This is a change that risks getting people talking. With Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Activision takes everyone on the wrong foot and abandons the skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) system as it has existed for several years. A radical shift which is accompanied by another striking return: persistent lobbies.
SBMM, or player level-based matchmaking, was one of the most controversial topics in the franchise in recent years. Intended to balance games by pitting players of similar skill levels against each other, it has often been criticized for making each match too intense, too serious, sometimes even exhausting. And this, even outside of ranked mode.
A beta that changed everything
During the Black Ops 7 beta, Activision tested a special playlist called Open Moshpit. It allowed playing without the strict application of the SBMM. The results of this experiment visibly convinced the publisher, who announced that this matchmaking mode would become the default template at the official launch of the game, scheduled for November 14, 2025.
Concretely, this means that Black Ops 7 multiplayer will no longer rely on a rigid SBMM. The matches will be more varied, potentially more fun, but also more unpredictable. A return to a freer philosophy, reminiscent of the Modern Warfare 2 or Black Ops 1 years.
Persistent lobbies are back
Another major novelty: the return of persistent lobbies. Disappeared since Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019), these lobbies formerly allowed you to stay with the same players from one game to another, without being systematically sent back to the menu. A mechanism that encouraged rivalries, exchanges, and sometimes even friendships online.
Fans have been asking for this return for a long time. This time, they were heard.
A Call of Duty that is more attentive to its community
With these decisions, Activision seems to want to reconnect with its heart of the community. After waging a fight against cheaters during the beta, limiting off-topic commercial partnerships, and listening to feedback on the pace of the games, the publisher is clearly committed to a more authentic Black Ops 7.
The campaign playable in 4-player cooperation, the reworked multiplayer and the Zombies with sleeves are all arguments that could appeal to old and new players alike. It remains to be seen if these adjustments will be enough to revive the desire around a name as legendary as Black Ops.