Enterprising Call of Duty players have figured out a way to discover their SBMM (skill-based matchmaking) rating within the game, a value that's supposed to be hidden from players' view.
As reported by IGN, this method comes via YouTuber TheXclusiveAce, and it works for every Call of Duty multiplayer game you've played since 2021's Call of Duty: Vanguard. That's a heck of a lot of data.
As IGN points out, however, it's a method that takes a little while, and you'll have to put in a bit of effort to reap the rewards. You'll have to submit a personal information access request via the Activision privacy page, and it can take a couple of days for the data to arrive, too.
Once you do get the info (for which you'll also need to log into an Activision account), you'll be granted access to a vast amount of data that, according to IGN and TheXclusiveAce, includes every Multiplayer match you've played on record.
You can see info like the modes and maps you've played with, as well as number of hits, damage numbers, and even the amount of time you've spent moving in each game. Activision really is collecting a staggering amount of player data from Call of Duty, it seems.
If you don't know what SBMM is, it's a rather hot topic within the multiplayer gaming world. SBMM, or skill-based matchmaking, refers to a method by which players are grouped together in multiplayer games according to their skill level.
Some players have decried SBMM, suggesting it makes games too hard to enjoy as "sweaty" players dominate higher-end lobbies. However, extensive experiments released by Activision last year seem to contradict this, suggesting that players do appreciate SBMM when it's present, even if they don't realize it.
The data TheXclusiveAce uncovered isn't necessarily helpful in a vacuum, as it doesn't contain comparison to other players, nor does it show the skill rating of lobbies in which you participated in multiplayer Call of Duty games.
However, if the Call of Duty community comes together to compare data, then a more comprehensive picture of the way SBMM works within the games could be created.
It's well worth watching his video on the subject if you want to learn more about how to access your own data, as well as what it could tell you about your own Call of Duty performance. You can see it here.
What else is going on in the world of Call of Duty?
Elsewhere in Call of Duty land, the games' Squid Game collaboration, which was first teased back in early December, has now officially landed.
Per the Call of Duty blog, the Squid Game crossover gives you the chance to earn goodies like a new Front Man Operator, as well as new Skins for existing Operators that sport the iconic green tracksuit from the show.
The crossover also sees a number of limited-time events appearing in Black Ops 6's Multiplayer and Zombies modes, as well as Call of Duty: Warzone.
Recently, it was revealed that the Call of Duty series has officially surpassed 500 million sales, and that Black Ops 6 enjoyed the series' biggest launch to date, no doubt buoyed by its inclusion as part of Xbox Game Pass on day one.
