SBMM explained
Skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) has been a controversial feature in gaming over the past few years, so here’s how it works in Battlefield 6.
Does Battlefield 6 have skill-based matchmaking?
Yes, Battlefield 6 has skill-based matchmaking, but it’s only one of several factors. EA confirmed that matchmaking focuses on:
- Ping
- Player’s location
- Server availability
- Some skill
Other games, especially Call of Duty, have been heavily criticized for their implementation of SBMM. When it’s strict, it prioritizes your performance over ping in many cases, leading to inconsistent connection quality from game to game.
Battlefield only uses skill as part of the equation, focusing more on ping, your location, and server availability to find you a match. However, you’ll need to go to Portal to find a server browser and have persistent servers, where you’ll keep playing with the same players.
If you’re on console and have crossplay on, it will also prioritize matching you with other console players before resorting to those on PC. With crossplay off, you’re more likely to get bots – which is no bad thing if you’re looking to level up fast.
Following Black Ops 7’s beta, Call of Duty has gone back to the old matchmaking style, which is similar to Battlefield’s, where “skill consideration is drastically reduced.”