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"The matchmaking in 'Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3' robs me of my gaming fun"

10.11.2023

Translation: machine translated

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3" is released today. Instead of joy, the release is causing displeasure. The reason for this is the new matchmaking system in multiplayer mode. E-sports expert "Ehmv" explains why.

"Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3" is now the 20th instalment in the popular shooter series. On 10 November, the shooter festival enters the next round. The corresponding campaign has already been playable for a week. I also spent an hour playing it. It didn't knock my socks off. I'm not alone in this. However, the lacklustre campaign is not the only reason why "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3" is causing a stir.

Year after year, the multiplayer mode attracts millions of female players. And this year there is a major construction site called skill-based matchmaking, or SBMM for short. The system is designed to ensure that games are balanced and beginners don't have to compete against pros.

Kevin Hungerbühler - better known by his gamertag "Ehmv" - is one of the best Call of Duty players in Switzerland. In this interview, the 27-year-old from Lucerne explains what SBMM is all about and why it has sent some of the Community into a frenzy.

Kevin «Ehmv» Hungerbühler is a passionate «Warzone» player and not very enthusiastic about the new matchmaking.
Source: Kevin Hungerbühler

Skill-based matchmaking is not a new invention. Why is the system in "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3" causing such an outcry?
The beta for "Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3" showed that the system is far too aggressive. After just one or two rounds, good players only play against players at their own level. That's no fun at all. For casual players, on the other hand, it's great. Thanks to SBMM, they no longer end up in lobbies where they are run over by much better players.

The system is widespread and is used by almost all well-known multiplayer games such as "PUBG", "Apex Legends" and "Counter-Strike". It was also used in the last "Call of Duty" game
That's right. SBMM is also used in "Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2". But you feel it less there. Basically, the system makes sense. If you play well for several rounds, you are mixed with other good players. Conversely, as a casual player, you'll meet people at your level.

In the beta, SBMM has already generated a lot of discussion.
Source: Activision

Why is it still a problem for experienced players?
Even as a good player, you don't want to sweat around the clock and always have to make an effort. You also want a lobby to relax in, where you can get 50, 60, 70 kills. That's not possible at the moment. That's why many people have stopped playing the beta. It was just too exhausting.

How good does someone have to be to suffer from SBMM like you do?

That's difficult to say. I reckon it affects average to very good players. You can't tell from the kill/death ratio. In "Call of Duty" there is a hidden matchmaking rating, the MMR. This tracks all your successes and failures. That's why some players deliberately lose so that they are rated lower. However, if you average 60 to 70 kills per game, you will be reclassified immediately.

Is there any way around this problem?
Until now, you could work around it with a VPN. This changes the region to countries like Egypt or Kazakhstan. There tend to be fewer players there and their connections are more vulnerable. In other words, the level is lower. This allows the SBMM to be bypassed. VPNs are so fast these days that you don't have a higher ping as a result. The trick doesn't work in ranked games because only the better players are there anyway.

This means that if you prefer to play against weaker opponents, you simply switch on the VPN for a short time?
Exactly. I'm completely open and honest about that. I always think as a streamer. What's more entertaining for the viewers? If you make lots of kills and have fun or if you constantly die and have to reload?

Casual players benefit from SBMM.
Source: Activision

What do you think is the reason why the SBMM has been adapted?
It's about the money. They want to bind casuals more closely to the game. With SBMM activated, they have more fun, play longer and spend more money on skins etc. The really good players who suffer from SBMM are a minority and aren't interested in skins.

What impact does SBMM have on level progression?It makes it more strenuous, of course. Weapon levelling in particular is more tedious. There are no more lobbies where you can simply complete certain kill streaks. Imagine you want to level up your pistol. You enter a lobby with good players who are all running around with automatic weapons. You have no chance of achieving your goal. So the game gets boring and you end up just switching it off.

Do you have any hope that Activision will still adapt the system?
Not really.

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Philipp Rüegg

Senior Editor

Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.ch

As a child, I wasn't allowed to have any consoles. It was only with the arrival of the family's 486 PC that the magical world of gaming opened up to me. Today, I'm overcompensating accordingly. Only a lack of time and money prevents me from trying out every game there is and decorating my shelf with rare retro consoles.

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"The matchmaking in 'Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3' robs me of my gaming fun"

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