Why Call of Duty Is Punishing Skilled Players and Rewarding Mediocrity

[@jakedasnake7703]

It’s never been about SBMM. It’s actually EOMM . Cod is so rigged to the point there’s probably skill based hit detection skill based induced lag. Literally every aspect of the game is completely rigged it’s no different than playing a machine in a casino!!!

[@xreve_]

And I wondered in the beginning of playing BO6, why it feels like I want to play more, even though I knew I was not having fun.

[@435.63]

This

[@Swagceus]

This system already exists. It's called Ricochet. One of the punishments it gives to cheaters is peashooter which manipulates weapon damage in real time to deal little to no damage. To say such a system isn't being used towards regular players is delusional and ignorant.

[@Wayne-l9n]

@@Swagceus its so damned obvious its riigged. Sometimes to the point where its just blatantly in your face.

[@Swagceus]

@Wayne-l9n it's so bad they had tp disable blood effects to hide both their shitty hitreg and to lessen any evidence that proves skill based damage being a thing.

[@cod4148]

when your K/D ticks to from 1.0 to 1.01

[@xreve_]

Oh, absolutely not... you're enjoying yourself way too much! We better crank up the engagement and really hit him hard in the next few rounds. The data clearly shows this boosts player retention, right? We players love algorithms, we can feel them working their magic every second. What an incredibly authentic gameplay experience, thank you so much, Activision! I’m completely hooked now, I can't get enough of the joy of getting crushed just because I did well in the last match.

[@Wayne-l9n]

@@xreve_ it definatly does not retain me. The minute the algorithm kicks in im out. I play a few matches then as soon as the manipulation starts i turn it off. It certainly does not make me want to start buying bundles in the cod store, it completely puts me off.

[@Dangeruss]

@@xreve_ Every night it's the same thing. My friends who want to play with me get upset quick because they are in lobbies way too hard for them. We get the first game perfect lobby not to hard not to easy and lots of fun. Almost win but never do then after that every lobby is literally hell.

[@EXiledTezZ]

They had 4 years and 4,000 devs to make and regulate black ops 6…. there is no excuse Activision is a shitty company cod is trash they don’t care but WE(the consumers) really have the power to change things

[@BlackOpsDan]

Imagine coming home from your 9-5, after finishing all your responsibilities, you have 1 hour to play before bed. When you hope on, there's nothing but try hards! Zombies is the soul reason why I still play COD

[@xreve_]

I get you, and people do not understand that all we wanna do is relax. But we are placed against sweats, that is the opposite of relaxing. Zombies is always the way to go it feels like. At least one thing we can count on.

[@wojtek9500]

Thank god you found a way to still be a part of the problem

[@Moose_rs]

COD is a competitive shooter lol. Without putting in constant time in the game you are going to get stomped. That’s the reality with any competitive Activity. Zombies is not competitive which is why you can relax and have fun playing it with little effort.

[@erickotapish7842]

At ur 9 to 5 Is there anybody who doesn’t do the same amount of work or just sucks at it but still makes the same ..: hmm .. probably a woman right …. Its not just the game this is everywhere wake up

[@RenitentHat5269]

@@erickotapish7842bro this aint twitter, no idea why you felt the need to be sexist but go join your incel buddies on there if you want some likes and attention

[@CripplingMemeAddict]

Its because when we were kids, we could just enjoy the game and our skill, we had other stuff to also enjoy and of course school etc to take care of. A lot of people who play now have grown up and have nothing special in their adult life, so being good on a game is their whole stick. If they arent good at X game, they dont have anything else in life to be good at. Thats why you consistently see people in unranked high SBMM lobbies still use sweat loadouts and talk trash to people playing for fun, because that W, is everything for them. I say this as i used to be that person, back in MW19.

[@xreve_]

Respect to you for being honest about it! Not many people are and not many can reflect themselves. I can definitely relate to what you're saying. Back when I was younger, games were a way to unwind, and there wasn’t as much pressure. Now, it feels like for some, gaming becomes a way to validate themselves. I do not need games to validate myself. It’s a shame that some people have to go so far to prove their worth in a game, especially in unranked lobbies. Everyone should be able to enjoy the game, whether they’re casually playing or sweating it out. It’s good to hear you’ve seen it from both sides.

[@lowkeyhim556]

I blame streamer, youtubers and sponsers

[@Dangeruss]

I feel the same way. I’m punished because my casual play is just a tiny bit above average. I’m not a professional gamer and my days of competitive play have been long gone but it feels like I’m punished for having been a passionate gamer. I wrestle with the decision to just quit call of duty everyday. I love this video it hits all the nails on the head.

[@xreve_]

It's so true, and the saddest part is how it takes the fun out of multiplayer games. I can still enjoy single-player games without an issue, but when it comes to multiplayer, I’m at a loss for what we’re supposed to do. Grinding and playing at a sweaty, competitive level every day is fine for those who enjoy it-I would have done the same back in my prime. But that time has passed for me, and I don’t want to keep up with that pace anymore. Thank you so much for your feedback, it really means a lot!

[@zippydingding5558]

21 years playing cod every game .did Medal of honour had fun Battlefield Zelda resident evil half life.cod isn’t a game anymore it’s work Basically a chore blops 6 is my last cod . Any game when it’s not me playing I’m out . I’m back playing Resident evil

[@zippydingding5558]

I have a switch and a pc hopefully Half life 3 will be good

[@Trashhhhboat]

I just play zombies solo 🚶🏽‍♂️

[@Trashhhhboat]

Every time I play multiplayer I get picked off by someone standing or prone in a corner or blending in the open when I watch my kill cam. I move around and look for kills while being served on a silver platter to someone who isn’t moving.

[@og_mante5138]

I think the biggest issue with the community saying they don’t wanna constantly play against sweats, is they don’t realize they’re a sweat themselves. That’s why you’re always lobbied together. We’ve all gone through this phase.

[@jmichael91]

i mean idk man, im no sweat i only have a 1.3 and i consistently get lobbies with prestige masters and shit, how is that even possible. like prestige master lvl 100-500? already?

