The Call of Duty matchmaking debate has raged pretty much since the beginning of multiplayer — and Modern Warfare 4 has thrown it back into the spotlight. Infinity Ward‘s Multiplayer creative director Joe Cecot has now weighed in, telling IGN that match quality is the priority.
“I don’t know if there’s perfecting it,” Cecot admitted, as the community continues to argue over how lobbies should be built.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 (Credits: IGN / Infinity Ward)
Modern Warfare 4 Matchmaking: Skill-Based vs Open Lobbies
Should matches be comprised of evenly skilled players, if there is an accurate enough way of ensuring that? Or should skill be stripped out of the equation, so players never know what to expect from the next match? Both sides have valid reasons for their preference, and the argument has simmered for nearly two decades.
Most recently, 2025’s Black Ops 7 tried to satisfy everyone: default matchmaking stayed skill-based, as it has been since 2007’s game-changing Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, but open matchmaking playlists were also available for players who wanted to be teamed up with, and against, anybody.
This year’s Modern Warfare 4, though, launched without that open option — once again placing the matchmaking debate front and center within the COD community.
Modern Warfare 4 Multiplayer Chief on Match Quality
Speaking to IGN, Cecot explained that the team at Infinity Ward prioritizes match quality above all else. The studio’s position: there may be no way to make every player happy, but the focus is on making sure matches feel fair and competitive rather than chasing a mythical perfect system.
Skill-based matchmaking has long been the most divisive topic in the Call of Duty community, with casual players often arguing it makes every match feel like a tournament, while competitive-minded players say removing it would make stomps commonplace. Modern Warfare 4’s launch without open playlists signals that Infinity Ward is holding firm on its approach — for now.
Also Read: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Multiplayer Tips — 8 Things to Know Before You Play | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4’s DMZ Makes a Great First Impression, Says IGN Review
Source: IGN — read the full story there.
