Modern Warfare 4 launches without open matchmaking

Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer has launched without an open matchmaking playlist, confirming what the beta suggested a few weeks ago.

The beta did not include a dedicated open matchmaking option, and some players took that as a sign it would be missing from the final game. When multiplayer went live in New Zealand first, players checked the playlist menu and found no open matchmaking option there either. The discovery quickly spread across social media.

Open matchmaking is a playlist that does not use skill-based matchmaking (SBMM). It lets players of all skill levels land in the same lobby.

How Black Ops 7 handled it

Black Ops 7 shipped with an open matchmaking option. As that game went on, Treyarch adjusted its SBMM and leaned back into it more over time, with the studio pushing SBMM in Black Ops 7 citing increased engagement.

For now, there is no open matchmaking playlist in the Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer lineup.