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Black Ops 6 Multiplayer allegations expose a sinister engagement-throttling strategy

Black Ops 6 Multiplayer allegations expose a sinister engagement-throttling strategy

Many major video game studios that produce first-person shooters still haven’t mastered the art of skill-based matchmaking (SBMM). Call of Duty: Black Ops6 is another good example. Over the years, Activision has delivered many exciting experiences through various multiplayer experiences Call of duty games, but it still struggles to make the gaming experience fair for everyone.

A still from Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Call of Duty: Black Ops6 needs better multiplayer maps (image via Activision)

The game, co-developed by Treyarch and Raven Software, only takes SBMM seriously to a certain extent, but players strongly believe it is a mix of SBMM and EOMM (Engagement-optimized matchmaking). It is speculated that the studio used an algorithm to create the overall experience “artificial.

Call of duty Fans believe that Black Ops 6 uses an algorithm that makes the multiplayer experience artificial

A screenshot of one Call of Duty: Black Ops6 player goes viral on the r/blackops6 subreddit, briefly describing the matchmaking process in Activision’s latest game. The player believes that the game uses an algorithm that is a mix of SBMM (Skill-based matchmaking) and EOMM (Engagement-optimized matchmaking).

This is the best and most accurate comment I’ve seen describing the current state of COD MP (thanks u/Belial768, I couldn’t have said it better myself) Money rules.
Throughu/groovygandalf inblack ops6

The player believes that the game initially matches a player with other players who are worse, giving them an exciting experience, but the same player can later be destroyed by other better players. The player believes that the game uses an algorithm that gives players a 60/40 balance between good and bad games to keep the players hooked.

The conclusion is that the matchmaking process in BlackOps6 is artificial because the algorithm is designed to keep players hooked. In the past, players would match up with random players, which was indeed frustrating at times, but it still felt like an authentic, competitive experience.

Players are not satisfied with the cards in them Call of Duty: Black Ops6 Multiplayer

A still from Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Call of Duty: Black Ops6 was released on October 25, 2024 (Image via Activision)

At the launch, BlackOps6 contained 16 different multiplayer maps: Babylon, Derelict, Lowtown, Payback, Protocol, Red Card, Rewind, Scud, Skyline, Subsonic, Vault, Vorkuta, Gala, Pit, Stakeout and Warhead. The latest addition to this map pool is the classic Nuketown map from the Black Ops series, but this isn’t enough.

New maps are indeed exciting, but the existing ones are so bad players just can’t stop complaining. Some believe that some maps are too small, leading to unfair and unexpected kills due to a flawed spawn system. Moreover, players have started using the Recon Combat special perk as it allows them to see through walls for a short period of time, making the game unfair to everyone else.

The game has had a decent launch, but if Activision wants to maintain a stable player base, it needs to roll out immediate updates to rework various aspects like matchmaking, perks, bugs, and weapons.

Do you think the cards are in Call of Duty: Black Ops6 is the problem? Share your thoughts in the comments!