media updates reveal that Black Ops 7 has been trialing an alternative matchmaking approach, and Modern Warfare 4 is slated to refine it further. Previously, the company offered little transparency on the topic, so this openness—though still frustrating for some—is a welcome change.

The recent PS5 releases of Black Ops 1 and 2 sparked fresh debate, as many players argue that the legacy titles offered superior matchmaking. Activision counters that every Call of Duty iteration has factored skill into its system, citing BO1 and BO2. In contrast, BO7 introduced an ‘Open Matchmaking’ mode that downplays skill when pairing players.

Activision has highlighted notable drawbacks, noting that 80 % of players in BO7 from launch through season four encountered issues when comparing the Open versus Standard modes.

With the introduction of the experimental matchmaking formula in BO7, the company reports that players are staying engaged longer and completing more matches.

Since the onset of season five, Activision has observed a universal decline in quit rates across all skill brackets. Over half of players have reduced their quitting frequency by 41 %, search times have fallen compared to season four, and average ping has also improved.

While some of the game’s top competitors are facing tougher opposition, they are quitting less often. The upcoming MW4 beta scheduled for this weekend will deploy both the new matchmaking system and the traditional Open system to evaluate their performance.