Players have been running for some years now, longing for it, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 to make a big difference. The most significant change for the next game is Treyarch’s announcement that the game will be accessible without strict skill-based matchmaking, together with the non-disbanding lobbies and the planned aim assist changes before the launch of the game. Call of Duty has taken a radical step back, and its already buzzing gaming community is all ears.
So what does this mean for the average player? SBMM, otherwise known as skill-based matchmaking, has been a bone of contention among players for years. It basically places you with people who are your exact skill level, which sounds good in theory but, in practice, every game felt like the final of a sweaty tournament. No more relaxing casual gaming sessions where one could just chill and have fun. Treyarch’s removal of it for Black Ops 7 means that players are going to experience a larger range of matches with mixed skill levels, just like in the old Call of Duty games that most players refer to as the golden age of the franchise.
The introduction of non-disbanding lobbies is an additional step towards the community’s demands. Have you ever completed a game only to be sent to a completely different group of players? That is now a thing of the past. This will not only keep the teams together throughout the matches but also create opportunities for rivalries, altercations, and the classic Call of Duty social atmosphere to return. One of the players expressed it on Twitter as the case when he said, “no SBMM AND lobbies that don’t disband?? we’re so DONE 😭 they finally brought back what made COD fun again 🔥”.
The developers have, in their initial statement, made it quite obvious that “At launch, Open Matchmaking with minimal skill consideration will be the default for Black Ops 7 Multiplayer,” which indicates they are not completely removing skill from the equation but rather making it less binding. The give-and-take approach might be the honeycomb that delights both competitive and non-competitive players.
Nonetheless, not everyone is convinced. A few comments have expressed doubts about how long it took and one person wrote “Took them 5 years to listen 😭” while others questioned if the changes are coming too late, especially with Battlefield 6 that is generating a lot of hype. A comment read “Battlefield probably was the reason behind this decision” while another suggested “Honestly, it’s a big win for COD. Let’s just hope it’s not too late with BF6 getting the spotlight.”
Moreover, the developers’ changes in adjustments to aim assisting have caused great debate, as they are a topic of main concern among the majority of players. Thus, where SBMM has been an issue for many, quite a few users pointed out that the aim assist changes could be even more significant. One gamer said, “I still won’t buy the game but the aim assist part has my attention. In fact, I am more concerned about that than SBMM.” This indicates that Treyarch is gradually building rapport with the gaming community by providing solutions to their problems one at a time.
Among the reasons of the users’ excitement, undoubtedly, is the nostalgia, which is very strong among the players. A lot of them are just recalling the old days, for example, when it was fairly easy to make friends or foes just because you had the same lobby for several games in a row. To put it humorously, a Twitter user did it very well, “time to get stomped by the same dude named ‘420sniper69′ for 3 matches straight 😭 i’m not leaving that lobby till peace is restored or i drop 30 kills,” and thus created that vintage Call of Duty-like atmosphere that many feel is missing.
The developers’ statement confirms that “At launch, Open Matchmaking with minimal skill consideration will be the default for Black Ops 7 Multiplayer” which implies that they are not completely removing skill from the equation but rather making it less restrictive. This balanced approach might be the sweet spot that satisfies both competitive and casual players.
Of course, the skeptics are always around. A few comments have been made expressing concerns with one user stating “Too bad the game sucks” and another questioning “when will they learn?” But these negative reactions are definitely in the minority compared to the overwhelming positive response from the community.
Yet, there is an intriguing aspect to the announcement timing as it comes at a point when the competition in the military shooter genre is already getting fierce. With the release of Battlefield 6 expected to be a major event, Call of Duty seems to be making strategic moves to lure back players who might have been getting tired of the recent developments. Whether this is a matter of the competition driving the developers or merely the listening of the feedback after years, the outcome will be the same: players will be the ones receiving the Call of Duty experience they’ve wished for.
The changes have come just when they were really needed. After several years of harsh SBMM in titles, the community has been speaking very loudly about their wish for social gaming experiences that are more casual like before. The fact that Treyarch is putting in place these changes before the game release rather than post-release patch indicates that they are really committed to getting it right.
As we gear up for the release of Black Ops 7, it will be quite interesting to witness how these changes will actually play out in real terms. Will the removal of stringent SBMM result in a better time for all? Will the non-disbanding lobbies bring back the classic Call of Duty community feel? And what will be the impact of the aim assist tweaks on gameplay balance? These are the questions that will soon players will get the answers through their experience with the game.
The Call of Duty community, however, is already in a celebratory mood as they feel they have won a significant battle. By making the changes that the players have been asking for, the developers have finally listened after years of complaints about matchmaking systems that turned every match into a chore instead of a fun experience. It is a reminder that when gaming communities are consistent and clear in their demands, developers will eventually listen. It remains to be seen whether these changes will be enough to make Black Ops 7 the comeback that Call of Duty needs, but the initial reaction strongly suggests that Treyarch is on the right track.
