Infinity Ward has announced new details about matchmaking in Modern Warfare 4, and they’re likely to put many fans in a good mood.
Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM) is one of the most controversial mechanics in online gaming. Especially within the Call of Duty community, the feature has made many enemies in recent years since it was introduced in 2019 with Infinity Ward’s Modern Warfare.
Now the developer has spoken out on whether SBMM will return in the upcoming Modern Warfare 4.The short answer is yes, but the developers are still taking a step toward the fans. Apparently, that’s not enough for them, though.
Black Ops 7 as a model?
What’s the problem with SBMM?Players are only placed in a lobby with opponents who have a similar skill level. This is intended to ensure that every round feels balanced. This is particularly beneficial for weaker players, as it prevents them from being completely overwhelmed and quitting out of frustration.
Fans criticize this because they don’t feel a learning curve—every match feels monotonous and similarly difficult. Most of the timeall rounds end in a nail-biter, while genuine moments of triumph are rare.
InCoD: Black Ops 7by Treyarch, SBMM wasn’t disabled, but it was significantly reduced. However, due to the game’s poor sales figures, there were concerns within the community that this change would be reversed.
According to what CharlieIntel claims to have learned from the developers, that is not the case. Infinity Ward does not intend to revert the changes made in Black Ops 7 regarding SBMMto the pre-game state.
According to CharlieIntel, the developers are currently analyzing data and will transparently announce the system before launch.
This means that SBMM in MW4 won’t necessarily work the same way as in BO7,but it’s likely to be scaled back even furtherthan it was inMW3andBO6.
The community isn’t satisfied
In thecomments section on X, you’ll find almost exclusively negative comments about the news. The reasons are varied.Many people accuse the developers of lyingand claim that SBMM in BO7 was just as strong—or similarly strong—as in the previous installments.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 skill-based matchmaking will “not revert directly back to pre-Black Ops 7”
Infinity Ward tells us they are analyzing all of the data from Black Ops 7 and will be transparent about the system before launch pic.twitter.com/a0ccyeHqdE— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) May 28, 2026
Others are angry,that the system is being kept in place at all, even though the community has been calling for its abolition since 2019. Still others are just ranting and venting their frustration. You can see some reactions here:
- Kelvin:
Just turn it off! They’ve completely ruined the feel of normal public lobbies by making them more and more like ranked matches over the years. And then they wonder why people can’t play for hours on end without feeling completely burned out.
- Radar:
Do we believe everything they say?
- Kolt:
Or they’re turning back the clock to how it was before 2018… Back when it was something nobody complained about.
But Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 wants to turn back the clock in at least one respect. Colorful licensed skins like the Ninja Turtles, the Teletubbies, or even Lady Gaga are set to become a thing of the past. With this new installment, Infinity Ward wants to bring a more serious tone back to the shooter. You can find more info on this in the link box above.
