Key Takeaways
- Connection quality is key in Call of Duty matchmaking, followed by quick match times.
- Factors like playlist diversity and player skill level contribute to matchmaking.
- Calculation of skill involves total kills, K/D ratio, and kills/deaths by enemies.
Call of Duty has been at the forefront of the first-person shooter genre since 2003. The franchise’s exploration of real war scenarios and action-packed combat has made it one of the most notable video game franchises of the 21st century. As the Call of Duty games have evolved since its first entry, the franchise has made online multiplayer the heart of each new chapter.
Online multiplayer has now become synonymous with the Call of Duty name, and having strong matchmaking is essential to its success. Skill-based matchmaking has become the preferred method of pairing players together in gaming for quite some time now, and Call of Duty is no different. Call of Duty‘s long-held tradition of multiplayer is vital to its longevity, and Activision has recently released a rundown of the most important aspects that are considered in skill-based matchmaking.
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Key Takeaways From Call of Duty’s Skill-Based Matchmaking Rundown
Strong Connection and Time to Match are the Most Important
First and foremost, a strong internet connection is what is seen as the most important aspect of Call of Duty‘s skill-based matchmaking. As stated in Activision’s official breakdown, “ping is king,” and is taken into consideration before any other matchmaking steps. Skill-based matchmaking has been controversial in Call of Duty, but it ultimately can bring a more diverse experience to players, and those who have a strong connection can keep a game running smoothly. So, it makes complete sense as to why it is weighed first. The second most important aspect is the time it takes to match, since this is directly tied to connection. Players want to jump into the match as quickly as possible instead of waiting around.
Other Details Taken Into Consideration in Order of Importance
- Playlist Diversity – How many Playlists are available for players
- Recent Maps/Modes – Taking recently played maps and preferred modes into consideration
- Skill/Performance – To offer a more challenging, but balanced, match
- Input Device – Considering a player’s preference for a controller or mouse and keyboard
- Platform – PC or console
- Voice Chat – Enabled or disabled
The above list details just how in-depth Call of Duty‘s skill-based matchmaking goes when pairing players together. Although Call of Duty‘s skill-based matchmaking has its downsides, there are a lot of working parts that have to come together in order to bring online matches to life.
However, there is also the general question of a player’s skill. Call of Duty players all have varying skill levels, but there are a few methods used in pairing players based on how good they are at the game.
How Call of Duty Games Approach Calculating a Player’s Skill Level
There is a vast difference in player skill level, but Call of Duty considers three main aspects when calculating a player’s knack for the game.
- Match Total Kills
- Kill/Death Ratio
- Kills/Deaths by Enemies
Most importantly, the total of a player’s kills in a match is considered. However, this has its issues as a lone calculator of skill, and Activision even acknowledges this in its breakdown. Several players can have the same number of kills, which leads to the importance of the Kill/Death ratio. This is a more balanced approach to consider, as two players could both have 10 kills, but the one who has the fewer deaths is ultimately more skilled. Whether a Call of Duty player wins by luck or skill is up to fate, but Activision also looks at self-killing in matches for those who try to lower their skill rank. This is the Kill/Deaths by Enemies portion of the calculation, which keeps players from artificially changing match stats.
Despite the divisive nature of skill-based matchmaking, it seems like it is here to stay in Call of Duty‘s multiplayer world. Putting debates about this type of matchmaking aside, it’s fascinating to see everything that needs to be taken into consideration in order to build a Call of Duty match.
