In this blog, we’ll explore the future of SBMM in Call of Duty, examining how it can be improved to better serve the needs of both competitive and casual players. We'll discuss potential improvements to the system, alternative matchmaking models, and how developers can adapt SBMM to create a more enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
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Understanding the Challenges of SBMM
Before we dive into potential improvements, it's important to understand why SBMM has become such a contentious topic in Call of Duty. While its purpose is to balance matches, there are several challenges associated with its implementation:
Increased Pressure on Casual Players: Casual players who just want to have fun and relax often find themselves in intense, high-pressure matches because the system matches them with other players of similar skill. This can take away from the fun, leading to burnout and frustration, especially when they consistently face opponents who are too skilled for their liking.
"Sweaty" Gameplay: SBMM tends to promote a "sweaty" or overly competitive playstyle, where players are constantly trying to maximize their stats (K/D ratio, score per minute, etc.). This shifts the focus away from fun and creativity, making the game feel like a grind.
Toxicity and Frustration: As players are matched with others of similar skill, the stakes of each match rise. This can lead to frustration, especially when a player’s team is underperforming, which can then escalate into toxic behavior, such as trash talk, blaming teammates, or even rage quitting.
Limited Match Variety: SBMM often leads to the same types of playstyles dominating matches. Players tend to gravitate toward the most effective weapons and tactics, which can reduce variety in gameplay. This "meta" behavior can make matches feel repetitive, and can stifle experimentation with different strategies or loadouts.
Potential Improvements to SBMM
As the Call of Duty franchise continues to evolve, SBMM can be refined to address these challenges. Developers need to find ways to make the system work for a broader range of players without compromising competitive integrity. Here are several potential improvements:
1. Separate SBMM Playlists for Casual and Competitive Players
One of the most obvious ways to improve SBMM is by offering distinct playlists for casual and competitive players. This would give players the freedom to choose the type of experience they want, whether they’re looking for intense, balanced competition or a more relaxed, fun-filled experience.
Competitive Playlist: This mode could implement stricter SBMM rules, ensuring that players are matched with others of similar skill levels. Here, the stakes would be higher, and players would expect challenging gameplay, with more emphasis on performance, teamwork, and achieving a high K/D ratio.
Casual Playlist: A relaxed, less stringent version of SBMM could be introduced here. While still attempting to balance the matches to some degree, the system could be designed to focus more on fun and experimentation, where players aren’t punished for trying new weapons or playstyles. This mode could be an ideal space for players who want to enjoy Call of Duty without the pressure of competing at a high level.
By offering separate modes, players can enjoy the type of experience they prefer without feeling forced into a hyper-competitive environment. This would give the community a more balanced and diverse experience, catering to different playstyles and skill levels.
2. Dynamic SBMM Adjustment Based on Player Performance
Another improvement could involve adjusting the strictness of SBMM based on a player’s current performance or match history. If a player has been consistently losing or underperforming in matches, the system could relax the matchmaking criteria slightly to give them a break. On the flip side, if a player has been on a winning streak, the matchmaking could gradually increase the difficulty by pitting them against tougher opponents.
Adjusting for Skill Drops: For example, if a highly skilled player is facing a bad streak, they could be matched with slightly less skilled opponents to allow them to regain their footing. Similarly, a player who has been performing well could be challenged by opponents with higher skill levels, encouraging improvement without being thrown into extremely competitive environments prematurely.
Incorporating Player Preferences: This dynamic system could also consider player preferences in terms of how competitive they want the game to be at any given time. Players who enjoy relaxed matches could have the option to indicate this preference, and the system would adjust accordingly. This would allow SBMM to be more flexible and accommodate a wider range of player experiences.
3. Rewarding Positive Behavior Over Stats
One of the key criticisms of SBMM is that it focuses too heavily on performance metrics, such as K/D ratio, accuracy, and overall score. While these are important in determining skill, they don't always reflect positive gameplay, such as teamwork, communication, or supporting teammates.
Incentivizing Teamwork: Developers could introduce a system that rewards players for being good teammates, regardless of their individual performance. This could include bonuses for players who assist their teammates, revive them, or play objectives. For instance, Call of Duty could introduce a "Team Player" bonus for players who consistently contribute to the success of their team, even if their K/D ratio isn’t stellar.
Toxicity Reduction: By emphasizing positive behavior, the system could also reduce toxicity within the community. Encouraging players to focus on teamwork and supporting others could foster a more inclusive and enjoyable experience. Players who engage in toxic behavior, such as excessive trash-talking or rage quitting, could face penalties, while those who exhibit sportsmanship could be rewarded with in-game bonuses or cosmetics.
Flexible Performance Metrics: Instead of focusing solely on K/D ratio, SBMM could incorporate a wider range of metrics, including player participation, objective play (e.g., securing flags in Domination or completing missions), and overall game impact. This would create a more holistic view of player performance and help prevent players from solely focusing on individual stats.
4. Creating More Game Modes with Variable Matchmaking
Another idea is to introduce new game modes with different levels of matchmaking strictness, offering more diversity in how SBMM works across Call of Duty. Players could choose from various modes, each with different rules for matchmaking.
Objective-Based Modes: For modes like Hardpoint, Search and Destroy, or Domination, the matchmaking system could be slightly less rigid, focusing more on the team’s collective strategy and the importance of objectives. This would help encourage teamwork over individual performance.
Challenge Modes: For players who enjoy trying unique loadouts or experimenting with less conventional strategies, Call of Duty could introduce challenge modes where SBMM is relaxed, allowing players to have fun while still being matched with others who want to experiment.
Skill Ceiling Mode: In this mode, the matchmaking could set a higher skill ceiling, meaning players are matched with others of equal or slightly higher skill but are given a larger buffer in terms of performance metrics. This mode could appeal to players who enjoy challenging themselves without feeling the need to grind for every match.
5. Regular Updates and Community Feedback
For SBMM to improve, developers need to regularly collect player feedback and adjust the system accordingly. Listening to the community and understanding the pain points associated with SBMM can help guide future changes.
Community Polls and Feedback: Activision could introduce more frequent surveys and polls that give players a direct voice in how matchmaking is handled. This would allow the development team to understand the specific needs of their player base and adjust SBMM in real time.
Beta Testing New Systems: Before implementing sweeping changes, Call of Duty could roll out beta tests for new matchmaking systems, allowing players to experience and give feedback on potential changes. This could include testing the dynamic matchmaking or casual modes we mentioned earlier.
Conclusion: The Future of SBMM in Call of Duty
The future of SBMM in Call of Duty looks promising, provided that developers continue to iterate on the system and make adjustments based on community feedback. By offering multiple playlists tailored to different playstyles, incorporating dynamic matchmaking based on player performance, rewarding positive behaviors, and diversifying game modes, SBMM could become a system that enhances both competitive integrity and player enjoyment.
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Ultimately, the goal should be to strike a balance between competitive play and casual enjoyment, ensuring that Call of Duty remains accessible to all players, regardless of their skill level or experience. As the game evolves, SBMM will likely continue to play a crucial role in shaping the future of multiplayer matchmaking, and with the right improvements, it can provide a fair, fun, and engaging experience for everyone.