[@imprxvised8219]

​@@jmichael91to be fair that could just mean all they do is play cod and do nothing else but doesn't really mean that theyre good at the game or sweats. But at the same time in this generation most of the people who are already master prestige are sweaty as fuck so i get what you're saying

[@xreve_]

I am by far, not a sweat anymore. since over a decade. I was when I was playing MW2 back in the days. Now I am a casual dude, better than average and yet after 2 games, I play agains sweats. People who play this game all day. I dont. I dont sweat, I cannot sweat anymore, it is exhausting. I am just casually being better than the average people, yet worse than sweaty players. We dont belong anymore. Be average or sweat, otherwise there is no in between.

[@imprxvised8219]

@xreve_ I enjoy playing against sweats, but only in ranked where you're supposed to be playing competitive. If I want to play against sweats after coming home from work I'll go play ranked, not normal pubs where people just want to chill. I wish more people would do that instead of going " let's load up a pubs match and play like we're playing for the world championship "

[@og_mante5138]

@@imprxvised8219 I don’t think ranked truly exists in multiplayer games anymore. It’s just a placebo for fps games now. Everyone tries hard these days because so many people wanna become big KZbinrs and streamers now. Multiplayer gaming is competitive by nature and the end goal is still to win.

[@knowskill5]

I like playing games. I dont like when the game is playing me

[@xreve_]

I felt that BO6 was playing me the first two days of playing. It didn’t hook me at all.

[@zippydingding5558]

Join the club

[@zippydingding5558]

@@xreve_since mw19 the Weird stuff has been going on .have been playing vanguard for the last 3 years hcffa will let you know my hours played i think its 1800 hours i think

[@Wayne-l9n]

Well said

[@taitus7009]

I’m glad you addressed the “just stop trying so hard” thing, because I’ve been told that too. Even if I just play casually, I’ll have a positive K/D and likely end up in the top 3. That’s just how it is when you’ve been playing for years.

[@xreve_]

Imagine, people having the audacity to say "stop trying so hard" - well, what about you start trying a bit harder, huh? And here again, it is all because of the system. We did not have it back in the days, the people who have not been around, will never ever understand.

[@JamesSchmidt713]

This. I'm only level 37, getting put in lobbies entirely full of sweaty 5+ prestige players that already have 100's of hours in game. I'm 28, been playing since COD 3/2005, running 10th prestige lobbies in MW2, all of those fun times, and when just playing BO6 casually, I've been having flashbacks to the old days. After 15 years of playing, my K/D is above 1.0 every match essentially, and even over 2.0 a lot of games. So I understand myself getting placed in matches with higher level/skill players. But at the end of the day, who cares??? It's a damn game. I play until I'm not having fun, then put the game down until the next day/time I play. I feel like the whole taking COD way too serious thing is a direct result of COD and other similar games becoming a crucial part of many people's income; i.e. streamers/content creators. The pressure to be "perfect" or in the absolutely top level elite tier of world wide players comes from the idea of "I have to be top rank to get viewers and subscribers etc." and hence, the fun has been sucked out of the game. But for me, I have just as much fun playing BO6 as I did playing COD4, WaW, MW2, BO1, and so on.

[@rj_va8505]

@@JamesSchmidt713I want you to understand what your kd would be without the elim death ratio. Just pure kills and I could confidently say it’s probably 0.9-1

[@CycloneKracken]

The lack of choice to stay in your current lobby really kills the casual experience for me

[@xreve_]

MWIII does not do disband lobbies for me. I had some great time playing couple days ago. Played like 4-5 games with the same people, was very balanced and just fun.

[@Crazywaffle5150]

I'm an average player with a 1.24 K/D. I feel like I'm being punished every god damn match.

[@xreve_]

(Sadly) you’re already above average. Way above it. The average KD is 0.89-that’s the majority. I’d argue that anyone with a KD above 0.89, maybe 1.0 or 1.1, is essentially made to suffer under the current system. For whatever reason, that’s how it’s designed. I still don’t understand how this favors retention in any meaningful way. Sure, it gives the average players the illusion of having a good time, and I don’t blame them for enjoying that. But they have no idea what the rest of us are experiencing. It’s artificial punishment, and it’s insane.

[@Crazywaffle5150]

@xreve_ Yha, I guess you're right. COD has always been a casual game I never took seriously. I'm just comparing myself to when I used to be a god tear player on GTA 4 online back in the day. I call myself average unless I'm going like 50-0 in a game, lol. So I feel like in BO6 I'm getting punished when I'm in my casual gaming mindset, and it's irritating. I don't see the retention logic either. This would drive people away, not keep them.

[@partyrockificatiable]

Why do you guys keep saying KD? There is no KD anymore 😂😂. Furthermore if you have 1.24 ED that might be around the average KD.

[@civicpride1986]

When they reward people from losing instead of just winning is the problem, basically rank is base on how long they play and not how good they are..

[@Derkt87]

You're slowly becoming one of my favourite Call of Duty KZbin channels, i hear nothing but facts here. I have the same k/d in bo6 and have to sweat every game in order to do well, it's exhausting

[@xreve_]

I really appreciate your feedback, thank you so much!

[@FadeMaster24]

You are a sweat

[@Elevat3_KG]

@@FadeMaster24 There is no choice but to sweat when you are an above average player playing in the kind of lobbies we are in.. If you aren’t trying, then you get stomped by the people who are.

[@FadeMaster24]

@Elevat3_KG pitiful excuse.. some of us are naturally built for pressure..some arent....but you are soooooo good. You aren't chilling in my lobby...and if you arent trying ...I don't feel pity for any of you m.. go play rec room since you want to chill and not try

[@Elevat3_KG]

@@FadeMaster24 you have it all wrong my guy. It’s not that we don’t want to try.. we just don’t want to go 100% in every game or have a bad time. As far as relaxing in your lobbies, I have no idea because I don’t know any of your stats to say one way or the other but if it’s anywhere near a 1.0 I likely wouldn’t have to try very hard

[@hotpocket4867]

Their data about lower levels leaving while getting stomped is bull. I matched a player on my team who 2boxed clearly and he dropped 127-10 and nobody on the enemy team left. I knew the guy was 2boxing cause his friend he was with was a lvl37 and he was prestige master like me. Everyone on the enemy team had over 30 deaths and not a single one left. So the “DaTa” about low skill players leaving is bull.

