Skill-based matchmaking in Modern Warfare 4 still doesn't have a confirmed setup, but Infinity Ward has ruled out one direction. During a recent preview event where media and creators played the multiplayer and spoke with the team, the developers addressed how matchmaking will work and made one point clear about where it won't go.
What SBMM means in Call of Duty
Skill-based matchmaking, shortened to SBMM, places players into lobbies with others who perform at a similar level. The system tracks how you do in each match, scores metrics like kills, deaths, and objective play, then adjusts your rating afterward so the next lobby reflects your current skill.
Skill is not the only factor. Connection quality, measured by ping, sits at the top of the priority list, followed by how long you wait in queue, recent maps and modes, your input device and platform, and whether voice chat is on. The franchise leans on the idea that a smooth connection matters more than a perfectly balanced lobby, which is why ping is weighted above skill in the underlying rules described in Activision's matchmaking white paper.
Why the matchmaking question came back for MW4
SBMM became a flashpoint starting with Modern Warfare (2019), when the system tightened sharply compared to older entries. Players who performed well often felt pushed into back-to-back high-pressure lobbies, with less variety from match to match.
That tension shaped the next major shift. The beta for Black Ops 7 introduced "open matchmaking," which removed skill weighting from every playlist except one. Players landed in a much larger, more random pool, which produced more varied games and steadier connections. A single "standard matchmaking" playlist kept traditional SBMM for anyone who preferred tighter, more competitive lobbies. Black Ops 7 also brought back persistent lobbies, so you could play several matches with the same group across a session instead of being shuffled out after each game.
What Infinity Ward confirmed for Modern Warfare 4
The team said it is currently analyzing all of the matchmaking data from Black Ops 7 before deciding on the final approach for Modern Warfare 4. It did not detail the exact system. The one firm statement was that matchmaking "will not revert directly back to pre-Black Ops 7."
That phrasing carries two implications. The strict, skill-heavy lobbies from the previous era are off the table. At the same time, "not reverting directly back" is not the same as removing skill from the equation entirely. Some element of the system will likely still consider it.
Creators who tested the multiplayer came away expecting something close to the Black Ops 7 model. The developers reportedly said they like how matchmaking works in Black Ops 7 and are not planning to change it. If that holds, MW4's default playlists would stay open and weight connection over individual skill, with a separate standard playlist retaining traditional SBMM for players who want it.
Black Ops 7 vs. expected Modern Warfare 4 matchmaking
| Element | Black Ops 7 | Modern Warfare 4 (current outlook) |
|---|---|---|
| Default playlists | Open matchmaking with minimal skill weighting | Expected to stay open and connection-led |
| Skill-based option | Single "standard matchmaking" playlist | Likely retained, exact form unconfirmed |
| Pre-Black Ops 7 strict SBMM | Removed | Confirmed not returning |
| Persistent lobbies | Yes | Not confirmed |
| System finalized | Yes | No, data still being reviewed |
What is still undecided
The head-to-head performance of the two Black Ops 7 playlists has not been shared publicly. That comparison matters. If the data shows the standard, skill-based playlist drew more players than the open playlists, Modern Warfare 4 could land somewhere slightly different from Black Ops 7. Either way, the team has committed to staying away from the extreme skill weighting that defined the years before Black Ops 7.
One reason a full removal of skill matching is unlikely is player retention. Internal testing that loosened skill constraints showed higher-skilled players returned more often, but a large share of lower-skill players stopped coming back within two weeks. Tightening the system too far frustrates strong players instead. The balancing act between those two outcomes is exactly what the team is weighing.
When you'll know the final system
Infinity Ward has committed to being fully transparent about how matchmaking works in Modern Warfare 4 before the game launches. The release is set for October 23, 2026, on PC, Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2. Expect concrete matchmaking details to arrive in the months leading up to that date rather than at launch.
Until then, the only confirmed takeaway is the boundary the studio has drawn. The pre-Black Ops 7 SBMM era is not returning, the team appears comfortable with the open approach it has now, and the specifics are still being shaped by the data it collected from the previous title.