The debate surrounding skill-based matchmaking has once again taken center stage in the Call of Duty community, this time in relation to Treyarch’s latest release, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Despite the studio’s insistence that the game has shifted to an open matchmaking system—one that places connection quality at the top of its priority list—players remain deeply skeptical. The community’s doubt intensified after a detailed testing session by a well-known creator, prompting Treyarch to publicly address the claims and explain why Black Ops 7’s online environment may feel significantly different from the beta phase.
Skill-based matchmaking, better known as SBMM, is a highly divisive concept in competitive shooters. While the system isn’t unique to Call of Duty, it has sparked some of the franchise’s most heated debates over the past decade. Earlier titles like Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, World at War, and the original Black Ops ran on an open matchmaking model, where the main priority was connection quality rather than player skill. This created a vast mix of lobby difficulty, but it also created the casual, unpredictable feel many long-time fans still reminisce about.
Everything changed in 2019 when Infinity Ward relaunched the Modern Warfare series and placed heavy emphasis on skill level within matchmaking. Activision argued that SBMM was essential for keeping players engaged long‑term and improving retention. Many fans disagreed, claiming it made matches more stressful and less enjoyable. By the time Black Ops 7 was announced, the request to remove or reduce SBMM had become one of the most consistent demands from the community.
Treyarch Claims SBMM Is No Longer the Foundation of Black Ops 7
When Treyarch confirmed earlier this year that Black Ops 7 would return to open matchmaking, many fans were thrilled—but cautious. The studio explained that while skill can still influence matchmaking in small ways, it no longer serves as the driving force behind the system. Instead, connection quality, server stability, and regional availability were said to shape lobbies.
However, long-time players quickly began to express doubts once the full version of the game launched. Many argued that the experience felt nothing like the open beta, with significantly tougher lobbies and inconsistent pacing. These concerns grew loud enough that respected YouTuber Xclusive Ace decided to run a controlled test to see whether something was happening behind the scenes.
The Test That Sparked the Debate
To investigate, Ace created two separate profiles: his main account, which has years of gameplay associated with it, and a “bot” account designed solely for testing purposes. He ran matches under identical circumstances—same time of day, same game modes, and consistent settings.
The results revealed an unexpected pattern. Although matchmaking times were almost identical for both accounts, the ping values were not. Ace’s primary account averaged a ping of around 42 milliseconds, while the test account consistently hovered around 20 milliseconds. While the data sample was small, the difference raised questions. If open matchmaking truly prioritizes connection above all else, why would ping vary so drastically?
According to the test’s logic, the only remaining explanation would be that skill is quietly being weighed more heavily than Treyarch suggested. But Ace made it clear that his findings should not be seen as scientific proof, merely an indicator that the system may not be functioning as the studio described.
Treyarch Responds to Community Concerns
In the wake of the video’s release, Treyarch contacted Ace and began reviewing the matches used in the test. The studio reiterated its previous statements: nothing about the underlying matchmaking structure changed between the beta and the finished release. Treyarch emphasized that open matchmaking is still active and SBMM no longer dictates lobby creation.
Instead, the team pointed to a different cause: shifts in player demographics. The beta environment consisted primarily of highly engaged players—core fans, long-time veterans, and competitive users looking to preview the game early. Once the full release arrived, the population changed dramatically. New players joined, casual players flooded in, and overall player distribution became far wider.
To Treyarch, this explains why the full release feels different. With more diverse skill levels and different playlist preferences, the matchmaking environment becomes naturally unpredictable. The studio believes this is responsible for the perceived difficulty imbalance—not hidden SBMM parameters.
The Community Still Wants Transparency
Despite Treyarch’s detailed explanation, skepticism remains high. Popular YouTuber PrimitiveAK argued that many fans will not be satisfied until Activision or Treyarch provides full transparency on how the matchmaking algorithm works. According to him, years of frustration with SBMM have eroded trust, making players reluctant to accept explanations without full data to back them up.
Another creator, Rara, echoed the sentiment, stating that players have “a hard time believing anything Treyarch says at this point.” Whether fair or not, this skepticism reflects the long-running tension between developers and the community regarding matchmaking.
Why Players Dislike SBMM So Intensely
SBMM is not inherently flawed, but many Call of Duty players believe the franchise implements it too aggressively. When skill becomes the dominant factor, matches tend to feel more competitive, more punishing, and less casual. Players frequently describe a “rollercoaster effect,” where a streak of good matches leads to sudden placement in far more challenging lobbies, followed by easier ones when performance drops.
This pattern can create burnout and reduce the satisfaction of improving, as every step forward is instantly counteracted by tougher competition. In contrast, open matchmaking allows a more varied experience—sometimes challenging, sometimes relaxed, but always unpredictable.
The Debate Is Far From Over
Treyarch’s response may clarify the studio’s perspective, but it doesn’t guarantee the discussion will end anytime soon. Matchmaking has become one of the most defining and polarizing topics in Call of Duty’s modern era. As more players conduct their own tests, analyze lobbies, and debate the results, the issue is likely to remain unresolved in the community’s eyes.
What’s clear is that Black Ops 7 has reopened a long-standing argument, and both sides are still searching for a solution that satisfies the entire player base.