[@CapnBreeze]

I use too 2 box and nobody on the opposing team left. Activision are just scumbags

[@Trashhhhboat]

Every time I play multiplayer I get picked off by someone standing or prone in a corner or blending in the open when I watch my kill cam. I move around and look for kills while being served on a silver platter to someone who isn’t moving. (For context I specifically play kill confirmed) I’ve found more fun playing Zombies solo. 🚶🏽‍♂️

[@xreve_]

Zombies is a good alternative, I also enjoyed it for couple hours with friends while playing. Multiplayer and WZ are not good anymore, they do not meet todays standards, and are probably even worse than back in the days. Revenue > Quality/Performance.

[@Matt-n3v]

So ur quiting cause someone sat and killed u lol. New generation is hilarious

[@Swagceus]

Ricochet manipulates damage in real time against cheaters. It is a complete reality that the same system can be used (and I believe is used specially with all the clips going around) against normal players to nerf them.

[@xreve_]

I believe so too. Have you watched my Ricochet video? I mean we have no proof, we will never ever have proof. But Activision cannot proof otherwise and they do not adress the issues since weeks. Really interesting stuff that is happening ..

[@Swagceus]

​@@xreve_I haven't. Might watch it after this.

[@Swagceus]

​​​​@@xreve_there's a clip where a guy dumps 24 rounds into a guy's heads and doesn't die until after said 24 shots. There's another clip where a grenade bends mid-air to kill a guy (clip in question: kzbin.infocJ0aX0kr7Rg?si=81w7_bRzaKow21wl ) to kill a guy.

[@xreve_]

It is funny because at one point in the video, I also asked, if it might be possible that the Ricochet "accidentally" nerfs legitimate players in real-time .. Thats why I was asking. No need to watch it, but what you said is exactly what I was thinking when I read about what Ricochet is doing.

[@xreve_]

@@Swagceus Btw I would like to allow your comment, since it got flagged, but the link you shared, seems to be broken. It redirects me to KZbin Studio and says theres an error. Maybe try again, I will def show the comment with the link as it supports your statement.

[@petedorherty6634]

My wifey likes playing Warzone with me. She hates multiplayer because she is getting my lobbies. This destroyed our teams from back in the days and all average or below average friends quit the game already. Being not good in cod, playing with some friends who is really good, gives you a terrible experience these days.

[@xreve_]

It's really sad. I remember when I used to go over to my friend's house, and we'd always play PS3 splitscreen because they didn’t have a mouse and keyboard setup, and I didn’t own a PS3 back then. We'd play BO1, MW3, and BO2 on controller. They were way better than me, but I still had fun and did well, thanks to the aim assist from back in the day when you actually had to aim. And we always had a blast, every weekend without fail. But now, where are all my friends who used to play COD? They either stopped playing after Ghosts or they play alone because they don’t want to be in my lobbies-and honestly, I don’t blame them. I wouldn’t want to play in my current lobbies either. It’s just not the same anymore.

[@henriqueaf._]

I feel the same way. I dropped BO6 because of the hard work I need to do every match; it is exhausting. I started playing Battlefield again… Just hop onto a random server, get some kills, no 100% focus on the match, just shooting bullets and having fun. That’s my vibe for now.

[@xreve_]

I also tested BO6 again today, also for my new video .. and it is even worse than 2 weeks ago when I already stopped. Played some Detla Force, which is literally a copy paste BF, at least thats what it feels like. Am also still enjoying BF4, Locker 24/7 and BF V overall. I wish these games had more players, but the playerbase is still solid. COD has turned into a money making machine since years, I just feel like I dont want to accecpt that this franchise wont ever turn back to its roots.

[@lena-8263]

To me the best part about a game is watching yourself improve. That comes through facing people of a higher skill. To be the best you have to face the best and learn from those encounters to come back stronger the next time around. Everyone starts at the bottom of the skill chain with every game.

[@xreve_]

Exactly, with SBMM everyone is stuck and does not really improve. That is what peope do not understand. Hell I got railed so much in MW2, then I decided to get better. And I did.

[@bobbunni8722]

The strong aim assist has hurt the game to.....narrows the skill gap and is to the point where a noticeable part of the game is artificial.

[@xreve_]

So true. It is not made with love. The aim assist is insane, when I compare it to games like BO1 and MW3 that I played on console.

[@cthonos.]

it's like that mainly for ranked since they force you to play with pc players

[@hellblazer2296]

​@@cthonos. FR, I play PC and wish I could opt out of cross play sometimes.

[@benpoke]

Amazing video man, agreed with everything. It's a damn shame but I don't think it'll change, at least for a long time. The online FPS genre is dead to me.

[@xreve_]

Thank you! I really enjoy MWIII at the moment. Guess it will not change anytime soon to be honest. And otherwise there is nothing to play, I agree!

[@erwinramen6089]

I had a game where I nabbed an 8 something KDR. Absolute bot lobby, was about to drop a nuke when it started spawning multiple enemies behind me, ensuring my death. That was at about 21 kills, I ended up dying a total of 3 times, every time with the game spawning multiple enemies behind me. I never got off a game quicker, I knew Id be playing against actual CDL teams for the next week.

[@Night_City_Vibes]

Bro than you were in the wrong lobby- a 8 kdr bro you are not that good in real life meaning you were beating up on a bunch of noobs. Thats where you shoud be in CDL there is no reason for you to be in a lobby with a 8 KDR - Jesus Christ is called game balance why can you not get that.

[@erwinramen6089]

​@@Night_City_Vibes I understand the game should not have put me in the lobby. My gripe is that instead of throwing me in my usual 1.2 KDR lobbies, they would throw me in with 3+ KDR lobbies for the forseeable future to knock my KDR back down close to 1.0. Games fault for putting me in a bot lobby. P.S. Please don't take my Lord's name in vain.

[@Night_City_Vibes]

@ that’s because they thought you were a freaking God, you can actually get that good? The game much have saw this outlier and wanted to see how you would do in this new lobby- that’s not their fault,

[@stgtakeover9489]

COD is a competitive shooter. Its not meant for relaxing. Its COD play zombies or another game if u wanna" relax " and have fun

[@xreve_]

I see where you are coming from, I would have said the same thing 15 years ago. But you can also relax in that shooter, that is my point. I wanna relax, but my 1.7KD is for some reason so good, the game will start to push me in sweaty lobbies. Back in the days I would not have cared that much to be honest, but now I just want to have some fun and not sweat like theres money on the line. But everything became kinda sweaty ..

[@Bonobo_JoJo]

Or, and hear me out…the game should only be competitive in ranked. You know, the mode made purely for competition.

