Call of Duty: Could scrapping SBMM save MW4?

An analysis by Circana has found that Call of Duty reached a smaller share of active console players at the launch of Modern Warfare 4 than it did when Black Ops 7 was released. That's particularly noteworthy because MW4 appears to be much better received by players. On Steam, around 72% of user reviews are positive, compared to just 38% for Black Ops 7. Tom Henderson of Insider Gaming sees this as a sign of growing franchise fatigue – and believes removing skill-based matchmaking could help Call of Duty regain some of its former popularity.

Skill-based matchmaking, or SBMM, has been used in the series since 2007's Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. The system takes players' skill levels into account when putting together matches, aiming to create balanced encounters where newcomers aren't constantly overwhelmed by much more experienced opponents. However, many players feel that this puts them under constant pressure to perform. Those who just want to unwind with a few casual matches after work can quickly feel like they have to give it their all in every game.

Should SBMM be removed?

Henderson believes that the prospect of more varied matches and spectacular killstreaks could bring longtime fans back to the franchise. Some users on Reddit also want more variety, criticizing how a good match often seems to be immediately followed by tougher opponents. Others worry that removing SBMM would leave less-skilled players getting steamrolled more frequently. As a result, many are calling for adjustments rather than scrapping the system entirely. For example, Activision could give less weight to individual standout performances or make players' skill ratings visible so they can better track their progress.

Interestingly, Activision conducted its own research into the issue back in 2024. The findings showed that more players left matches early when matchmaking placed less emphasis on skill levels. Whether and how Activision will address the decline in player engagement remains to be seen. Given these findings, however, it seems rather unlikely that the company will remove SBMM entirely from MW4 (PS5 version currently available on Amazon for $70). Feel free to share your thoughts on the issue in the comments below.