Activision is shining some light on how it approaches skill-based matchmaking in Call of Duty multiplayer, and in a detailed blog post, the developers of the popular FPS series reveal that the sometimes-controversial practice is still used for a fairly simple reason–fewer players quit under a skill-based system than they do without it.
The topic of skill-based matchmaking (or SBMM, as it’s often abbreviated) in Call of Duty has been a long and ongoing one, with some arguing that behind-the-scenes skill ratings that help determine who matches up with whom should be a thing of the past. Those against SBMM argue that since there are ranked playlists, those who want to be matched with players of equal skill can simply play there, leaving the rest of the game’s modes open to a more luck-of-the-draw-type of matchmaking experience.
From the blog post, it doesn’t seem like Call of Duty will ditch SBMM any time soon, largely because the developers have revealed they have solid data on the effects doing so would have on the game. In a test conducted with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 where one group of players played with the current SBMM rules and another group that played under “loosened skill consideration,” the developers found that the group playing with a wider skill gap were “more likely to quit matches in progress and did not return to the game at a higher rate than players with unchanged matchmaking.”
The developer also ran another test where skill requirements in matchmaking were actually increased. It had the opposite effect, with players more likely to finish a match, particularly when it came to low-skill players. However, the developer notes that high-skill players were impacted in some negative ways by the stricter skill requirements, and as a result, the changes were not rolled out to the live game.
“The system strives for team balance, where players are not consistently on the wrong side of blowout matches,” the developer states. “Players who frequently experience blowouts are seen to quit matches in progress and the game itself, which negatively impacts the experience for players of all skill levels.”
Should low-skill players leave the game in droves due to being frustrated by blowout matches, it creates an environment where lobbies are largely made up of high-skill players, something the developer states is the case when players go back and play many older Call of Duty titles today.
“We will always strive to improve our approach to matchmaking to ensure that players of all skill levels are having the best possible experience,” the developer states.” A healthy player population is good for everyone in the community.”
Modern Warfare 3 Season 5 just launched, adding new maps, modes, and weapons to the popular FPS, just in time for its arrival on Xbox Game Pass. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 releases on October 25 and will be available on launch day for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.