How Skill-Based Matchmaking, or SBMM, is often implemented in competitive shooters has been controversial for years, and Call of Duty is no exception to it. For Black Ops 7, Activision is taking an entirely new route by not removing SBMM entirely, but rather experimenting with a workaround.
In the recent beta, the developer has now introduced a new playlist that reduces the weight of skill matching by a huge margin, and they are calling it the “Open Moshpit” mode.
Black Ops 7 Beta Introduces New Multiplayer Mode for Those Who Don’t Care About SBMM
In a surprising move, the Black Ops 7 Beta patch notes include what Activision calls an Open Moshpit playlist, which intentionally reduces the influence of Call of Duty’s controversial SBMM in matchmaking.
Historically, Call of Duty has used SBMM to try and match players of equal skill levels, ensuring that the matches remain balanced. However, this has also often caused the games to become more predictable as well, making it one of the issues that the latest matchmaking mode sets out to solve.
With the Beta change, Black Ops 7 now offers different multiplayer playlists, the standard Moshpit, which retains the usual SBMM, and Open Moshpit, which strips away skill consideration, and with it, any form of predictability.
Addressing the changes, Activision has clarified that this change comes as a response to community feedback. In short, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 still has Skill-Based Matchmaking, but it now also has a new playlist that gives players an option to bypass its effects.
Everything We Know About Black Ops 7‘s “Open Moshpit” Playlist
Matchmaking & SBMM Reduction
Black Ops 7 Beta’s Open Moshpit will reportedly be using a classic matchmaking technique that was used in earlier Call of Duty titles, where skill was minimally considered. The idea is to essentially cause more chaos and bring more varied matchups into the game.
To clarify: Activision confirms the new Open Moshpit playlist in Black Ops 7 Beta, which goes live later today, will feature classic matchmaking of older Call of Duty titles where skill was minimally considered. pic.twitter.com/WBEx5NGRoT
Maps & Game Modes
The Open Moshpit playlist will retain the same map pool and game modes as the standard Moshpit playlist. The maps include Impring, Cortex, Exposure, and The Forge, while modes include Team Deathmatch, Domination, Hardpoint, Kill Confirmed, and Overload.
The early feedback to Black Ops 7’s initial matchmaking has not been positive, and hence, the latest move by Activision aims to diversify and introduce playlists that cater to every type of gamer in the player base.
Do you think Open Moshpit will become a lasting feature, or will it just forever be stuck as a beta experiment? Make sure to let us know what you think in the comments down below!
