Does MW3 have skill-based matchmaking?

Debates around skill-based matchmaking continue to dominate COD community discussions, and that is no different for Modern Warfare 3. Here is everything you need to know about the controversial feature returning.

Skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) refers to the matchmaking system and algorithms a game uses to find other players. Users find matches based on connection but also based on those with a similar skill level. In Call of Duty, the matchmaking algorithm is believed to consider statistics, like time played, score per minute, and Kill/Death Ratio (KDR).

Some community members argue that the system unfairly punishes higher-skilled players by constantly matching them against increasingly difficult opponents. It’s especially discouraging when players feel discouraged to improve, as they don’t want to go up against insurmountable enemies.

Modern Warfare 2 players took issue with the system in Ranked Play, as SBMM did not account for Skill Divisions, resulting in extremely unbalanced matches. Players in the lowest division went up against squads several ranks above them, driving some away from the mode.

Does Modern Warfare 3 have SBMM?

Neither Sledgehammer Games nor Activision confirmed the presence of SBMM in MW3. However, CharlieIntel indirectly confirmed it while complaining about its implementation.

The COD insider argued: “Skill Based Matchmaking is something that is, unfortunately, needed in lobbies for casual players, but at the same time, has been tuned up way too much after MW 2019 in Call of Duty. It is a bit excessive how quickly it has thrown you into try-hard lobbies in the last few years.”

Other community members agreed and called for the devs to tune down the “excessive” SBMM ahead of MW3’s full release. The last time a COD developer directly acknowledged SBMM was in 2021 when veteran multiplayer developer Josh Menke confirmed the feature has always existed in the franchise.

Menke did his best to reassure fans that it’s getting better with each generation, but community members feel quite the opposite heading into Modern Warfare 3.