Developer Treyarch has released an official update addressing player worries about skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

SBMM has long divided the Call of Duty community. While proponents argue it keeps players engaged longer by creating balanced games, critics say it turns casual matches into sweat-fests akin to competitive ranked play.

Ahead of Black Ops 7's launch, Activision promised to scale back SBMM significantly—a decision welcomed by many frustrated fans.

Just days after the game's release on November 14, 2025, however, rumors swirled that SBMM was still secretly influencing matches. Treyarch quickly stepped in via an X post to clarify.

The studio noted they've been monitoring online discussions and reaffirmed their commitment: All of our Open Playlists use Open Matchmaking and Persistent Lobbies... Quick Play uses the same Open Matchmaking, where skill is minimally considered.

They also addressed a Quick Play bug causing mode selections to override unexpectedly, confirming a fix has been deployed.

Beyond matchmaking gripes, Black Ops 7 has faced early hurdles. Development involved AI tools, sparking debate, while the single-player campaign has drawn heavy criticism, leading to review-bombing on platforms like Metacritic.

On a brighter note, multiplayer has earned widespread acclaim for its diverse maps, modes, and sheer volume of content. Zombies mode has mixed reception but plenty of positive feedback.

As a live-service title, Black Ops 7 will evolve with updates—the latest dropped yesterday (November 20), introducing Nuketown '25 and more tweaks. Whether SBMM skepticism fades remains to be seen, but Treyarch's transparency is a solid start.