October 10, 2025
Treyarch Confirms SBMM, Aim Assist, and Lobby Changes for Black Ops 7 Launch Black Ops 7 will feature lighter skill-based matchmaking, balanced aim assist, and the long-awaited return of persistent lobbies
Following weeks of community feedback from the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 beta, Treyarch has officially confirmed a wave of gameplay changes that will be implemented at launch. These adjustments include lower skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) in public matches, tuned aim assist, and the long-requested return of persistent lobbies.
The changes mark a major shift in Call of Duty’s multiplayer philosophy — one that emphasizes fun, variety, and fairness across all playstyles.
⚔️ SBMM Overhaul: More Variety, Less Restriction
Skill-based matchmaking has been one of the most controversial systems in Call of Duty for years, with many players feeling that it punishes higher-skill competitors and leads to repetitive, sweaty matches.
During the Black Ops 7 beta, Treyarch tested a new Open Matchmaking playlist with drastically reduced SBMM, allowing for broader lobbies filled with mixed skill levels. The response from the community was overwhelmingly positive — and now, it’s becoming the new standard.
“At launch, Open Matchmaking with minimal skill consideration will be the default for Black Ops 7 Multiplayer,” Treyarch confirmed in an October 9 blog post.
“Simply put, imagine the matchmaking experience of Open Moshpit from the Beta, but as the standard on day one.”
The developers added that the test helped validate their goal of delivering a more dynamic, less restrictive multiplayer experience. Additional matchmaking details will be revealed closer to the game’s release.
🎮 Aim Assist Adjustments: Striking the Right Balance
Another major topic of debate during the beta was aim assist, which some players — particularly mouse-and-keyboard users — felt was too strong. While Treyarch didn’t disclose specific tuning changes yet, they made it clear that controller aim assist will be rebalanced for fairness across all input devices.
“It’s a priority of ours to have a fair and competitive balance across all input devices at launch,” Treyarch stated. “We’ll be sharing more about changes coming to aim assist on controller ahead of launch.”
This update will be especially important for crossplay environments, where controller and PC players often compete in the same lobbies.
🔁 Persistent Lobbies Are Back
One of the biggest quality-of-life changes confirmed for Black Ops 7 is the return of persistent lobbies. For years, Call of Duty fans have asked Treyarch to remove the disbanding lobby system that automatically shuffled players between matches.
That feedback has finally been heard.
“We’re focused on keeping players together from match to match more often,” the developers said. “We’re excited to announce we’ll have persistent lobbies at launch for Black Ops 7.”
This means you’ll be able to keep playing with the same squad or group of opponents, creating more organic rivalries and smoother match transitions — just like the classic Call of Duty experience fans have missed.
🚀 A Promising Start for BO7 Multiplayer
With lighter SBMM, refined aim assist, and persistent lobbies, Treyarch is signaling a renewed focus on player satisfaction and competitive integrity. These are all long-requested updates that many believe could restore Call of Duty’s signature multiplayer charm.
Fans won’t have to wait long to see it all in action — Black Ops 7 officially launches worldwide on November 14, 2025.