An unfortunate incident occurred during an online gaming stream on the Rust map of Modern Warfare 3, where the streamer continuously faced defeat due to the game's skill-based matchmaking system (SBMM).
The topic of skill-based matchmaking is a hot conversation point among players who regularly engage in multiplayer games. The system is designed to provide opponents of similar skill levels to keep the game challenging and interesting. However, the perfect application of this principle often becomes a matter of debate.
For some players, specifically those at extreme ends of the skill band, this system serves as a bane rather than a boon. The low-skill players often find themselves rivaling against higher-skilled opponents, transforming the gaming experience into a frustrating ordeal.
The issue becomes even more prominent in popular games such as Call of Duty . Multiple players believe that the application of SBMM could have been avoided or rectified before the release of Modern Warfare 3.
The on-air streamer woes in Modern Warfare 3
A streamer by the handle 'Myden' shared a video of his excruciating defeat during a 'Modern Warfare 3' match on 'Rust'.
The video is tagged 'the SBMM final boss,' indicating his continuous struggle and defeat due to the game's matchmaking system.
The streamer's character continuously gets kills, barely being able to understand his in-game surroundings due to the rapid consecutive defeats.
For a solid minute, the streamer respawns, tries to understand his surroundings, only to be shot down instantly by enemy fire.
Reactions to the match: gamers share their experience
Response to Myden's video was not short of sympathy. Fellow gamers, both viewers and community members, shared their issues related to SBMM on the thread.
One user nostalgically mentioned how the clip reminded them of the '2009 spawntraps', signifying matchmaking issues have been recurring for quite some time now.
Another user shared relatable experiences from their matches in Modern Warfare 3, convinced that a 'COD AI team' was responsible for tanking people's kill-death (KD) ratio to maintain balance in the game.
As evident from the shared experiences and responses, the current application of SBMM is far from perfect. It's hindering rather than enhancing the gaming experience for some players.
Considering all these narratives, it's evident that the SBMM system is not gaining any favor within the Call of Duty gaming community. Perhaps, it's time for the game developers to reevaluate this system to address the mounting concerns of the players.