Activision Secretly Experimented on Half the Players of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. The Goal Was to Confirm What Had Long Seemed Obvious

As a dedicated gamer who has spent countless hours playing competitive online games, I can’t help but appreciate the importance of skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) in creating a balanced and enjoyable gaming experience. While some may argue that it creates an unfair advantage for certain players or stifles the fun by requiring effort to win, I firmly believe that SBMM is crucial for maintaining fairness and keeping me engaged in the game.


In competitive online games, finding a balanced playing experience relies on choosing suitable opponents. Typically, this selection is determined by each player’s skill level, a system referred to as SBMM or skill-based matchmaking. However, not all games employ this method; for instance, XDefiant was recently launched without it. Most titles in this category, such as the Call of Duty series, utilize SBMM, although not everyone is fond of it.

Opponents of SBMM contend that it ensures equal competition in each game, necessitating a significant effort to emerge victorious. However, there are those who play solely for amusement and occasionally, preferring not to exert themselves excessively. Instead, they advocate for a more casual experience by way of unpredictable matchups.

Activision Experiment

In January, Activision disclosed the key elements of their matchmaking process in Modern Warfare III, revealing a total of 8 significant factors. The most influential factors proved to be the quality of the connection and the appropriate timing of matches. Recently, the studio shared a comprehensive report (25 pages long) named “The Significance of Skill in Matchmaking,” shedding light on an intriguing experiment carried out at the beginning of the year.

During this time, it was discovered that Activision quietly decreased the focus on ensuring skill equality in matchmaking for approximately half of the North American player base.

The result of the experiment isn’t shocking – over 90% of unaware testers who tried out the matchmaking system played Call of Duty less frequently. On the other hand, the top 10% of players reported no difference. Thus, this data suggests that SBMM enhances gaming experience for most players. Picking opponents randomly may advantage elite gamers, but it creates dissatisfaction and pushes away an average player from the game.

As a dedicated fan of “Call of Duty,” I’ve come to realize that properly balancing skills against other matchmaking factors significantly enhances my gaming experience. When my skill level is taken into consideration during matchmaking, I consistently end up in more satisfying matches. This results in better final placements for me, leading me to stay engaged with the game longer and quit less frequently.

Based on my personal experience as a dedicated online gamer and follower of the gaming community, I wholeheartedly agree with the statement that the entire article sheds valuable light on the topic at hand. As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in various online shooter games, I can attest to the importance of Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM) in keeping me engaged and coming back for more.

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2024-07-29 15:02