Does MW4 Have SBMM? Matchmaking & Open Playlists Explained

Modern Warfare 4 is changing how Call of Duty handles public matchmaking, but that does not mean SBMM is completely gone from MW4. Activision has confirmed that player skill is still considered in its updated matchmaking system, while Open Matchmaking gives players another option with much less emphasis on skill.

Here is how MW4 matchmaking works, what Open playlists actually change, and whether you can turn SBMM off.

Does Modern Warfare 4 Have SBMM?

Yes, Modern Warfare 4 does have skill-based matchmaking, but MW4 is not simply returning to the stricter matchmaking system used before Black Ops 7. Infinity Ward previously confirmed that matchmaking would not "revert directly back" to the pre-Black Ops 7 system.

Activision has since confirmed that the MW4 Beta will test two different approaches: its updated matchmaking system and an Open Matchmaking option.

The updated system still considers player skill. However, skill is only one of several factors used when forming a lobby. Open Matchmaking puts much less emphasis on skill and allows a wider range of players to be matched together.

Short answer: MW4 does not completely remove SBMM. Instead, Call of Duty is testing a less restrictive matchmaking system alongside Open playlists where skill has much less influence.

How Does MW4 Matchmaking Work?

Activision has now explained more about the matchmaking system being tested for Modern Warfare 4.

The updated system considers multiple factors when searching for a match, including:

• Player skill
• Connection quality
• Player location
• Time of day
• Selected playlist
• Party composition
• Platform
• Cross-play settings
• Overall player population

This means MW4 matchmaking is not based on one simple hidden skill rating. Activision has not published the exact weighting given to each factor. We therefore do not know exactly how strongly skill can override connection quality or how much the system changes its search range while looking for a lobby.

What Is Open Matchmaking in MW4?

Open Matchmaking is a matchmaking option where player skill is minimally considered. Instead of trying to create a lobby with players clustered around a similar skill level, the search can accept a much wider range of players.

Call of Duty first used this Open approach extensively in Black Ops 7. Activision described its Open playlists as using matchmaking where skill was minimally considered.

The practical result is greater lobby variety. You may face players who are much better than you, players around your level, and players who are considerably weaker in the same session.

Open Matchmaking can therefore produce:

• A wider range of player skill inside one lobby
• More variation in match difficulty
• More opportunities for mixed-skill parties to play together
• Less protection for inexperienced players
• More chances for strong players to dominate individual matches
• More unpredictable matches from one game to the next

However, Open does not necessarily mean completely random matchmaking. Connection, location, playlist availability, platform, parties, and other matchmaking requirements still need to be considered.

MW4 Open Matchmaking vs Standard Matchmaking

The biggest difference between Open and more traditional Call of Duty matchmaking is how heavily player skill influences the search.

Feature	Open Matchmaking	Updated / Standard Matchmaking
Skill consideration	Minimal	Yes
Lobby skill range	Wider	More controlled
Match difficulty	More unpredictable	More consistent
Connection	Still considered	Still considered
Mixed-skill parties	Wider player pool	Party composition considered
Chance of uneven matches	Higher	Lower by design
Skill completely removed?	No confirmed complete removal	No

Neither system guarantees an easy match. Open Matchmaking can place a weaker player against very strong opponents, while the updated system can produce more competitive matches because player skill is one of the factors used to form the lobby.

The main difference is therefore how much control matchmaking attempts to place over the skill range of the lobby.

Does Open Matchmaking Mean MW4 Has No SBMM?

No. This is one of the most important distinctions when discussing MW4 SBMM.

Activision's wording for Open Matchmaking is that skill is minimally considered. That is different from saying skill is not considered at all.

Why Is Call of Duty Changing Its Matchmaking?

Skill-based matchmaking has been one of the most debated parts of Call of Duty Multiplayer for years. Some players prefer tighter matches against similarly skilled opponents, while others want public matches to have the variety found in older Call of Duty games.

Black Ops 7 gave Activision a large test of Open Matchmaking. The company has since used player data from those playlists to adjust its system.

According to Activision, its Black Ops 7 data showed that for around 80% of players, Open Matchmaking produced worse results than Standard Matchmaking in several areas:

• 32.7% higher quit rates
• 14.4% fewer kills per minute
• 5.3% lower win rates
• 59.2% more "Not Fun" match ratings

Activision also said its newer matchmaking tests resulted in lower average ping, shorter matchmaking times, and better player retention.

What Is Classic Matchmaking in Call of Duty?

The terms Open Matchmaking and Classic Matchmaking are often used together, but they should not automatically be treated as identical systems.

When Open playlists first appeared in the Black Ops 7 Beta, Call of Duty described them as using "classic matchmaking" where skill was minimally considered.

Activision later introduced another updated matchmaking system inspired by the original Black Ops and Black Ops II. It was applied to playlists such as Black Ops Classic, Party Games, and Quick Play during Black Ops 7 Season 5.

