Yes, Modern Warfare 4 still uses skill as part of matchmaking, but it is not the strict skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) of the last few Call of Duty releases. Activision has said MW4 will not go back to the pre-Black Ops 7 system, and that connection remains a top priority when the game builds a lobby.
That second part matters more than most players realise. If connection comes first, the region your matchmaking connects through decides which pool of players you are drawn from. Below we cover what SBMM is, what Activision has actually confirmed about MW4 matchmaking, what is still unknown before the 23 October launch, and how to get easier lobbies from your first multiplayer match.
What is SBMM in Call of Duty?
SBMM stands for skill-based matchmaking. When you queue, the game looks at how you have been playing (kills, deaths, wins, score per minute) and tries to put you in lobbies with players at a similar level. In theory that makes matches fair. In practice, play well for a few games and the next lobbies get harder.
SBMM is never the only thing the game looks at. Your connection, how long you have been waiting, the playlist, your party and your platform all shape the lobby too. Our guide to what SBMM is in Warzone goes deeper on how it works across Call of Duty.
Does MW4 have SBMM?
Is there skill-based matchmaking in Modern Warfare 4? Yes, but skill is one factor, not the whole system. Every Call of Duty has looked at skill in some way. What changes from game to game is how much weight it gets against everything else.
Here is what Activision and Infinity Ward have said so far (as of 8 October 2026):
- No return to the old system. Infinity Ward has said MW4's matchmaking will not revert to how it worked before Black Ops 7.
- Connection first. Call of Duty said in August that "connection remains a top priority", with the system "finding a better balance" across the other factors.
- No extra detail yet. In September, Infinity Ward co-studio head Mark Grigsby said: "All Matchmaking info we have at this time is what has been officially stated on the @CallofDuty account."
Activision has not announced an SBMM on or off switch for core multiplayer. Treat any site selling an "SBMM off" button for MW4 with suspicion.
MW4 matchmaking changes: Classic Matchmaking from Black Ops 7
The shift started in Black Ops 7. In Season 5, Treyarch switched to what it calls Classic Matchmaking, a setup it said "builds on what we've learned, with smarter team balancing, wide match variety". Call of Duty reported that quit rates went down across every skill group after the change.
MW4 builds on that system. The beta in late August ran Classic Matchmaking alongside an Open Matchmaking playlist with a looser skill pool, "so we can keep learning from both". A looser pool can also mean lobbies drawn from a wider area, which is why some players noticed a ping trade-off there.
What we do not know yet is whether an Open Matchmaking playlist will be in the launch version, or how the final weighting will look on day one. If you read a confident answer to either question before Infinity Ward publishes it, it is a guess.
Why MW4 lobbies can still feel sweaty
A softer system does not mean every match is relaxed. Plenty of players pushed back on Classic Matchmaking in the beta, and many Black Ops 7 players say the Season 5 change still feels like SBMM. A few things still stack the odds against you at launch:
- Launch week is the sweatiest week of the year. The most committed players buy on day one and grind hard for camos and levels. Your pool is full of them.
- Prime time stacks the pool. In the evening in your own region, the most active players are online at the same time as you.
- Your recent results still count for something. Skill is weighted less, but it is not switched off. A good run of games still nudges who you meet next.
- The same region, every session. Because connection comes first, you keep drawing from the same local pool unless something changes where your matchmaking connects through.
None of this is a bug. It is how a connection-first system behaves when everyone near you is trying hard at the same time.
What easier lobbies are good for in MW4
Easier lobbies are not just about a better scoreboard. In a new game they save you time:
- Camo and weapon levelling. Early unlocks come much faster when you are not trading every gunfight.
- Learning the maps. You can work out sightlines and routes without being punished for every wrong turn.
- Testing builds. Try new attachments and playstyles in matches where a bad experiment does not cost you the game.
- Playing with friends of different skill levels. A calmer pool keeps the session fun for the whole party.
How to get easier lobbies in MW4
Because MW4 builds lobbies around connection first, the most reliable lever you have is the region your matchmaking connects through. That is exactly what BotLobbies changes.
