Call of Duty Fans Unite Against SBMM: The Annual Battle Begins
Hey gamers! It’s that time of year again – Call of Duty season is upon us! And you know what that means… the passionate cries of Call of Duty fans demanding the removal of SBMM are echoing through the gaming community. It’s a tradition like no other.
We all know what SBMM stands for – skill-based matchmaking. It’s been a hot topic in the Call of Duty series for over a decade, but it really took center stage with the 2019 Modern Warfare reboot. According to its detractors, SBMM became the embodiment of evil in the gaming world.
Now, before we dive deeper into the SBMM debate, let’s make sure everyone’s on the same page. SBMM, or rather, EBMM (engagement-based matchmaking), is a system that exists in most modern games, especially those with live service components. Publishers rely on post-launch monetization through microtransactions, so they want to keep their player base engaged for as long as possible.
Think of SBMM as a tool that ensures average-to-below-average players don’t get thrown into lobbies where they’re constantly outmatched by more experienced players. It uses various techniques to shuffle players and update their skill ratings, including lobby disbanding – something that hardcore Call of Duty fans just can’t seem to accept.
The Age-Old Arguments Against SBMM
Over on the Modern Warfare 3 subreddit, the Call of Duty faithful have once again launched their yearly campaign against SBMM. These posts are clever and popular, but they all revolve around the same arguments that anyone familiar with the Call of Duty discourse has heard a thousand times.
One popular argument is that SBMM prevents low-skilled players from enjoying matches with their high-skilled friends. Matchmaking tailors the lobby to the high-skilled player, making the competition much tougher for everyone in the party. It’s like playing a game of chess against a grandmaster while you’re still learning the basics.
Then there’s the idea that every match becomes a serious affair, where you have to give it your all, use the most effective loadout, and play at your absolute best. It’s as if every game is a high-stakes tournament, and there’s no room for casual fun. And let’s not forget that matchmaking sometimes sacrifices ping to ensure you’re matched with players of equal skill levels – a big no-no for many CoD devotees.
A Desperate Plea from Activision: Will SBMM Finally Be Addressed?
Perhaps this year, the core fanbase is more motivated than ever to do something about SBMM. Activision, together with developer Sledgehammer Games, has been extending olive branches to content creators and the most dedicated players. They’ve brought back classic features like the minimap and map voting, and introduced mechanical changes that make the gameplay faster and more intense.
But their biggest play is the “new” Warzone, which is eerily similar to last year’s iteration. It’s almost like a blast from the past, with a Verdansk-inspired map and other popular maps from Warzone’s history. Activision is clearly trying to appeal to the same players who complain about Call of Duty day in and day out, hoping they can help market the game to a wider audience.
Only time will tell if this strategy pays off. At some point, though, Call of Duty fans will have to move on from the SBMM debate and focus on the game itself. After all, there’s a whole world of gaming challenges out there that require their attention.
Conclusion: Embrace the Challenges of the Gaming World
So, my fellow gamers, let’s remember that gaming, just like life, is full of challenges. We face them head-on, adapt, and overcome. Whether it’s taking on a difficult boss in Dark Souls or navigating the treacherous world of cybersecurity, we gamers know how to rise to the occasion.
SBMM may be a contentious topic, but it’s just one of the many obstacles we encounter in our gaming journeys. Instead of dwelling on it year after year, let’s embrace the challenges and enjoy the diverse experiences that gaming has to offer.
Remember, it’s not just about Call of Duty or any single game. It’s about the joy, the camaraderie, and the sense of accomplishment we find in gaming. So, let’s keep playing, keep exploring, and keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
Are you ready, gamers? It’s time to level up and conquer the gaming world together!