Skill-based matchmaking, better known as SBMM, has been one of the most divisive topics in gaming for yEars — and the Call of Duty community has finally reached a boiling point. Popular Call of Duty YouTuber Tdawgsmitty has launched a petition demanding that Activision remove SBMM from the blockbuster FPS franchise, taking direct inspiration from Destiny players whose organized protests successfully pushed Bungie into making changes.
YouTuber Tdawgsmitty Kicks Off the Anti-SBMM Movement
The petition, started by content creator Tdawgsmitty, calls on Activision to strip skill-based matchmaking out of Call of Duty’s core multiplayer experience. According to the YouTuber, SBMM effectively punishes players for getting better at the game by locking them into relentlessly competitive lobbies — even in playlists that are supposed to be about casual fun. The petition quickly gathered signatures from thousands of frustrated players who all echo the same complaint: there is nowhere left in Call of Duty to simply relax and play.
Why Call of Duty Fans Are Fed Up With Skill-Based Matchmaking
Every Lobby Feels Like Ranked Play
The most common criticism of SBMM is that it erases the difference between casual and competitive play. Because the system constantly matches you against opponents of similar skill, every public match plays like a ranked match. There is no “easy” lobby to unwind in after a long day — every game demands maximum effort.
It Punishes Improvement
Under strict skill-based matchmaking, the reward for improving is simply harder opponents. Some players have even admitted to deliberately playing badly — known as reverse boosting — just to drop into more relaxed lobbies, a workaround that highlights how counterproductive the system can feel.
Content Creators Are Struggling
For YouTubers and streamers, ultra-competitive lobbies make for less entertaining content. Endless high-stress games produce fewer highlight moments, and some creators argue that SBMM actively pushes audiences — and creators themselves — away from the franchise.
Connection Quality Can Suffer
When matchmaking prioritizes skill over connection strength, players often end up in laggy matches with high ping. For a fast-paced shooter like Call of Duty, where split-second reactions decide gunfights, that trade-off stings even more.
The Destiny Protests That Started It All
Tdawgsmitty’s petition did not appear in a vacuum. It follows a wave of community action in Destiny 2, where player protests successfully forced Bungie’s hand and led to meaningful changes in the game. That victory demonstrated that a united player base can genuinely influence a major developer’s decisions. The YouTuber is now betting that Call of Duty’s enormous community — one of the largest in gaming — can replicate that success and pressure Activision into rethinking how its matchmaking works.
Will Activision Actually Listen?
That remains the billion-dollar question. Activision has historically stayed tight-lipped about the inner workings of its matchmaking systems, rarely confirming or denying exactly how SBMM functions in each annual release. It is also worth noting that removing skill-based matchmaking entirely comes with real downsides: newer and more casual players could find themselves repeatedly stomped by veterans, which could hurt player retention in the long run.
A more realistic outcome might be a middle ground — looser skill parameters in casual playlists, better transparency about how lobbies are built, or dedicated “relaxed” modes alongside traditional ranked play. Several other major shooters have already moved in this direction to balance fairness with fun. Either way, the petition sends a loud message that frustration with the current system is not going away.
In the meantime, if you want to see what all the SBMM fuss is about firsthand, you can grab Call of Duty game keys, Call of Duty Points, and gift cards at great prices on TURGAME.com and jump straight into the action.
Source: This article is based on reporting by IGN.
Source: IGN