For years…
One feature has divided the Call of Duty community more than almost anything else.
Skill-Based Matchmaking, or SBMM.
Some players say it keeps matches fair.
Others argue it makes every game feel like a ranked tournament.
Now…
Activision is finally making a major change.
Why?
Because the recent return of Black Ops and Black Ops 2 on PlayStation reminded everyone why those older games were so beloved. Despite hackers, bugs and criticism, both titles quickly climbed into the top 10 most-played PlayStation games in the United States, proving that nostalgia is still incredibly powerful.
Activision says it’s been listening.
Starting with Season 5, Black Ops Classic, Quick Play, and Party Games in Black Ops 7 will use a new matchmaking system inspired by Black Ops 1 and Black Ops 2. The goal is to recreate the variety that made older Call of Duty lobbies so memorable—where every match felt different instead of perfectly balanced.
That doesn’t mean SBMM is disappearing completely.
Instead, Activision is trying to strike a balance between competitive fairness and the more relaxed, unpredictable feeling that defined the classic era. Open playlists will remain available, and similar matchmaking options are already planned for the upcoming Modern Warfare 4 Beta.
At the same time…
The publisher is also stepping up its fight against cheaters.
Its Ricochet anti-cheat system has now banned more than 293,000 accounts in 2026, with stronger protections being added to Ranked Play to make multiplayer fairer.
After years of complaints…
Activision is finally admitting that the old formula got some things right.
The real question is…
Will Black Ops 7 finally capture the magic of the golden era… or will players discover that it wasn’t just the matchmaking they were nostalgic for?