The general idea behind these experiments is similar: create more varied public matches and move away from relying too heavily on player skill when building every lobby.

Can You Turn Off SBMM in MW4?

There is currently no confirmed global setting that lets you switch SBMM off across all Modern Warfare 4 Multiplayer modes.

Instead, Open Matchmaking gives players an alternative when an Open playlist is available. Choosing that playlist reduces how much player skill affects matchmaking compared with the updated skill-aware system.

This is different from having an "SBMM On / Off" setting in the options menu. Playlist availability can also change over time, meaning Open Matchmaking may not necessarily be available for every mode or playlist.

Which MW4 Playlists Use Open Matchmaking?

Activision has confirmed that Open Matchmaking options will be available during the Modern Warfare 4 Beta. The Beta is being used to compare Open Matchmaking with the company's updated matchmaking system before the full game launches.

Are MW4 Lobbies Persistent?

Persistent lobbies are another part of the matchmaking debate, but they are separate from SBMM itself.

A persistent lobby keeps more of the same players together after a match. A disbanding lobby sends players back into matchmaking and creates another group for the next game.

Activision has argued that rebuilding lobbies can sometimes get players into their next match faster because many players leave after one game anyway. The company says around half of players already leave after their first match, with very few original players remaining by the third game.

This has been controversial because older Call of Duty games were known for keeping players together for multiple matches. Persistent lobbies could create rivalries, rematches, and a stronger sense that you were playing against an actual group rather than entering a completely new matchmaking search after every game.

Open Matchmaking and persistent lobbies should therefore be treated as two different features. A playlist can use less restrictive matchmaking without necessarily keeping the exact same lobby together forever.

Is Open Matchmaking Better for Leveling, Camos and Challenges?

Open Matchmaking can be good for progression, but it does not guarantee easier lobbies.

Strong players may benefit from having a wider skill range because they are less likely to be surrounded exclusively by players near their own performance level. That can create matches where earning kills, scorestreaks, weapon XP, and certain challenge requirements becomes easier.

The opposite can also happen. An average or new player can enter an Open lobby containing opponents far above their skill level.

For leveling and challenge grinding, the important advantages and disadvantages are:

• More variation between easy and difficult matches
• Potentially higher kill totals for strong players
• Less protection for new or lower-skilled players
• No guarantee that leaving a difficult lobby will produce an easier one
• Playlist and map choice can still matter more than matchmaking for some challenges

If your main goal is unlocking attachments and getting weapons ready without spending hours farming weapon XP, our MW4 Weapon Leveling service can handle the progression for you.

Is Ranked Play Matchmaking Different?

Ranked Play and normal public matchmaking serve different purposes.

Open Matchmaking is designed around public Multiplayer, where having a wider range of players can create more variety. Ranked Play needs to create competitive matches between players at appropriate ranks and skill levels.

MW4 Matchmaking FAQ

Does MW4 have SBMM?

Yes. Player skill is one of the factors considered by the updated MW4 matchmaking system. However, Open Matchmaking options are also being tested where skill is minimally considered.

What is Open Matchmaking in MW4?

Open Matchmaking reduces the importance of player skill when creating a lobby. This allows a wider range of skill levels to play together and can make match difficulty more varied.

Does Open Matchmaking remove SBMM?

Not completely based on Activision's current wording. Open Matchmaking is described as a system where skill is minimally considered, rather than a system where skill is confirmed to have no role at all.

Can you turn off SBMM in MW4?

There is no confirmed universal SBMM off switch. Players can instead select an Open Matchmaking playlist when one is available.

Is MW4 matchmaking based on ping?

Connection quality is an important matchmaking factor, but it is not the only one. MW4's updated system also considers skill, location, playlist, party composition, platform, cross-play settings, time of day, and the available player population.

What is Classic Matchmaking in MW4?

Call of Duty has used the term "classic" for matchmaking approaches inspired by older games such as Black Ops and Black Ops II. These systems generally reduce the emphasis placed on player skill, but Activision has not confirmed that every classic-inspired system is identical to Open Matchmaking.

What is the difference between Open and Standard matchmaking?

Open Matchmaking allows a wider range of player skill because skill is minimally considered. Standard or updated matchmaking uses player skill more actively alongside connection and other factors to create the lobby.

Does MW4 Ranked Play use SBMM?

MW4 Ranked Play matchmaking details have not been fully announced yet. Ranked modes normally need tighter competitive matchmaking than public Open playlists, so Open Matchmaking should not be assumed to apply to Ranked Play.

Are Open playlists available in every MW4 mode?

No permanent all-mode availability has been confirmed. Open Matchmaking options are confirmed for the MW4 Beta, while the final full-game playlist structure is still being tested.

Will MW4 use Open Matchmaking at launch?

Activision has not yet confirmed the final launch setup. The MW4 Beta is being used to compare its updated matchmaking system with Open Matchmaking before the game launches, so the permanent playlist structure may change based on those results.