- Primary Subject: Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM in Online Multiplayer Games)
- Key Update: Skill-based matchmaking remains crucial for retaining new players and supporting sustainable community growth across competitive online multiplayer games, despite persistent pushback from experienced players.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: January 20, 2026
- Quick Answer: Skill-based matchmaking balances online multiplayer lobbies, preventing new players from quitting out of frustration while fostering steady skill development across the entire player base.
When it comes to video games, it cannot be denied that a large chunk of people are looking for those that offer online matchmaking. It doesn't matter whether the genre is fighting games, FPS, or battle royales, so long as it grants them the opportunity to play with others, they'll play it.
This is because a human opponent provides a degree of unpredictability and adaptability that you can't find in the enemy AI of single-player games, making gameplay moments more fun and exciting. However, most games that offer online multiplayer usually ensure that whenever you find a match, you're placed in a pool of opponents with the same level of ability and expertise as you.
That is what's called a skill-based matchmaking system, and you would be hard-pressed not to see anyone complain about it. Many players of popular games such as Marvel Rivals, League of Legends, Overwatch 2, and more have voiced their desire to get rid of it, stating that people should be matched randomly against anyone, regardless of how good or bad they are.
As someone who plays many online multiplayer games, I am totally against the idea. I believe that skill-based matchmaking is necessary and should always be integrated into any title that involves pitting people against each other. One good reason is that without the system, new players will not be able to enjoy the experience.
I understand that the best way to help novices grow into seasoned veterans is to let them go through the harshness of online play. There, they'll be able to learn from human players who will cook up strategies and do moves that no AI opponent can ever replicate. However, a huge problem is that these new players could run into enemies far beyond their skill level.
Those considered the elite will likely utterly decimate anyone who isn't on par with their degree of competence. Some will keep it respectable and sometimes even go so far as to help newbies get better, which is nice. However, for the vast majority, they will completely crush anyone who is no match for them and will often do it in the most embarrassing and humiliating ways possible.
A person who is subjected to that constantly, especially someone new to the online matchmaking experience, will likely give up on playing out of frustration and depression over being completely beaten down and ridiculed for it. And when that happens, that means fewer people playing.
When it comes to video games that focus on online play, their lifeblood is the number of active players, and if that dwindles, it won't have a long future. So, if there isn't skill-based matchmaking, the chances of losing more are higher, which is why the system needs to be implemented to help prevent that.
The other reason the system is needed is that it allows people to improve gradually. Again, if you throw newbies straight to the wolves, chances are they'll be ripped apart and will never want to play ever again. Some can tough it out, survive, and come out better from it, but those are the rare exceptions.
However, the exact opposite happens if you pit them against others with the same skill level. When that happens, the match experience is balanced, as nobody is either too good or too bad. And in a fair environment, people on both sides can better assess situations and figure out ways that will help them win.
This results in quality matches designed to enable growth among the player base, as they'll actively see their current skill level without discrepancies that will make them believe they're weaker or stronger than they actually are. And the best part is that everyone is at least guaranteed to have some form of fun.
While skill-based matchmaking does result in matches that are almost always serious, given that everyone involved is expected to have similar proficiency, it at least feels right knowing either side has a fair shot at winning, rather than one potentially being steamrolled. Even in defeat, if the fights are close, the losing side can still have exciting moments that make playing worthwhile, thus helping ensure that they stay and keep whatever game they're in alive.
I think the only people who want the complete removal of skill-based matchmaking are those who enjoy trouncing on lower-level players, and we don't want them to be able to do that. Fighting real human opponents is already a courageous step for newbies, and making them feel bad about it just suppresses their and the community's growth, which is the worst thing that can happen.
So, whether it's fighting games, FPS, battle royales, or whatever genre with online multiplayer, I'm confident that skill-based matchmaking is completely necessary. It's what's best for any game and the people who play them, and I hope that it never goes away.
For more like this, stick with us here at Gfinityesports.com, the best website for gaming features and opinions.