Some Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 players have taken issue with the game’s use of skill-based matchmaking. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is the latest entry in Activision’s long-running first-person shooter franchise. Like most games in the series, Modern Warfare 4 features a single-player campaign and a co-op focused mode, but its bread and butter is undoubtedly its traditional PvP multiplayer. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer features a suite of new maps, weapons, and modes for players to check out at launch, with more coming in future updates.
For the most part, it seems as though Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4‘s multiplayer has been well-received by the community. Modern Warfare 4 has managed to earn “Very Positive” reviews from Steam users, and in general, the game seems to be getting positive buzz online. However, there are some fans that are not happy with certain elements of the game, particularly its use of skill-based matchmaking (SBMM). The use of SBMM in Call of Duty games has long been a controversial decision, and while Activision has occasionally flirted with going back to an older-style of matchmaking, the feature is present in Modern Warfare 4.
Call of Duty: MW4 SBMM is Being Criticzed
SBMM, for the uninitiated, means that players are, in theory, always matched with others of a similar skill level. The argument has been made that this kind of matchmaking should be restricted to ranked games, but regardless, it’s been used consistently in CoD games for years. Modern Warfare 4 is no exception, and that has drawn the ire of some members of the community. One doesn’t have to go far to find people saying that it feels like Modern Warfare 4‘s SBMM is “cranked up” or that the game is a “sweatfest.” Some longtime Call of Duty players have said that it seems harder to maintain their K/D in Modern Warfare 4 compared to previous games in the series, blaming SBMM for the matter.
The Modern Warfare 4 beta featured an Open Playlist that minimized SBMM’s impact on the matchmaking process, but the game has launched without such an option. It’s entirely possible that an Open Playlist will be added in a future update, however. Call of Duty games receive extensive updates for about a year after their release, with new maps, modes, and technical tweaks made on a regular basis. In fact, it’s already been confirmed that Modern Warfare 4 is getting the fan-favorite Shipment map on Tuesday, October 27.
The MW4 content roadmap confirmed that Possession Mode is coming on October 29, Infected is coming on October 30, and Season 1 itself will start on Friday, November 6. Perhaps an Open Playlist will be a part of the upcoming Modern Warfare 4 updates, but even if that’s not the case, perhaps it will come later on.
While there is some negativity surrounding Modern Warfare 4‘s multiplayer and its use of SBMM, the game has otherwise been very well-received. Modern Warfare 4 reviews are the highest that the Call of Duty series has seen in years, and most people seem to be happy with the game so far, if things like the average Steam user rating are any indication. It will be interesting to see how Modern Warfare 4 evolves in the weeks and months ahead, and if the SBMM controversy is ever addressed.
- Released
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October 23, 2026
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
