Treyarch released a statement to reassure fans Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and skill-based matchmaking. Skills-based matching, or SBMM, is a highly controversial topic in the US Call of Duty community for years. While the data is said to show that SBMM is making people stick with games longer, some have criticized it for giving the impression that every match is a hyper-competitive rated match. Before starting Call of Duty: Black Ops 7it was announced that the new game would be rid of SBMM, a move seen as an attempt to win back fan goodwill.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 it's only been out for a few days, but there's already been some controversy surrounding the title. That was confirmed Black Ops 7 used AI during development, and more recently the game has been accused of secretly implementing SBMM. Some Call of Duty fans are not convinced that SBMM was rejected as advertised, so developer Treyarch released an official statement on the matter.
Treyarch addresses Black Ops 7 SBMM concerns
Treyarch acknowledged on Twitter that “conversations” had taken place. Black Ops 7's multiplayer matchmaking between fans online. This then assured the fans of several key points. According to Treyarch, open playlists in Black Ops 7 at a minimum, it takes into account the skills and traits of a persistent lobby, with the developer being “committed” to this approach. The quick game also uses Open Matchmaking, which means that skill is also minimally considered. Treyarch also confirmed that a patch for a Black Ops 7 The Quick Play issue where picks were overwritten has been patched so fans should have a smoother progression going forward.
SBMM controversy aside, Black Ops 7 multiplayer seems to have been mostly well received. There was praise for Black Ops 7 multiplayer maps and game modes, with many agreeing that there is plenty of content for fans to dig into. The Black Ops 7 The zombies experience has also received some praise, although not everyone is sold on it. One big point of contention that fans have Black Ops 7 is a campaign that resulted in review-bombing the game.
It will be interesting to see if the SBMM accusations back off or if fans still believe that this feature was quietly implemented into the new game despite Treyarch's statement. We've known since then Black Ops 7 is a live service game, the experience will be constantly updated, with the next big update planned for November 20th when Nuketown makes its debut.
- Released
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November 14, 2025
- ESRB
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Adults 17+ / Blood and gore, Intense violence, Strong language, Themes, Drug use
