Skill-based matchmaking has been a hot-button issue in the Call of Duty community for many years now. In Black Ops 7, it's being talked about again, but for different reasons.
Since Modern Warfare launched in 2019, SBMM has been on everybody's minds, with many players feeling as though the game actively punished them for performing well by placing them against higher-skilled opponents to keep things on an even keel. But now, in 2025, the talk about SBMM got so loud that Treyarch and Activision made a move.
Here's everything there is to know about SBMM in Black Ops 7.
Is there SBMM in BO7?
Black Ops 7 has two different types of multiplayer playlists called Open and Standard. In Open playlists, "skill is minimally considered," meaning skill-based matchmaking or SBMM is nonexistent.
In Standard playlists, "skill is an important consideration," so you may find an experience similar to previous CoD titles where SBMM reigned supreme. I've been enjoying my time in Open playlists, but if you want to try it out, go for it.
The image above illustrates the icon for Open playlists with no SBMM, and it can be toggled in the multiplayer matchmaking menu between that and Standard. If you want to play without SBMM, play in the Open playlists.
Treyarch will likely experiment with different Standard playlists to see what players prefer and make a decision on what to do from there. When Ranked Play launches in season two, SBMM will be enabled, but that makes sense because it's a competitive playlist.
In normal Quick Play game modes in Open playlist, though, SBMM is tuned down considerably, and matches feel more random than ever when it comes to who you are matched with and against. This means things like connection are more important when it comes to matching you up in games, and that's a great thing.
Get out there and have some fun, CoD gamers. Your sweatband and exercise clothes are no longer required attire...for now.
The post Is there SBMM in Black Ops 7? appeared first on Destructoid.
