Treyarch Responds to Black Ops 7 Matchmaking Controversy

Treyarch has stepped forward to address growing concerns about skill-based matchmaking in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, aiming to calm a community that has long been divided on the topic. SBMM has been debated for years, often criticized for turning every lobby into what feels like a competitive arena. With Black Ops 7 originally marketed as dialing back SBMM, many players expected a more relaxed, classic Call of Duty experience — but early impressions sparked renewed backlash.

SBMM Accusations Emerge Days After Launch

Although Black Ops 7 has only been available for a short time, it hasn’t escaped controversy. Beyond debates surrounding campaign design and the discovery that AI was used during development, players recently began accusing the game of secretly running SBMM despite claims to the contrary.

Rumors intensified as many fans reported lobbies that felt sweatier than expected, prompting calls for Treyarch to clarify the matchmaking system once and for all.

Treyarch Issues a Public Statement

In a message posted to Twitter, Treyarch directly acknowledged the conversations happening across the community and laid out its matchmaking approach:

 

• Open Playlists: Skill is minimally considered, and persistent lobbies remain a core feature.

• Quick Play: Also uses Open Matchmaking, meaning only minimal skill factors into lobby formation.

• Fix Deployed: A recent issue in Quick Play where player selections were being overridden has now been resolved.

Treyarch emphasized its commitment to keeping Open Matchmaking as the foundation of multiplayer moving forward, doubling down on its promise to reduce the influence of SBMM.

A Strong Multiplayer Showing — With One Big Caveat

Despite the matchmaking debate, Black Ops 7’s multiplayer offering has earned plenty of praise. Fans have highlighted:

• A strong set of maps and game modes

• A content-rich experience at launch

• A Zombies mode with unique twists (though opinions are mixed)

However, the game’s campaign remains the biggest flashpoint. Its always-online requirement, lack of a pause function, and other design choices have led to widespread frustration — and a surge of review-bombing.

What Comes Next

Whether Treyarch’s statement will quiet the SBMM controversy remains to be seen. The community is still divided, and some players remain convinced that hidden skill algorithms are influencing their matches.

As a live-service title, Black Ops 7 will continue to evolve — and fans won’t have to wait long for the next major update. On November 20, the iconic Nuketown map makes its debut, which is sure to draw players back into the fray.

As the game updates and Treyarch continues to communicate more openly, the studio may yet win back skeptical fans — but for now, matchmaking remains one of Black Ops 7’s hottest battlegrounds.