Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Beta Update Overhauls Matchmaking, Raises Level Cap

Activision and Treyarch are making significant adjustments based on player feedback in the ongoing Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 beta. A major update released on October 9th not only increases the level cap and adds new content but also addresses one of the most debated topics in the community for years: skill-based matchmaking (SBMM).

Treyarch Responds to the SBMM Debate

In a landmark blog post, Treyarch announced a fundamental shift in its matchmaking philosophy for the game’s launch. The developers confirmed that the default multiplayer experience will now feature “Open Matchmaking with minimal skill consideration.” This move is a direct response to players who felt that strict SBMM led to consistently high-intensity matches, preventing a more casual and varied gameplay experience.

Treyarch stated that the goal is to “ensure that matches have a wider variety of skill levels, leading to a more unpredictable and, we believe, more fun experience for the average player.” The post also confirmed another highly requested feature: the return of persistent lobbies. Players will now be able to stay in the same lobby with the same group of players between matches, fostering a greater sense of community that has been missing in recent titles.

New Content Unlocked in Weekend 2

Alongside the matchmaking news, the latest beta update gives players more to grind for over the weekend. The level cap has been increased from 20 to 30, unlocking a new set of tools to experiment with ahead of the game’s full release. Key additions include:

• New Assault Rifle: The “K-74 Striker”
• New Perk: “Ghost Pro,” which keeps players off the minimap even when not moving.
• New Scorestreak: The “Artillery Barrage,” a powerful area-denial tool.

The beta continues to run for all players through the end of the weekend, giving the community ample time to test the new content and experience the less restrictive matchmaking environment.