[@xCriZzZ]

No it's not. CoD is known as most arcade casual FPS on the market. Competitive shooters are Counter-Strike, Valorant, Quake... But not CoD

[@XKIRA376]

Sbmm is needed. I hate it but it’s needed. Your fun should not come before the fun of everyone else. The only way to make sure all player get the fair end of the stick is the ensure all players play against people of the same skill. What u consider casual may be sweaty for someone else. Wanting mix skilled lobbies is punishing the casual side who just wants to play against people that are on their level. It only make sense as a dev team to separate the 2 groups

[@xreve_]

I respect your opinion, each to their own. In my opinion it is a disgrace to the balance and authenticity we had. May I ask with what COD you started? I assume you started with MW2019 or later? Like I said, I dont judge anyone, it is just the "modern CODs" just dont feel right to play. SBMM punishes every single player out there in the long-term. I suggest you to watch my video about why SBMM is rigged: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5O2eqakqs-cq6M this part here is important: 14:45 - 17:00 And in my opinion, it is totally wrong to seperate people into groups. The player pool is big enough, it is not fair to label people based on their skills. Thats why I think it is important that we have authentic, mixed lobbies.

[@DIESTAR2010]

I notice every time I’m playing with my Lower skill family that when we play objective game modes we’ll all participate and play the objective…. Start winning……then as soon as we’re 75% of the goal to winning a couple people leave and then these absolute sweats join and ruin the game, I do think there is absolutely some form of manipulation going on to rig games. Scenario 2. No one leaves the objective game mode we’re still 75% in on winning the game then out of nowhere the enemy team starts dropping crazy kill streaks, drop shoting with perfection and quick scoping without even looking in the scope, and again the enemy team wasn’t doing good to begin with since we’ve been winning 75% of the objective already so what makes me scratch my head is how out of nowhere these players are able achieve the impossible and go from below average to super skilled something is up

[@xreve_]

I believe that they tamper with connection etc. in real-time. It is no coincidence that so many people feel that way. Today as well - I just wanted to test BO6 after 2 weeks of not playing it. The first game, with a brand new account, I had people like me who did not prestige at all. Yea, went 35-8 and the next games were filled with prestige masters and all of a sudden, my shots do not connect. And always the guys who have bought bundles, tank my bullets, turn around and laser me. Same with the people you described, you know they are not that good, but all of a sudden, like someone flipped a switch, these guys are godlike and you get railed. I uninstalled again.

[@symonesymone3941]

As an average to below average player… I can assure you that even I can agree that they are manipulating the outcomes of the matches and how well you’re allowed to do. It’s the reason I stopped playing Apex. You never really feel like the gameplay is consistent. You never really feel like you’re improving. One minute it places you with competent teammates and you start playing better because your team has awareness and help carry the load. If you want to do better you learn from them, pick up better habits, and generally get more kills. Then all of a sudden I become the carry with teammates who don’t care to even shoot their gun, back to back matches are trash, and I barely can get a kill because I’m going up against stacked sweats on comms together. And the cycle is rinse and repeat. At least, that was the case with Apex. So far with bo6, I had a moment where it literally felt like my controller felt lighter and I couldn’t hit any of my shots. Then a few matches after that… I get put in a lobby where the players seem like literal bots and I got like 10+ kills before im shot and killed.. which is GOOD for me and rarely happens). Then the next few matches im getting kill streaks. Then some more matches I’m getting stomped again. Sometimes my shots hit great and I feel like I’m doing well.. then the next few matches I feel everything from lag, desync, bad aim, etc. I basically have no clue how well I’m going to do going into a match and that’s unsettling lol. Trust me, this isn’t just affecting the great k/d players.. it’s affecting us on the lower end as well too. I’m all for grinding to get better and improve as a player, but it’s demotivating the way everything is set up. I still have fun on the game tho nonetheless

[@xreve_]

That is interesting, thanks for sharing. I always assumed and was told and read that the "average" players do not have issues in ther lobbies. 2box players also said that the manipulation is not there in lower brackets, therefore I also assumed some people just do not recognize it. I would argue for you it it subtle changes maybe? For me and others it is like a switch, night and die. There is one second in the game where it flips the switch and you start dying so much, your shots do not connect, you miss a lot, get spawntrapped and and thats it.

[@symonesymone3941]

@ I don’t think it’s subtle changes in my case. I’m honest with my gameplay and I usually know the difference between when I’m just playing trash and when the game starts screwing me over. I’ve been spawn trapped even in my lobbies. I’ve played with a friend who’s is NOTCHES better than me and he is a complete sweat, so I’m sure my k/d is tanked due to playing with players better than me.. it’s at like a .97 overall. But when I play solo, my matches k/d usually can go from a 1-2 k/d depending on the match. It’s very inconsistent depending on the map and mode, which is fine with me. But overall, Ive had enough matches to know that some matches feel rigged, even as a lower k/d player. That’s just my experience and opinion though.

[@Guest-iy3tc]

Sbmm also seems to amplify cods cheating problem as people feel they have to cheat to keep up, just my take on it.

[@xreve_]

Yeah, it's crazy how common cheating is these days. It’s especially frustrating when MnK players think all other MnK players are cheating, and controllers accuse MnK users of cheating too, while some of them are using Cronus or Xim, or whatever it’s called. It’s like no one trusts anyone anymore. I even had someone in the comments say that because of people like me, they want to cheat. He thought I was supporting 2boxing, and his only way to “fight back” was to cheat since he felt like he couldn’t keep up. It’s a strange situation in the gaming world right now. Honestly, I’ve never been a fan of crossplay, to be honest. As I mentioned in the video, purposely divided the community.

[@Guest-iy3tc]

I turn it off myself as I already had the pleasure of encountering one but there just seems to be an abundance of cheaters in cod as of late.

[@xxitz_pr0gxx631]

I have been upset about SBMM for years. I am still upset about it, but I have been challenging myself to be a better player. Over the past few years I have gone from a 1.0 KD, to a 1.8 of, in this most recently installment. I am trying to get my overall kd to 2.0. I really think that SBMM needs to be dialed back in pubs. Even if they dial it back 50%, that would be a WORLD of difference!

