Black Ops 7 SBMM Guide: Skill-Based Matchmaking is Gone?

The long-standing debate over skill-based matchmaking in Call of Duty has reached a turning point with Black Ops 7. After years of community outcry, Treyarch has made a dramatic shift that fundamentally changes how players will experience multiplayer when the game launches on November 14, 2025.

Is this going to solve all the problems we've experienced with Call of Duty's matchmaking over the years? Absolutely not: we can get that particular idea out of our proverbial head right this instant. Yet, there's a point to be made that we're going to have a wildly different experience this time around. That might be worth the experiment in its own right, so let's dig into what info we have right now.

The Official Announcement: Open Matchmaking Takes Center Stage

Treyarch officially confirmed on October 9, 2025, that "Open Matchmaking with minimal skill consideration will be the default matchmaking for Black Ops 7 MP". This represents the most significant change to Call of Duty matchmaking since the introduction of strict SBMM in Modern Warfare 2019. Wild stuff, right?

The developers explained their decision clearly: "Simply put, imagine the matchmaking experience of Open Moshpit from the Beta, but as the standard in Black Ops 7 on day one. Our team feels strongly about providing players with a more varied experience, and the Beta proved to be a great opportunity to test this approach".

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What Was Open Moshpit During the Beta?

During the Black Ops 7 beta, Open Moshpit was introduced as a standalone multiplayer playlist where "skill consideration is drastically reduced" when queueing up for a match. This experimental playlist provided a stark contrast to traditional SBMM lobbies.

The official beta patch notes described Open Moshpit as a system where "skill consideration is drastically reduced when matchmaking, with the goal of providing more varied match experiences and outcomes. This playlist will match players with and against players of more varied skill differences than in the current Multiplayer matchmaking system".

Players who experienced Open Moshpit during the beta noticed immediate differences. As one beta participant observed, "Instead of everyone being on somewhat the same level, there's players in the lobby who are clearly better than the rest, and there's also some people who are lucky if they can get a handful of kills in the entire match". To be fair, that's how it feels when I personally join a match every so often, with me joining the latter roster, so I suppose our mileage may vary?

Persistent Lobbies Make Their Return

Beyond the SBMM changes, Black Ops 7 is bringing back another fan-favorite feature that disappeared with Modern Warfare 2019. Treyarch confirmed that "we'll have persistent lobbies at launch for Black Ops 7," meaning lobbies will no longer disband after each match.

The developers explained their reasoning: "We've heard the community discussion and dialogue around lobby disbanding, and as we mentioned earlier during the Beta, we're focused on keeping players together from match to match more often".

This change allows players to develop rivalries, build connections, and experience the social aspects that made classic Call of Duty lobbies memorable.

The History Behind the SBMM Controversy

The main argument of SBMM critics has been that matchmaking logic attempting to clump together similarly-skilled players leads to less variety. Since Modern Warfare 2019, players noticed that casual public matches were getting tougher the better they played.

The community found that SBMM created a "constant push-and-pull effect" where "you'd have a great match, drop 40 kills, maybe get a nuke, and then suddenly, the next round feels like you're in a professional tournament with caffeinated bunny-hopping rabbits who can see you through walls".

Traditional Call of Duty matchmaking prioritized connection quality, with skill being a minimal factor outside ranked playlists. This created lobbies with natural skill variation that many players found more enjoyable and unpredictable.

Community Reaction and Beta Feedback

The response to Open Moshpit during the beta was overwhelmingly positive from vocal community members. One notable endorsement came from former professional FPS player Shroud, who said about the playlist where skill is minimally considered: "It's actually kind of enjoyable".

However, the change doesn't have universal support. Critics point out that "SBMM's loudest critics tend to be those who'd most benefit from ditching it: high skill players and streamers who'd get to enjoy more public games where they can reap clip-worthy killstreaks from the hapless, outmatched masses".

Some players expressed concern that "average skilled players and below will probably just stay in the playlists with Skill Based Matchmaking" if given the option, potentially creating a divide in the player base.

What This Means for You

The removal of strict SBMM benefits experienced players who have felt constrained by the system. Black Ops 7 now "presents the freedom to fail spectacularly, try goofy builds, and build rivalries with the same players over and over again through persistent lobbies".

The impact on casual players remains to be seen. While some may face tougher opponents, others argue that the increased variety will provide more engaging experiences than the predictable nature of strict SBMM.

This represents the biggest question mark. Traditional SBMM was designed to protect newer players from being overwhelmed by experienced veterans, and its removal may affect player retention among beginners.

Technical Implementation

The system emphasizes "regional proximity over player similarity," meaning connection quality and geographic location will likely take priority over skill ratings when forming lobbies. While the system still considers skill minimally, it starts "with ping and server stability, then factors in skill levels" rather than making skill the primary matchmaking criterion. Does it also take into account previously purchased cosmetics? Possibly! Time will tell.

The timing of this change is notable, as it coincides with the much-hyped Battlefield 6 squaring off against Black Ops 7. The competitive pressure from other franchises may have influenced Activision's willingness to finally address long-standing community concerns.

This represents "a rare moment when community outcry didn't fall on deaf ears. For years, COD fans have petitioned for changes to SBMM, and for years, it felt like no one was listening".

Looking Forward

Black Ops 7 launches on November 14, 2025, with these new systems in place from day one. The success of this approach will likely influence future Call of Duty titles and could set a new precedent for how competitive shooters handle matchmaking.

The combination of minimal skill consideration, persistent lobbies, and strong anti-cheat measures represents Treyarch's attempt to recapture the social and unpredictable nature that made classic Call of Duty multiplayer beloved by millions.

Whether this change will satisfy all segments of the player base remains to be seen, but it marks the most significant shift in Call of Duty matchmaking philosophy in over five years. For players who have long criticized strict SBMM, Black Ops 7 represents exactly what they've been requesting. As for whether it's actually going to work out... well, we've got just a few days to go now.

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