Three days into the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 beta, Activision has released patch notes for a new multiplayer mode with less strict skill-based matchmaking (SBMM). This behind-the-scenes online matchmaking practice seeks to pair players of similar skill but has been controversial among competitive FPS fans, marking the first time Activision has relented on this subject.

“Like all things in Beta, our collective goal is to gather critical in-game data and feedback to make Black Ops 7 the best experience possible,” Activision stated in the patch notes. “We’re engaging with the community discussion about matchmaking and will be making some updates to our playlist plans.”

For October 4th, the beta now includes two playlists—Moshpit and Open Moshpit—both featuring the same maps and modes. In Open Moshpit, skill consideration is drastically reduced during matchmaking, aiming to provide more varied match experiences and outcomes. This will let players compete with and against opponents of different skill levels compared to the current Multiplayer matchmaking system.

The main critique of SBMM is that it leads to matches that are too evenly matched, discouraging spontaneous gameplay and limiting exposure to a range of skills. Lower-ranked players miss out on the opportunity to engage with higher levels of play while highly skilled ones find themselves restricted to predictably competitive environments.

This beta phase represents a chance for experimentation, and while the Open Moshpit might not permanently feature in the final game, it showcases Activision’s first concession to critics of SBMM.