Call of Duty just shook the community with an unexpected update to the Black Ops 7 skill-based matchmaking system. Hidden inside the latest beta patch notes, Treyarch revealed a new playlist called Open Mosh Pit, which brings back traditional matchmaking — the kind seen before skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) took over. This playlist drastically reduces skill weighting, effectively allowing players to match more by connection quality rather than raw skill. It’s the biggest experiment in Call of Duty multiplayer balancing since Modern Warfare 2019 cranked up SBMM to the extreme.
What Is the Open Mosh Pit in Black Ops 7?
The Open Mosh Pit playlist offers matches with minimal skill consideration. In practical terms, that means players are placed into lobbies primarily based on ping and region, not their kill/death ratio or win rate. For many long-time players, this is exactly what they’ve been asking for — a “no SBMM” mode where each match feels unpredictable.
However, there’s a trade-off. Because it’s a separate playlist, it may attract certain types of players more than others. Many competitive or “sweaty” players flock to it for easier lobbies and smoother connections. Casual players, on the other hand, may stick to the main rotation, leading to the Open Mosh Pit feeling unexpectedly intense in some matches.
How It Actually Feels to Play
After extensive testing, players have reported mixed experiences. Some matches deliver balanced fights where every team feels different, offering the variety Call of Duty used to be known for. Others, however, turn into intense gunfights between skilled players all chasing high kill counts.
Connection stability, though, seems to be the biggest win. Without heavy SBMM factoring into matchmaking, ping quality remains consistent across games. Players have noticed fewer lag spikes and more predictable hit registration. Whether on PC or console, that smoother gameplay has been the standout feature of the new system.
The playlist also improves co-op experiences. Friends with wide skill gaps can finally queue together without being thrown into overly competitive lobbies, making casual play sessions far more enjoyable.
What Treyarch and Charlie Olsson Said About Matchmaking
Interestingly, Charlie Olsson — a former Raven Software developer and one of the key figures behind Call of Duty’s original skill-based matchmaking — weighed in on the change. In an interview with Insider Gaming, Olsson noted that Treyarch’s assumption about “more varied experiences” might be mathematically off.
He explained that without SBMM, a highly skilled player (say, in the 90th percentile) will consistently dominate lobbies filled with average players. Statistically, this actually reduces match variety over time because the same patterns emerge — strong players win big, weaker ones lose often.
Olsson suggested a more transparent approach: letting players view their MMR (Matchmaking Rating) in their combat record. He also recommended rewarding skilled players in public matches with higher XP multipliers or cosmetic bonuses, so strong performance feels rewarding rather than punishing.
