Call of Duty: Vanguard has been available for just over a day and players have already found a focus for online discourse. It is, as ever in the Call of Duty community, SBMM. Skill-based matchmaking has been a frequent topic of conversation and argument among Call of Duty players over the past several years. That it's already a focus for Call of Duty: Vanguard players, who've managed to get the term "SBMM" trending on Twitter, is as hilarious as it unsurprising.
While there are diverse opinions and conversations regarding Call of Duty: Vanguard's SBMM within the game's community, the vast majority of posts are from a specific segment of players. More specifically, it's among high-level players who tend to climb the SBMM ladder quickly. In other words, it's players who are most likely to see a quick change in the quality of their opponents after only so many matches. Needless to say, these players largely have negative criticism regarding SBMM.
The focus of these high-level Call of Duty players' criticism is that Vanguard is more enjoyable to play when you don't have to take it seriously. As such, those first matches against players with a diverse range of skill levels allow them to dominate without challenge. That quickly goes away, however, with matchmaking putting those players up against other high-level players. In order to win these matches, they have to play "sweaty," strategize, use high-level tricks, and ultimately lose more often even while trying harder.
There are also more technical complaints regarding team composition balance in SBMM. A popular meme in the Call of Duty: Vanguard community right now says "My Team" and lists the player and five "Lil Jon" teammates, followed by "Enemy Team" and six "Sweat" opponents. This is in reference to a Call of Duty: Vanguard pre-launch event where Lil Jon showed he has no idea how to play the game. But it hints at how SBMM in Call of Duty can often feel like it doesn't provide fair team compositions.
The Lil Jon memes go the other way, too, of course. Many Twitter users are sharing clips of Lil Jon spinning in circles and aiming at the sky with comments akin to, "This is why SBMM is necessary." Experienced players may be the most vocal Call of Duty players in the community, but most players are still learning or may never be great.
Call of Duty: Vanguard isn't anywhere near the first game to stir up this conversation, and it certainly won't be the last. Fortnite players still argue over the necessity of SBMM, nostalgically recalling the glory days where a popular, talented Twitch streamer could mow down dozens of opponents and streak a dozen Victory Royales without much effort. Hopefully, Call of Duty: Vanguard's matchmaking will work itself out over time.
Call of Duty: Vanguard is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
