After years of criticism, Call of Duty is finally giving in: Black Ops 7 is set to launch with less SBMM, but the community suspects this is a calculated move.
For years, it seemed as if the developers of Call of Duty were ignoring the loudest wishes of their community. But now, shortly before the launch of Black Ops 7, Treyarch and Activision have announced a U-turn that many would have thought impossible.
Three of the biggest criticisms of recent years are being addressed: Strict matchmaking is being relaxed, lobbies will no longer disband, and even the controversial aim assist is being reviewed.
Black Ops 7 gets three major changes
Probably the most important news for countless players is the departure from strict skill-based matchmaking (SBMM): In previous installments of the series, this system ensured that players had to constantly compete against opponents of exactly the same skill level, which made every round an exhausting ordeal.
Treyarch now promises improvements for Black Ops 7: At launch, “open matchmaking with minimal skill consideration” will be the standard in multiplayer. Your skill level will therefore only play a minor role in finding opponents. As a preview, the developers mention the “Open Moshpit” playlist from the beta – anyone who has already played it knows what to expect at launch.
We fucking won, I can’t believe it. #BlackOps7 pic.twitter.com/3IAMXft1te
— ModernWarzone (@ModernWarzone) October 9, 2025
Another change that the community has been demanding for years is the return of persistent lobbies: The constant dissolution of the lobby after each match prevented rivalries from developing and made it impossible to easily play multiple rounds with or against the same players. That’s now a thing of the past. Treyarch confirms that lobbies in Black Ops 7 will remain until you actively decide to change them.
The third major issue addressed by the developers is aim assist for controllers: The sometimes heated debate about the strength of aim assist and the balance between controllers and mice & keyboards is a perennial topic.
The official statement says that the discussions have been closely followed.
Ensuring a “fair and competitive balance across all input devices” at launch is a priority. Changes are being worked on and further details will be announced soon.
The debate about SBMM divides players
But as good as the relaxation of SBMM sounds to many, the concern among others is just as great: The announcement has reignited the old debate.
- On the one hand, there are more experienced players for whom the strict system made every round a fierce battle and prevented relaxed play. For them, the change is a relief.
- On the other hand, there are casual players and newbies. They fear that they will now be defenseless against experienced veterans and be “overrun” in unfair matches. The fear of so-called “pub stomping,” in which superior players dominate lobbies, could deter a large group of players.
Why now? The community suspects calculation
Many are wondering why this change of course is coming now of all times, and the prevailing opinion on social media seems clear: The strong competition from Battlefield 6.”
- The user “CoffeeeBlack“ writes: ” Definitely driven by the obvious discrepancy in player numbers in the BF beta vs. COD beta. […] This is their last desperate attempt to regain market share.”
- In addition: BF6’s open beta on Steam this figure also includes players of Black Ops 6 and Warzone.
- The situation is similar for user “ƧΛЯΛ,” who simply notes: “You just wet your pants because BF6 looks so much better than CoD.”
- The concern that nothing fundamental will change in the end is expressed by “Snake Pliskin“: ” The hype will last about 3-5 days after release, and then people will realize it’s the same game.”
Ultimately, the promised changes to matchmaking and lobbies are exactly what many veterans have been wanting for years. But for many players, Call of Duty’s multiplayer has essentially been the same game in new packaging for years.
The crucial question will therefore be whether changing a few features is enough to mask the fatigue with the familiar gameplay. Whether this course correction can really bring back the fans who have left remains more than questionable.
