Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 looks like it has what it takes to be an exciting new chapter for the long-running FPS franchise, and one of the most promising features is the game’s approach to skill-based matchmaking. Skill-based matchmaking has been a divisive topic among not just Call of Duty fans, but also FPS lovers in general. It’s a controversial approach to lobbies, but Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 might have finally found the perfect balance.
Last year’s Black Ops 7 may have been met with heavily mixed reviews, but one of the shining points of the game was its willingness to forego the series’ current reliance on skill-based matchmaking. Open playlists have heavily decreased the skill-based aspect when it comes to matchmaking, which feels a lot more like classic Call of Duty games. Black Ops 7 has expanded those kinds of playlists with its Season 5 update, but players can also expect a similar kind of matchmaking during Modern Warfare 4‘s upcoming Beta weekends.
Modern Warfare 4’s Beta Featuring Low-SBMM Playlists Is One of Game’s Most Promising Details So Far
When announcing some of the content that was to be expected from Black Ops 7 Season 5, the official Call of Duty Twitter account also revealed that Modern Warfare 4 would be getting the same matchmaking treatment. The announcement was pretty vague about playlist specifics, but it sounds like it’s a solid step in the right direction. Skill-based matchmaking has disrupted the Call of Duty experience for a long time now, and while some younger players are used to it, longtime fans have been waiting and hoping for change to come.
Modern Warfare 4‘s matchmaking is a direct response to the positive feedback that so many players gave Black Ops 7‘s open playlist options. It’s a surprising move on Activision’s part, because the company has tended to be fairly dismissive when it comes to addressing fan feedback regarding skill-based matchmaking. Activision’s past insistence on making skill-based matchmaking the new Call of Duty standard seemed set in stone, but opting for a low-SBMM approach offers the best of both worlds.
Activision intended for skill-based matchmaking to help newer or more casual players have an easier time in matches. Jumping into such an intense FPS for the first time can be incredibly daunting, so skill-based matchmaking was a way to try and even the playing field for everyone. On paper, it sounds like a good idea. Skill-based matchmaking pits players against others who have a similar skill level, so it sounds like something that would work just fine. There are a few key details that actually make skill-based matchmaking in Call of Duty more of a hassle than being something that offers fairness, though.
Why Skill-Based Matchmaking Can Make Call of Duty More Frustrating
- Being matched with other players of similar skill levels actually makes it hard to have a fun, casual match.
- Prioritizing skill over proximity to players causes a slower experience.
- Ranks can often feel inconsistent.
For high-level players, being matched up with other well-performing fans means that every match can feel like it requires as much effort as possible, and that can quickly cause burnout. Matchmaking that’s based on ping instead of skill may create a Call of Duty lobby that has a larger variety of player levels, but that can also allow stronger players to relax and simply have fun. Not every match has to feel like a fight for life or death.
Slow ping times in skill-based matchmaking is one of the other main complaints that online multiplayer gamers have voiced for years. Lower-skilled players will sometimes have to deal with a really rough and sweaty match when skill-based matchmaking is thrown to the side, but harder matches also present the necessary challenges that help build them up into stronger players. There are several pros and cons to skill-based matchmaking, and Modern Warfare 4‘s low-SBMM demonstrates that the series doesn’t have to fully embrace one way or the other and can find a balance between the two.
Skill-Based Matchmaking Isn’t Disappearing Completely in Modern Warfare 4, But It’s Finally Moving Out of the Spotlight
Modern Warfare 4‘s multiplayer will still have skill-based matchmaking, but Infinity Ward’s approach to the system this time around is expected to offer way more flexibility. Black Ops 7 proved that it can work, and so it only makes sense for Modern Warfare 4 to follow suit and hopefully expand on this more balanced approach to lobby building.
Modern Warfare 4 is an all-new chapter in the rebooted Modern Warfare series and marks the first time that the Call of Duty franchise has ever featured a campaign that is centered around a conflict between North and South Korea. In addition to Korea, other locations confirmed for Modern Warfare 4 include Mumbai, France, and New York City.
Black Ops 7‘s open playlists feature a little bit of skill-based matchmaking when creating lobbies, but it was far from the mode’s priority. The difference compared to the standard skill-based matchmaking system was abundantly clear, and it’s refreshing to see that Activision and Infinity Ward have taken player feedback to heart.
Modern Warfare 4’s Upcoming Beta Weekends Are Right Around the Corner
- Weekend 1 (Early Access for those who pre-ordered): August 21 – August 25
- Weekend 2 (Open Beta): August 28 – September 1
Those who pre-ordered on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S will be able to get a sneak peek of what the military shooter’s open playlists are like, but the Open Beta might be the most exciting of all, because those who are interested in playing Modern Warfare 4 on Switch 2 will also get to join in on the action. The past decade has seen Call of Duty face a lot of highs and lows. Granted, Activision’s FPS franchise is still one of the most successful brands in gaming, but a lot of fans have continued to grow frustrated and feel like they aren’t being listened to. Black Ops 7‘s willingness to try something new with matchmaking was a breath of fresh air, though, and it’s going to be interesting to see how Modern Warfare 4 continues to bring more exciting player-focused changes.
- Released
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October 23, 2026
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
