Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is on the horizon, and as the wait continues, there are plenty of questions about what players can expect from the next installment. Announced at the end of the Xbox Games Showcase last month, Black Ops 7 took a lot of gamers by surprise, as its predecessor, Black Ops 6, isn't even a year old yet.
Black Ops 7 is promising something far different from Black Ops 6, though. This time around, Black Ops 7 takes the series into the future in the year 2035. It's a compelling change of pace, but like many Call of Duty games, there is bound to be controversy when it comes to skill-based matchmaking. This feature has been an ongoing issue among the franchise's fan base, and if it once again proves divisive with Black Ops 7, developers Treyarch and Raven Software may have one drastic option that could satisfy some longtime fans, at least momentarily.
With Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Taking a Risk, Battlefield 6 May Score a 'Win' By Playing It Safe
With Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 gambling on something that hasn't worked in the past, Battlefield 6 should avoid rocking the boat at all costs.
If Black Ops 7's Multiplayer Finds Itself in Controversy, Skill-Based Matchmaking Could Be Taken Out Completely
An Ongoing Debate in Gaming
The controversy of using skill-based matchmaking isn't exactly unique to the Call of Duty community, but it's definitely a prevalent debate among players. The idea behind skill-based matchmaking makes a lot of sense. It's a system designed to match players up with others who have a similar skill level. However, this doesn't always work as intended. Sometimes, performing well in a match can match someone up with players who are far more skilled. On the flip-side, when playing with friends, if there is an imbalance in skill level, it can feel uneven.
It's not a perfect system, but it can still be more balanced than completely foregoing skill-based match-ups. If Black Ops 7 isn't received well at launch, though, the developers may benefit from turning off skill-based matchmaking as a way to gain some good will from longtime players who tend not to enjoy it. Although Call of Duty is one of the most successful gaming franchises in the world, not every game is viewed equally. Modern Warfare 3 is a notorious entry in the franchise, and Activision even conducted an experiment in the past that removed skill-based matchmaking. The results, though, weren't exactly what was expected.
Activision Has Removed Skill-Based Matchmaking in the Past, and Players Apparently Didn't Like It
Last summer, Activision published a 25-page paper detailing how the company decided to limit skill-based matchmaking in Modern Warfare 3. According to Activision's findings, removing it caused players to leave matches quicker or not even return to join a fresh one. So, even if Black Ops 7 faces controversy at launch, turning off skill-based matchmaking actually might not be the solution.
Call of Duty's embrace of skill-based matchmaking may frustrate some players, but it also keeps engagement up. For a multiplayer game to be successful, players have to be incentivized to come back for more action, and skill-based matchmaking allows that for a lot of fans.
Black Ops 7 features Milo Ventimiglia as returning character David Mason. Alongside Ventimiglia, Michael Rooker returns as Mike Harper, while Kiernan Shipka takes on the role of new character Emma Kagan.
Black Ops 7 Has Yet to Reveal a Release Date, But It's Right Around the Corner
- Despite no official date, Black Ops 7 is scheduled for later this year.
As the months continue, Activision is bound to reveal more information about Black Ops 7. With a new Battlefield game also on the horizon, the latter half of 2025 could prove to be an exciting FPS showdown. Black Ops 7 is teasing some intriguing concepts, but the franchise can also ignite controversy. Only time will tell, but when it comes to skill-based matchmaking, taking it out of the equation may only be used in a worst-case-scenario situation.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 66 /100 Critics Rec: 34%
- Released
- November 14, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Treyarch, Raven Software
- Publisher(s)
- Activision
