Does the reduced SBMM playlist in the Black Ops 7 beta really have better server latency? — It’s not quite that simple

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Now that the open beta for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has begun, players have noticed something interesting.

Two new playlists, called Moshpit and Search and Destroy, have been added to the game. These playlists are designed to lessen the effects of Skill Based Matchmaking. While people have different opinions on whether that’s a good thing or not, many players are reporting that their ping (the delay between your actions and the game server) is noticeably lower in these new playlists compared to the standard ones.

Getting a good connection to a server can be tricky, as it varies from person to person. Things like your internet speed and your distance from the server play a big role. However, many people believe there’s more to it than just those factors.

Yes, server latency IS lower on the Black Ops 7 reduced SBMM playlists… Sometimes

Honestly, what else would I be up to on a Sunday evening? I’m currently playing the Black Ops 7 beta, and after looking into it, it seems the reports about the game are true.

From what I’ve seen, it’s not a simple yes or no answer. While playing on Open playlists generally gives you a better connection speed compared to standard playlists, it doesn’t happen in every single game.

When I check the connection speed in the game while using the regular Moshpit playlist, I’m consistently seeing around 20 milliseconds of latency. It usually fluctuates between 19 and 21ms, and it’s been stable at that level as far as I can tell.

When using the Open Moshpit playlist, the delay (latency) sometimes drops to 10 or 11 milliseconds. While lower latency is common, it doesn’t happen in every game. Over about two hours of playing, the Open Moshpit has matched the regular Moshpit’s latency around three times.

From what I’ve seen, the standard Moshpit consistently has higher latency than Open Moshpit. Every match I’ve played with Open Moshpit has been around 20ms, and I’ve never seen the regular Moshpit reach that level.

I don’t know enough about how servers work to say for certain what’s going on, but could the game running without its skill-based matchmaking system be making the connection faster?

It’s unclear if the current performance will remain the same when the final version of Black Ops 7 launches. However, in a fast-paced game like Call of Duty, even a tiny improvement in connection speed – lowering your ping – can make a big difference. Lower ping means a smoother, more responsive gaming experience.

While server speed is important, I’m still a little worried about how the game connects players. However, it’s still in testing, so we’ll give Activision a chance to fix things. If you want the smoothest experience right now, it seems like you’ll need to play in the Open playlists.

Just a heads up, you’ll likely encounter a lot of very skilled players there. It seems many people who dislike skill-based matchmaking have gathered to play against less experienced players like me. I wanted to give you a warning!

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2025-10-06 02:09