[@xreve_]

One thing people do not understand or kids who have no played in the golden era, that the authentic matchmaking, favored every single person in the lobby. People think that all these sweats they see, all these Pros on youtube, that theres tons of people having these skills. Completely wrong. The average player dies more often than getting eliminations. Thats the majority in matches. It is basic statistics. Everbody from back in the days knows why we need no SBMM, and it is not to stomp. I maybe stomped once a week out of 30 games? The rest was mixed, its not about being on top. It is that you feel that the current SBMM in BO6 is punishing. Theres no natural progression of becoming better, its artificial.

[@JamesSchmidt713]

This. I'm only level 37, getting put in lobbies entirely full of sweaty 5+ prestige players that already have 100's of hours in game. I'm 28, been playing since COD 3/2005 when I was in middle school, running 10th prestige lobbies in MW2, all of those fun times, and when just playing BO6 casually, I've been having flashbacks to the old days. After 15 years of playing, my K/D is above 1.0 (nearly) every match essentially, and even over 2.0 a lot of games. So I understand myself getting placed in matches with higher level/skill players. But at the end of the day, who cares??? It's a damn game. I play until I'm not having fun, then put the game down until the next day/time I play. I feel like the whole taking COD way too serious thing is a direct result of COD and other similar games becoming a crucial part of many people's income; i.e. streamers/content creators. The pressure to be "perfect" or in the absolutely top level elite tier of world wide players comes from the idea of "I have to be top rank to get viewers and subscribers etc." and hence, the fun has been sucked out of the game. But for me, I have just as much fun playing BO6 as I did playing COD4, WaW, MW2, BO1, and so on. When you stretch a series out so many titles, there's only so much you can do with it eventually. Just like musicians draw from prior music. Theres only 12 notes in music, just used in different ways.

[@lulu-j6e]

increasing randomness just to even the playing field doesn't make the game more balanced or provide a better experience. gaming is not about who gets the most kills, it's about being able to play honestly. if i wanted to gamble i'd go to the casino or invest

[@Night_City_Vibes]

Bro what are you talking about that’s exactly how you balance games. Literally the definitions of balancing games is randomness.

[@lulu-j6e]

@@Night_City_Vibes how you balance games is, giving all players equal abilities. a game is the opposite of random. the randomness is in how the players play.

[@Night_City_Vibes]

@ equally abilities lmao - bro what is your prestige - just answer that question mines is 115, meaning I play more and have been playing more than any average player, meaning unless they play as much or have played as much as me they will never have equal ability, so in what made up world are you living in, bro get good, if being in a lobby with people as good as you is that hard than the game isn’t for you.

[@xreve_]

Dont waste your time answering this dude. I already wonder how he is able to spend so much time in this comment section, since all he does is play BO6 since it came out and needs to brag about it. Literally coping in a video game, cause thats what makes him feel like he accomplished something.

[@Night_City_Vibes]

@ if all I did was play BOP6 than you have answered yourself bro- you just fragile - stop acting soft. If you are going to create a gaming channel you better get used to criticism. You way too soft for this bro-

[@Elevat3_KG]

It’s honesty really disheartening everytime I hear someone talk about call of duty the way you are in this video because i completely relate. I have a 1.4 KD currently and the only times i ever get a break from the try hard lobbies are when my less skilled buddies join me and that’s not fair to them because now their lobbies get a bit harder to compensate for my skill level. I feel like there is no longer a point for the game to even have high kill streaks or nukes because the only way your getting them is if you have less skilled teammates in your party but then it doesn’t feel genuine if you get a nuke because you know the game “gifted” you an easier game. The game is deceiving because in many ways, it still feels and plays good and is still call of duty but then the matchmaking and the trash maps just completely turn me off from the game..

[@DillioSmithers]

Im og too, bops6 was the first cod i didnt buy...... I became a warzone player but by the time wz3 came out it was clear as a fart in a lift mouse and keyboard was chalked. Im super sad about it. In a nut shell i can miss shots and my enemys cant and thats where it ended for me. Cherish those original MW2 and bf2 days because they aint never coming back. Merry xmas champs, take another look at pubg at least its real ❤❤❤

[@xreve_]

I feel you, man. It’s heartbreaking to see how far things have drifted from the glory days of MW2 and BF2. Those games had this magic that’s just impossible to replicate now-it was raw, it was fair, and every win felt earned. Especially Bad Company 2. Warzone had its moments, but yeah, the shift away from balanced gameplay to something that feels artificially controlled killed the vibe for a lot of us. And mouse and keyboard players? Totally agree-it feels like we’ve been left behind in favor of controller aim assist meta. We are better than average, but no sweats. No place for us in the system. Merry Christmas to you too, champ! PUBG does have that old-school feel in some ways; maybe it’s time to give it another go ❤

[@mrburner97]

Everyone wants to be like their favorite professional gaming streamer

[@HK47_115]

Honestly at this point, I don't feel bad for people who are having a worst experience with this. And I'm tired of hearing that protective bracket excuse because I've been told so many times I'm in a protective bracket. If that's so then why do I keep getting stopped and ended up at the bottom of a leaderboard? I also don't believe scoby matchmaking or at least the extreme form that people talk about that supposedly protects the noobs exist. Maybe it actually does and I just don't know or don't feel it, but from my personal experience I don't believe it does. And yet I still have the bad experience and people with just gaslight me and saying I'm in a protective bracket. So you know what, I just don't play the game. I don't give a criticism either, let it either die or let them produce another Call of Duty and make the exact same mistakes over and over and over again because people don't learn the lessons to stop buying this game. at the end of the day people were truly as sick and tired of Call of Duty shit for the past few years like they've been saying they were, then they would put their money and their controller with their mouth is and go spend it somewhere else. Because it is the absence of players and consumers that will make them care, take the complaint serious, and fix the game. They did it for OverWatch by bringing back 6v6 when OverWatch players didn't come back. But Call of Duty players, you guys outright refuse to put your money where your mouth is. Heck, when Activision Blizzard was sexually harassing their employees you guys didn't even care, but the OverWatch community did not hesitate to boycott this game and boycotted successfully. You guys can't even boycott this game when you think it got 'tHe wOkE'. Call of Duty players took a page from the OverWatch communities book, then maybe this game would actually get better. Maybe. But I'm not holding my breath, and I'm not saving my money for another Call of Duty ever again. If it wasn't for the Xbox pass, I would have never tried it. And I'm probably not going to continue otherwise. Beyond maybe zombies in difficulty teakt for the campaign. In that case I'll probably play the game for a month, drop it for the few, they continued again like I do it's called mobile. Included with uninstalls and reinstalls. Because this shit takes up too much space. If Call of Duty actually shared at least the majority of overwatch's player base, then Activision Blizzard wouldn't keep fucking you guys. So they can literally keep slipping their dicks down your throats and you guys will say thank you sir, may I have another..