Every BotLobbies VPN routes your matchmaking through low-ping edge servers in up to 75 locations, so you can queue into a different region's pool or an off-peak window. Only matchmaking traffic is routed: your game traffic still goes direct, so you get the same ping in your gunfights. Your opponents are still real players, and nothing touches the game's files. We shift the maths of matchmaking, nothing more.
Which BotLobbies VPN is right for you?
There are three ways to run BotLobbies for MW4, depending on where you play:
- PC VPN: for playing on Windows. The BotLobbies app gives you the most control, with one-click routing, Geo Fence and NAT control that runs quietly while you play.
- Console VPN: for PS5 and Xbox. The same app runs on a PC and connects your console through a USB-to-ethernet adapter, so you get the full set of controls on console.
- Eazy VPN: the simplest setup. It is fully clientless: one DNS setting on PC, PS5 or Xbox, with no app to install and no PC needed next to your console. Setup takes under 30 seconds.
Inside the BotLobbies app, three tools matter most for MW4:
- Region choice. Pick from 32 regions and play an off-peak window, minus the prime-time stack.
- A fresh city each session. Surface from a different city so matchmaking cannot keep profiling you into the same stacked lobbies.
- Strict NAT. Shrink the opponent pool when you want an easier match straight away.
Whichever you pick, you choose a location, launch MW4 and queue as normal. Matchmaking then draws from the region you chose.
Plans start at £5.35 a month, or £3.20 a month on a yearly plan, and cover MW4 on PC, PS5 and Xbox, with Warzone and Black Ops on the same account. The MW4 bot lobbies page helps you pick the right option for your platform.
If you are deciding between a VPN and the other ways people try to dodge SBMM, our comparison of SBMM VPNs covers what works and what does not.
Launch-week tips for easier MW4 matches
A few habits make a real difference in the first weeks:
- Set up before 23 October. Campaign early access opens on 16 October for digital pre-orders, but it is campaign only. Multiplayer lobbies start on 23 October, so have your route ready before then.
- Play outside your evening peak. Late nights and weekday afternoons in your chosen region draw from a quieter pool.
- Check your ping after you switch region. Stick with the locations that keep your connection clean. A good route should not cost you anything in a gunfight.
- Mix your playlists. Smaller, less popular playlists can have very different pools to the main modes.
- Avoid lobby services that want your login. Paying per match and handing over your account credentials is a risk you do not need to take. BotLobbies never asks for your Activision login.
Want help with your aim too? Our guide to MW4 aim assist covers the aim assist types and how to pick the right one.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an SBMM toggle in MW4?
Activision has not announced one for core multiplayer. The beta ran an Open Matchmaking playlist next to Classic Matchmaking, but neither a toggle nor that playlist has been confirmed for launch (as of 8 October 2026).
Does MW4 use the same matchmaking as Black Ops 7?
It builds on it. Infinity Ward has said MW4 will not go back to the pre-Black Ops 7 system, and the beta used Classic Matchmaking from Black Ops 7 Season 5. The final launch setup has not been published yet.
Will a VPN raise my ping in MW4?
Not with BotLobbies. Only your matchmaking traffic goes through our low-ping edge servers. Your game traffic stays direct, so your ping in a match stays the same.
Does it work on PS5 and Xbox?
Yes, two ways. The Console VPN runs the BotLobbies app on a PC connected to your console with a USB-to-ethernet adapter. Eazy VPN needs no PC at all: one DNS setting on the console itself.
When can I start using it for MW4?
Multiplayer opens on 23 October 2026. You can set up your route at any time before then, and it already works for Warzone and Black Ops on the same plan.
The bottom line
MW4 does consider skill, but Activision has been clear that it is not returning to the strict SBMM of recent years, and that connection comes first. That makes the region your matchmaking connects through the biggest single factor you can control.
Set up your route before 23 October and your first multiplayer match can be an easier one. See the plans on our MW4 bot lobbies page.