Ahead of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's release on November 14, Activision has confirmed a key detail about the multiplayer mode. Some playlists will indeed have skill-based matchmaking toggled on, but most won't.
Developer Treyarch said on social media that the majority of the Black Ops 7 multiplayer playlists will have what is described as "open" matchmaking. In these playlists, skill is only "minimally considered," just as it was during the Black Ops 7 beta where Activision first rolled this out.
The exception for Black Ops 7 will be one rotating Moshpit playlist where "skill will be an important consideration." Additionally, Black Ops 7 Ranked play will feature SBMM when it launches in Season 2.
Treyarch also clarified that Black Ops 7 will feature persistent lobbies, which is what fans had asked for.
In October, Activision announced that Black Ops 7 multiplayer would be non-SBMM by default. Given that, some saw this recent announcement as Activision backpedaling on its original promise. But Activision never said Black Ops 7 would not have any SBMM playlists, only that non-SBMM will be the default for Black Ops 7 at launch.
For years, Call of Duty fans had asked Activision to deprioritize SBMM, and it's conspicuous that it's finally coming in a year when Battlefield 6 has a lot of momentum. Activision has not explained specifically why it's adding non-SBMM playlists to Black Ops 7.
In addition to standard multiplayer, Black Ops 7 will launch with a 20v20 mode called Skirmish in which players can fly with wingsuits and drive vehicles to traverse larger maps. There is a campaign mode, too, featuring an open-world Endgame element on the Avalon map, along with the return of Zombies.
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Developer Treyarch said on social media that the majority of the Black Ops 7 multiplayer playlists will have what is described as "open" matchmaking. In these playlists, skill is only "minimally considered," just as it was during the Black Ops 7 beta where Activision first rolled this out.
The exception for Black Ops 7 will be one rotating Moshpit playlist where "skill will be an important consideration." Additionally, Black Ops 7 Ranked play will feature SBMM when it launches in Season 2.
Treyarch also clarified that Black Ops 7 will feature persistent lobbies, which is what fans had asked for.
Hey everyone, to clarify: just like in the Black Ops 7 Beta, skill will be minimally considered in every Open playlist. We've also added persistent lobbies and new playlists since the Beta, including Quick Play.
Here's what you'll see on day one: pic.twitter.com/cEddWYzpAn
— Treyarch (@Treyarch) November 12, 2025
In October, Activision announced that Black Ops 7 multiplayer would be non-SBMM by default. Given that, some saw this recent announcement as Activision backpedaling on its original promise. But Activision never said Black Ops 7 would not have any SBMM playlists, only that non-SBMM will be the default for Black Ops 7 at launch.
For years, Call of Duty fans had asked Activision to deprioritize SBMM, and it's conspicuous that it's finally coming in a year when Battlefield 6 has a lot of momentum. Activision has not explained specifically why it's adding non-SBMM playlists to Black Ops 7.
In addition to standard multiplayer, Black Ops 7 will launch with a 20v20 mode called Skirmish in which players can fly with wingsuits and drive vehicles to traverse larger maps. There is a campaign mode, too, featuring an open-world Endgame element on the Avalon map, along with the return of Zombies.
Source