Matchmaking systems also continue to evolve along with modern multiplayer games, but the debate around skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) continues to divide the community.
While some players are fond of the competitive balance, many miss the casual chaos of legacy shooters. And, with Battlefield 6 on the horizon, many are wondering if the game will have SBMM. If you're also wondering the same, continue with our guide to find out.
What is skill-based matchmaking?
Skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) is a system designed to match players with similar skill levels in online games. It's designed to make competitive matches fair; however, its implementation could vary significantly between games.
In some shooters, SBMM is extremely strict as it prioritizes stats like kill/death ratio or win rates. But in many, it takes a backseat to connection quality and region, and is only used for balancing teams after a match is made.
Does Battlefield 6 have SBMM?
The answer to this is YES, Battlefield 6 will have SBMM, but in a looser and more dynamic manner. During EA's multiplayer reveal event, developers revealed that matchmaking will be dependent on four main factors:
- Ping
- Player's location
- Server availability
- Some level of skill metric
More importantly, the weight of each factor will vary according to the game mode and player count. According to lead producer David Sirland, SBMM will mostly be used for balancing teams once inside the match, instead of building highly curated lobbies before you join.
In other words, Battlefield 6 won't use strict SBMM like Call of Duty does. Instead, it will use skill values as a part of a broad matchmaking system that emphasizes fair team compositions over individual performance metrics.
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