Does XDefiant have SBMM (Skill-based matchmaking)?

Skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) continues to be one of the most controversial features in first-person shooter titles, and players want to know if it will be in XDefiant.

Skill-based matchmaking refers to the matchmaking system and algorithms a game uses to find other players. Users are placed in matches based on connection and skill level. After years of silence, Activision finally confirmed in January that SBMM is used in CoD. In defense of SBMM, Activision argued that it set out to create an even experience where the top and bottom players on the scoreboard don’t have too wide of a gap in ability and wins and losses happen regularly for everyone. 

However, a segment of highly skilled CoD players argue that SBMM unfairly punishes them, as they are forced to face increasingly difficult opposition if they perform better. The never-ending debate shows no signs of slowing down soon as the feature still dominates conversations. Here is everything you need to know about whether or not it will be in XDefiant.

Does XDefiant have SBMM (Skill-based matchmaking)?

XDefiant does not use skill-based matchmaking for its casual playlist. If players want a more competitive experience, ranked mode will use SBMM. Ranked won’t officially be available at launch, but players can test the 4v4 competitive mode in a ranked mode practice playlist. Ubisoft plans to add a ranked mode in a future season.

Instead of matching based on skill, XDefiant puts a priority on fast connection times among a list of other factors.

1. Latency
2. Blocked Players
3. Party Size
4. Region
5. Input Device
6. Platform

In saying that, casual matches do not use skill to determine who gets into a game, but once the lobby is full, XDefiant balances the teams based on skill to ensure a somewhat balanced match. Ranked Play will use the same list of criteria, but rank points and matching players within an acceptable rank range will be the most important determining factor.

“We believe that no SBMM is paramount to a fun and varied game experience in the long-term,” Ubisoft claimed. “Frankly, skill-based matchmaking means every casual game is repetitive- constantly repeating matches that are just as stressful and matched as ranked.”

Lobby persistence has also been an issue in CoD. XDefiant will test the feature later this year, meaning subsequent games will often include the same group of players from the previous match but will shuffle the users between teams.