Finally, Call of Duty (CoD) spills the beans on their controversial matchmaking system!
Today, Activision released a blog post revealing all the nitty-gritty details of how players are matched in Call of Duty lobbies. The infamous “skill-based matchmaking” that has been the subject of complaints for years is just the tip of the iceberg, according to the publisher.
Last November, Activision promised to address matchmaking, and it seems they have delivered on that promise. Whether or not it will appease players’ grievances remains to be seen.
In a nutshell, Activision confirms that skill-based matchmaking does exist, but it’s just one factor among many when it comes to finding a game in Call of Duty.
The publisher states, “We know that skill is often referred to as the dominant variable in our matchmaking system. While we do consider skill, it is not the only thing we prioritize. We take several factors into account to create lobbies.”
Skill is a contentious issue, and Activision has listened. They use individual player performance to ensure there isn’t a massive gap between the most skilled and least skilled players, so that everyone feels the game is worth their time.
According to Activision, their data shows that lower skill players are more likely to quit or stop playing when they consistently lose. This has a negative ripple effect on the player pool, causing longer wait times for matches and weaker connections. Eventually, only high-skilled players remain, creating an ecosystem that is worse for everyone involved.
When it comes to connection, Activision considers factors such as time to match, playlist diversity, recent maps and modes, skill and performance, input device, platform, and voice chat when placing players into a match.
BREAKING: For the first time, the Call of Duty team has issued a statement about matchmaking.
It says matchmaking “combines latency, search time, and skill, along with many other factors” and will be more transparent about how it works in “the coming weeks.”
Full statement: pic.twitter.com/zsmB7VkAeB
— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) November 30, 2023
Activision emphasizes that player engagement and money spent do not influence matchmaking. In-game elements like hit registration are not impacted either. Furthermore, the game does not use bots in multiplayer.
However, the company admits that they have previously considered removing skill from matchmaking in general multiplayer modes. They continue to explore this idea through occasional tests to see if it makes sense, but so far, the results align with their current approach.
In conclusion, Activision is dedicated to providing the best player experience and fostering a strong community in Call of Duty worldwide. They will continue to fine-tune their matchmaking system to ensure a fair and enjoyable gameplay experience for all.