[@Night_City_Vibes]

Bro they whine sooooo hard and than not only buy the next, they are the one running around in the skins, guns are all camo’d out and they are in prestige master - but the game sucks right.

[@HK47_115]

@Night_City_Vibes I know, so many of them contradict themselves. Sometimes in the same sentence. Like how are you already master prestige but don't like the game? I know some people are able to do that within a few weeks, but my God the amount of time you have to spend in that game just to do that. People like to say they're addicted, but then in the same sentence say they don't like it. No, I'll say this as a literal substance use of cannabis, coffee, and cigarettes, and what a family full of drug habits and occasional gambling habits, if you are addicted to something then it's because you like something about it. Not that I come from a family full of addicts, but various family members and friends and family friends use a substance of some sort. And you wouldn't consume it if you didn't like it or like something about it. And I would go as far as saying that they must really like it if they end up developing an addiction. Because I always tell people it's not the drugs that you don't like that you should be scared of, it's the ones you really like that you should be concerned about. Those are the ones you develop an addiction with. The one you used to cope with your problems. And since so many people do just that with gaming, this is why so many people can get addicted to it. They like it that damn much because escapism. Even if they can't escape these greedy UNESCO practices that pissed him off and make them dislike the game. But there's still something there they like otherwise they wouldn't still be there.

[@Night_City_Vibes]

@ exactly. It takes either mad skills or mad time to prestige. I am a prestige master 115, no way should I be in a lobby with noobs and casuals and I get that. Am I the greatest player not in the lobbies I am in and that’s the way it should be . If you have a high KDR than you are in the wrong lobbies. Simple as that.

[@xreve_]

@HK47_115 I can understand your frustration, and honestly, I share a lot of it. I think you’ve made some solid points about how change only happens when communities take a stand, and maybe COD players haven’t done enough in that regard. But I also think the situation is a bit more complicated. The issue with Call of Duty isn’t just about players blindly accepting what Activision puts out-it’s that many of us feel stuck. Some players buy the game because it’s a tradition, others because their friends do. And let’s be real, for all its faults, COD can still be fun in the right moments. It’s not that players don’t want to act; it’s that they don’t feel like they have alternatives that scratch the same itch. As for the protective bracket or SBMM debate-I think it’s fair to say the system isn’t working for anyone. You don’t feel protected, and people like me feel punished for playing well. It creates a lose-lose environment where everyone is frustrated, regardless of their skill level. You brought up Overwatch, and I agree-it’s a good example of a community successfully making their voices heard. But COD is a different beast. Its player base is massive and far less unified in what they want. Some players enjoy the current system, while others hate it. It’s hard to organize meaningful change when we can’t even agree on what’s broken. I respect your decision to step away from the franchise. It might honestly be the healthiest option for many of us. But for me, I still have hope that if enough players keep speaking out, we can push for improvements, even if it takes time. COD isn’t perfect, but for some of us, it’s still worth fighting for.

[@xreve_]

@@Night_City_Vibes Hey, I think I might not have fully understood your previous comment, but it seems like we’re on the same page for the most part. Maybe it’s because I’m not a native speaker, so I sometimes interpret things differently. By all means, I don’t have an issue with SBMM as a concept-I play ranked and competitive modes in other games, and those systems are based on SBMM. The problem I have is when I’m not in the mood to play competitively and just want to relax, I end up getting stomped because of my KD. I understand that the system is trying to balance things, but it feels like it doesn’t account for how casually I play. I’m not grinding-I jump on for 3-4 games a day, and then I’m out. But in those few games, if I perform well in one or two rounds, I know I’ll be punished for it in the rest. It’s this constant grindy feeling that gets exhausting. It’s like being forced to play competitive mode all the time. If I wanted to play competitively, I’d queue for ranked. But when I’m in casual mode, I expect a different experience-something less intense and more random. Right now, both modes feel the same, and that’s the frustrating part. I don’t know if I’m explaining it well, but I just want the option to enjoy casual lobbies without always having to sweat or feel like I’m being “graded” on every match. I hope that makes sense.

[@deadsilentyt9009]

I feel your pain. SBMM is so bad for me. If you think it's bad for you, imagine the balancing for a player like myself...a 3+ kd player. I resort to playing only core free for all or hardcore game modes. I like free for all because it's just me, no team to bring me down. I prefer core but the game rigs my damage, accuracy, and my spawns so bad that I have no choice but to play hardcore. When I play free for all I average about a 3.35kd. I play hardcore sometimes because even if the game is rigged atleast most guns are 1 shot. If I have faster reaction time then I will win my gunfights regardless of the rigging. I have to intentionally play bad often just to keep my overall kd at a 2kd, just keep my sanity. I play the same people day in and day out. I can use any gun in the game and atleast get a 2kd. But losing when I know I should have won just based off my score and contribution to the team pisses me tf off. Another thing that pisses me off is when I want to have fun and relax by using a weaker gun is getting matched against losers that dick ride the cx9, amax, and asval. Everyone all using the same meta guns makes having fun virtually impossible even at my skill level. The better gun will always win the fight with the rigging. Anyways. I have not bought cod since MW2019 and I am proud to say that. I recommend that we boycott cod. We have no choice.

[@cayben8865]

i wish it were that easy but most cod players i know hate other fps games because they play one that doesn't have the same protection for lower skilled players and say the game is too sweaty every single time

[@russcox3125]

What COD has now is that Engagement Optimized Match Making. Its to keep everyone as hooked as possible. True SBMM, like back in Halo 3 ranked was amazing. You earned those kills and it was fun as hell. But, id rather no sbmm or anything else, instead of this dumpster fire COD is using.

