The Call of Duty team is stepping up to address the concerns fans have been raising about skill-based matchmaking (SBMM). In a statement shared by CharlieINTEL on Twitter, and later verified by an Activision spokesperson, the team acknowledged the buzz around matchmaking and how skill comes into play when forming lobbies and matches.
For those not in the gaming lingo loop, skill-based matchmaking is all about creating fair lobbies with players of similar skill levels. Sounds good, right? Well, not according to some fans who’ve been complaining about a few things. Like when you’re trying to game with friends of different skill levels, it can get tricky. One might end up facing opponents who are way more seasoned at the game. And here’s the kicker – this system is at play in both the laid-back Casual and the more intense Ranked Call of Duty playlists, making the supposedly chill experience a bit more nerve-wracking.
The Call of Duty team wants you to know they’re all about delivering the best player experience. In their own words, “Nothing is more important to us than the experience players have with the game, and matchmaking is a big part of that.” They’ve been hustling for over a decade to fine-tune the matchmaking system, getting input not just from their own crew but also from the folks at Demonware backend services and the Player Insights team.
They spill the beans on the matchmaking process, calling it a “big effort” that takes into account a bunch of factors – skill, latency, search time, you name it – all to serve up the ultimate match experience.
