Does MW3 have skill-based matchmaking? SBMM explained

Multiplayer lobbies in MW3 can be intense thanks to the matchmaking system. SBMM in Call of Duty has been a hot topic for years and you’ve probably wondered if it’s present in this year’s title.

Here’s all you need to know about whether Modern Warfare 3 has skill-based matchmaking.

Does Modern Warfare 3 have SBMM?

Yes, Modern Warfare 3 has SBMM in its multiplayer.

However, just like with previous CoD games, the MW3 SBMM system has been the subject of tons of debate and discussion within the game’s community. This SBMM system, in particular, has been criticized and referred to as restrictive by many in the community.

During the game’s launch, former Call of Duty pro Scump, claimed that it felt “worse than any other year.” The devs later responded and confirmed that skill, alongside latency, search time, and other factors, plays a huge role in matchmaking.

How does SBMM work in MW3?

SBMM stands for Skill-based matchmaking, and your skill is determined by your number of kills, deaths, wins, losses, and more, as confirmed by the official blog. Your skill not only determines the enemies you’ll be pitted against, but also the skill level of your teammates.

Several other factors determine your matchmaking experience as well:

• Connection: Most important element in the matchmaking process, as “Ping is King.”
• Time to Match: The system aims to avoid long queue times.
• Platform: Which device you’re playing on, whether it’s a PC or console
• Voice Chat: Enabled or disabled.
• Input Device: Mouse and keyboard or controller.
• Recent Maps/Modes: Mode preferences in Quick Play settings and recently played maps.
• Playlist Diversity: Playlists available for you to choose from.

The primary goal of SBMM in any game is to ensure that game lobbies are as evenly matched as possible, reducing the odds of a casual player facing an overwhelmingly skilled opponent, and therefore, theoretically improving the experience for all players.

BREAKING: Activision has officially, on record, confirmed that:

— There is NO hit reg, damage based, or aim assist based factors that effect matchmaking in any way

— Purchasing store bundles does NOT effect matchmaking in any way

— There is NO AI in Call of Duty MP pic.twitter.com/BeJegEyGBJ

— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) January 29, 2024

Despite its theoretical advantages, MW3 SBMM has caused significant controversy, with many arguing that the system penalizes skilled players by placing them in more challenging lobbies. However, the devs have analyzed the data and want to make it a better experience for lower-skilled players who are repeatedly losing their matches and quitting the game entirely.

The blog also addressed the concern of challenging or sweaty lobbies and the devs will continue to monitor the data to improve the experience of higher-skilled players.

Regardless of where you stand on MW3’s SBMM, it’s expected this feature will continue to be included in Call of Duty titles, making its removal unlikely in Black Ops 6.

If you’re interested in a dedicated competitive mode, check out the best weapons to use in MW3 Ranked Play, as well as the rewards up for grabs.