[@xreve_]

I completely agree with you. What COD has now with EOMM is essentially a way to keep people hooked, but it sacrifices the true spirit of the game. It's all about engagement and addiction, but that comes at the cost of actual fun and challenge. True SBMM, like in Halo 3 ranked, was rewarding because you faced players at your skill level, and every match felt earned. It had that competitive edge without feeling like the game was rigging the outcome just to keep you playing. Honestly, I'd take no SBMM at all over what COD is doing now. The current system just feels like a mess and isn't benefiting anyone. The game should be about having fun and earning kills through real skill, not through an algorithm controlling every match. But some people see that as wanting to "stomp" weaker players. No matter how often you explain it, they won’t get it. If they were in the system’s shoes, they’d relate more. But I don’t blame them for not understanding.

[@CallofDutyGhostReaper]

The multiplayer gameplay just doesn't feel authentic anymore. Theirs too many variables being controlled and ends up feeling repetitive. I miss the old cods so much and their wasn't any aim assist then!

[@xreve_]

The aim assist in insane, literally anybody who touches a controller will have a chance against an MnK player. There was a reason MnK played for itself. I am all for Crossplay, but I also would like to be able to disable it. And the games being repetetive, that feels controlling yes.

[@CallofDutyGhostReaper]

@xreve_ yeah aim assist is crazy. When I was level 1 , I noticed pretty strong aim assist as I got better in levels and rank. It immediately got nerfed. Yeah it's very true with MnK , also console players don't want to play with PC because the cheating is out of control. I can't disable crossplay on PS5 as easily, it's always switching on randomly

[@impalaboy776]

I dont know exactly how to explain it but you can tell when a match is about to be bad. You get a few good kills then suddenly you start dying over and over, spawn killed etc. Start the match 10-3 and suddenly youre 11-16. Im sorry im not a sore loser but when the matches go like that I back out

[@Matt-n3v]

Try going 2-23 at the start then try getting kills u'll be surprised how easy u get them lol

[@pimpnamedkane]

We gamers are the beta testers I’ve been saying it. Company’s figured out we are dumb enough to buy a game even if it’s not complete so instead of losing money by paying beta testers, they are making money by selling us the game and letting us figure out the problems ourselves.

[@xreve_]

I am really interested what the new COD will be like. Because they seem to recycle the same trash year after year. Just with some new algortihm maybe and "better" AntiCheat .. while they still dont upgrade their servers, since the casual players out there do not care at all. They have no priorities anymore than money and pushing politcal agendas, thats about it.

[@PizzieNizzie]

I have been diamond+ in ranked play of the last 3 titles including the current title. You consistently run into players cheating around d2-d3 elo. Crimson+ when solo que has somebody walling in every lobby. I switched to ps5 from pc to turn crossplay off around s4 of mw3. You can no longer do this in ranked play so ranked play is dead around high diamond/low crim in bo6. When queuing public matches the game throws me into lobbies with tons of people who are hacking. The only people at my SBMM the game can find are basically hackers. If I turn crossplay off and que pubs the game cannot find me lobbies that destroy me because the cheaters are gone. You basically end up in hacker que once you reach a certain level of play.

[@Rhythm162.]

Bro the first few days of this game were sooooo much fun, and i was SWEAAAATING right? But got super nice KDs, but then it suddenly flipped... Do you think sbmm might have been turned off for launch?

[@xreve_]

Yeah, I think that’s true. That’s what people are saying too, and it makes sense because it attracts more players. If they had the system in place during the Beta or the first few days, it would’ve been a problem right away. But if you give the game a few days and let people play it (without SBMM), it creates a different experience. That’s why more people enjoyed it, especially veterans like me who didn’t buy any COD after BO2. The gameplay looked nice, and the Omni-Movement was a cool feature. Once they had a solid player base, they switched the systems on, and slowly, it affected all of us. It’s really interesting, because I hadn’t played or even heard about MWIII until a few weeks ago. The difference compared to BO6 is night and day. In MWIII, I get 3-4 KDs casually, no sweating, and 9 out of 10 games feel great. In BO6, 1 out of 10 games felt decent, but only because the system put you with less skilled players on purpose. It’s really disappointing. You can feel that there is almost no SBMM in MWIII.

[@Rhythm162.]

@xreve_ dang so other people felt it too huh... Dang man, now it super sucks cuz now ik why I had so much fun with it and now it just blows in comparison. It really sucks how it's so tracked on KD too cuz that just means that other people with good KD like mine are getting it by just camping with the 69 different camping spots in the game, which is so frustrating for me esp since I need triple kills for dark spine camo. I haven't bought a cod game since bo2 as well, my brother had bo3 so I played it a tiny bit but like, I've never heard so much outrage for the sbmm like this before. Really hope that maybe some change can come through

[@Rhythm162.]

​@@xreve_ Another thing that got me mad RN is that I finally got dark spine, but dark matter needs 5 kills in a row without dying. But this goes against the whole sbmm, I think that's my biggest complain with camos right now. It's encouraging me to go hard on the first 2/3, then waste a few minutes purposefully dying to keep my KD low. That isn't fun for anyone, at the very least it wouldn't be that bad if the camos weren't so terrible this year. They make it all headshots in the one game where headshots are literally 1 bullet less to kill, and the camos that actually matter are built to be impossible from the sbmm. Pathetic game design

[@stgtakeover9489]

To answer the question in your title. Because they know y'all gone keep buying the game and skins regardless. We complain and complain but we keep buying the game. It's the same cycle since 2019

[@robertmasson9074]

this is the problem the mechanics of the game change very little every new cod title the great majority of players have played several titles and so off the bat they know how to read a map use the controller build a meta etc. This leaves only a very few players who are new to the experience. it doesnt matter what skill bracket you are in the games are sweaty whilst playing people of equal skill. what you want as a skilled player is an easy time playing against people of a lower skilled bracket get your nukes and shout how good you are. if youre more than 1 kd you are playing against players in a lower bracket the data tells you are killing more than getting killed when you want to chill go and play an easy game somewhere and come back to cod when youre ready to pick up the challenge.

[@Night_City_Vibes]

Bro thank you, some dude on here talking about he had a 8 KDR and is mad that he has to play against equal talent - WTF it’s like they have no self awareness at all. If you had a 8KDR you are in the wrong lobby.

[@davet9820]

I don't necessarily think providing a safe way for new players to succeed is bad. The main problem is COD is NOT the game for it. Think about it -- the main reward structure of the game is centred around killstreaks, IE dunking on worse players. How many times did you get an AC-130 in MWII vs the original game? They built a whole franchise and a whole fanbase around dunking on other people, getting killstreaks, calling in gunships and nukes, and then made it so you almost never get to do it because you're playing against your equals. I got maybe 2-3 gunships across the entire run of MWII and III, and can count on two hands the amount of times I even saw someone else call one in. I rarely see anybody call in a killstreak higher than a UAV or RCXD in my lobbies.

