Activision secretly experimented on 50% of Call of Duty players by 'decreasing' skill-based matchmaking, and determined players like SBMM even if they don't know it
How about dedicated servers where users can play against the same people for more than 1 or 2 matches and get better without randos smurfing and griefing?
SBMM should be an option but not the only one. Actiblizz can kick fuckin rocks.
A lot of the problems I used to have with SBMM when I would still actually play CoD is that you’d have one good game and then next thing you know you’re playing the next couples matches with people who absolutely mollywhomp you into the dirt with ease.
It just wasn’t fun and felt like it was actively punishing you for playing good one time.
I would run into an issue where I would use 1 meta load out and would hold around a 1.0 k/d, but if I ever wanted to experiment and try some other guns or unlock some new attachments I would get absolutely shredded. I would do this for a few matches, unlock whatever I was trying to unlock, and then switch back to my most efficient load out and absolutely shred the lobby I was playing in for a few games until I averaged back to a 1.0 k/d.
I felt like the only multiplayer option was 'competitive' and I couldn't really experiment with things without getting my shit pushed in.
For an IRL comparison: I play pickleball from time to time and if I casually play someone at or slightly below my skill level I can experiment a little (try landing shots in different places, work on forehand vs. backhand, etc.), but if I play in a competitive tournament and go up against a pro they will absolutely kick my ass in record time (and that's okay lol).
If you're retired and in Florida there's a whole competitive scene! My buddy's parents got us into the game 2 years ago before they moved to the villages. They came back to visit a few months ago and I was VERY humbled .
Maybe that's why it's cheap to get tennis lessons now.
Just gotta hope they aren't stealing your tennis court to play pickleball! Lol