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A New Direction for Matchmaking

Treyarch has officially clarified how skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) will work in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, just days before its November 14 release. After weeks of heated discussion within the community, the developer has confirmed that most multiplayer playlists will not heavily factor in player skill, marking a major shift from how matchmaking has worked in recent entries.

In a statement shared on social media, Treyarch explained that Black Ops 7’s multiplayer will be divided into two categories: Open and Standard playlists.

  • Open playlists will have minimal skill consideration, allowing players of all levels to match together more freely.
  • Standard playlists, on the other hand, will still use skill-based matchmaking as an important consideration.

At launch, almost all playlists will fall into the Open category, with only one rotating Moshpit playlist placed under the Standard category where skill matching remains active.

Persistent Lobbies and Community Feedback

Another major addition coming to Black Ops 7 multiplayer is the return of persistent lobbies, a fan-favourite feature that lets players stay together across multiple matches unless they choose to leave.

Treyarch confirmed:

“Just like in the Black Ops 7 Beta, skill will be minimally considered in every Open playlist. We’ve also added persistent lobbies and new playlists since the Beta, including Quick Play.”

This decision was largely driven by fan requests. Persistent lobbies have been absent from recent Call of Duty titles, but their return is expected to make matches feel more social and old-school, similar to the franchise’s earlier days.

Not a Complete Removal of SBMM

Despite what some fans might have assumed, SBMM hasn’t been entirely removed from Black Ops 7. Instead, it’s now an option rather than the rule. Players looking for a more competitive experience can still queue for Standard playlists or wait for Ranked Play, which will use full SBMM when it arrives in Season 2.

This mixed matchmaking model gives players freedom of choice. Casual fans can enjoy more relaxed matches, while competitive players still have structured modes where skill matching matters.

Why the Change?

While Treyarch hasn’t explicitly stated why it decided to loosen SBMM, it’s hard to ignore the timing. The Battlefield 6 hype has been building ahead of its own release, and giving players more freedom in matchmaking may help Call of Duty stay appealing to its massive player base.

It also addresses a long-running fan demand. For years, players have criticised SBMM for making public matches feel overly competitive and sweaty. By introducing Open playlists, Black Ops 7 is aiming to bring back that “just-for-fun” feeling many long-time fans have missed.

Looking Ahead

It remains to be seen how these matchmaking systems will evolve over time, but Treyarch has hinted that it will monitor data after launch to see which playlists players gravitate toward.

For now, though, the studio’s approach feels like a strong middle ground. Whether you’re jumping in for laid-back chaos or climbing the ranked ladder, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 looks ready to cater to both sides of the community.