[@xreve_]

You are so right, and I always said the same! I got Chopper gunners and pave lows, AC130s and several nukes on a weekend. And only, ONLY the people from back in the day resonate with this. All the new players who know the modern COD, they see this as me stomping lobbies, and thats why we need SBMM. No we do not, because not every game looked like this, but my skill allowed me to pull it off more often. In BO6, I barely get a CUAV. Sometimes I dont even get a UAV. The thing is that killstreaks also kinda program your mind, the sounds of it etc. Killstreaks are satisfying to get and call in, and I am playing COD for streaks, high KD and me improving. But SBMM wont allow that, it is a shame. It drives more people away than it lures people in.

[@TheWirkkalaShow]

You nailed it man. The game really fell from grace. It used to be the only game I wanted to play and now there’s nothing to fill that space. It was xdefiant for awhile but now that’s getting cancelled and to add on, I’m a FFA player and Xdefiant doesn’t have FFA. I just wish we could go back to ping is king and have proper 3 lane maps. The maps this year are beyond abysmal. Like that post nuke nuketown thing, wtf even is that trash? If they went back to the old way of matchmaking and stopped screwing with things in real time (yes I am 100% tinfoil hat conspiracy on this) then they would have millions more players and a healthy community. But they must be morons because we have no e of that! Makes me sad and a little angry

[@xreve_]

Thanks for your comment! The thing is, you dont even ned your tinfoil hat, it is not a conspiracy theory to me. We cannot prove that they have something on the backend, and they do not provide evidence that this is not the case. Either they are not competent enough, and the servers really are horrendous, OR, it is Ricochet that adjusts gameplay in real-time since Vanguard. And yea, without SBMM and trash maps, if they would focus on fun and good gameplay, rather than focusing on bundles, being "woke" and pushing agendas .. we could have a really healthy community again. It also makes me sad and angry. So often I just paused while playing the game and thought to myself: what even is this? What am I playing? What the hell is even their target group? It is a war game, we shoot each others heads off. Yet its all about inclusivity and morality and double standards. They cater to no one, they have lost their way and COD lost its identity years ago. I always blame COD Ghosts. That was pure trash!

[@ghostlandered]

I go from struggling to get a uav in my lobbies to getting an overwtach helo multiple times a match when I play in my cousins lobbies, and if I run into someone godly it is because they are playing with someome in a lower bracket. I just want to naturally experience the player base. There is this perceptionaround kd that having a 1.0 is bad. Thats above average. Like only 25% of players have that. I had a 1.2 in mw19 and that put me in the top 15%. In black ops 6 i have a 1.5 likely putting me in the top 10% but the lobbies i play make me feel like I'm trash.

[@Wayne-l9n]

New sub. I agree with everything you said. I want to enjoy the game but its like the game wont let me. I dont have a particularly high kd (1.16 at the moment) but i can go on the game and stomp for maybe 4 matches, then you just know the rigged system will kick in and it does, then its match after match of just getting completely owned. Its a shame, there could be a half decent cod here but its buried under manipulation and cash grabbing practices.

[@xreve_]

Thanks for the sub, I appreciate it! And I hear you. That’s exactly the problem - you have a good run, and then out of nowhere, the system just flips, and it’s like you’re playing against people who are suddenly way better than you. It’s a frustrating cycle. And you’re right, it’s not about skill anymore; it’s about keeping people engaged through that rigged system. It’s like the game goes out of its way to ensure you can’t really enjoy those winning moments for long. If the game focused on real balance and skill, it could be so much better, but instead, it’s all about exploiting players and pushing those microtransactions. It's just not fun anymore when the game’s main focus is manipulation.

[@Wayne-l9n]

@xreve_ Exactly. I have tried to play badly in matches, as you said in your video to try to somehow keep the matches at a consistent level but really i dont see why we should have to play like that. The fun has just been completely drained from this franchise. Being punished for being skillful at the game just makes no sense. You are very welcome for the sub, i appreciate honest channels, they seem to be getting rarer these days.

[@chrislabedzski9076]

I always keep my kd from 1.10kd to 1.20kd tops, no higher, and by doing that, i been have a great games most of the time, i never go sweat in my game i keep my score exactly average or slightly above or below,,, and it helps doing my camos and got quite a lot of wins,,, now i know people struggling on cods,, because see if players sweat if their first several games from the get go,, its all gonna make it harder on themselves in the long run,, it only gonna punish them,, so me however i dont sweat or reverse boost,, i keep it exactly average, and by doing that i dont punish myself and i dont have games too easy either,, and thats the fun experience,, no struggle and not too easy boring matches either

[@435.63]

Great video

[@xreve_]

Appreciate it!

[@Cole_Zulkowski]

im a casual in every game now not really wanting to be nearly as skilled as i used to be which was 50 90 kills every match when i really focused and dialed into the games back a few years

[@joshuabreeden8629]

They're still on the whole DEI deal.

[@dukeofhaggard9450]

The games I do extremely well in the game feels “choppy” and I can instantly spot the “manipulation” if my team goes 0-6 in the first 2 seconds of TDM, I’m in for it. 😂

[@xreve_]

I think it’s really interesting to see how players of different skill levels perceive this topic. That was my goal-reaching a wider audience and sparking this kind of discussion. You can tell from the comments who never played the older CODs, who are probably around that 0.89KD average, and therefore never experience the issues we’re talking about. Or they’re just casual enough that they don’t even notice it-and that’s fine! Who am I to judge what someone can or can’t enjoy? But it really highlights the fact that we’re all playing different games at this point. I don’t even know what else to say. It is sad, the community is divided.

[@dukeofhaggard9450]

I have a 1.98 KD with severe camping, running double blast traps and proxy alarms exclusively every match was working pretty good and I’m finding now it’s starting to put people who either ghost/flak jacket stack or that new shadow perk. It’s like I found a way to play this game and it’s punishing me for have a different play-style by introducing a direct counter to mine. Oh Yea!!!!!! My gf has a .68 and the game expects her to carry when solo, she hates eliminations it’s robs her from her only metric to tell if she was improving now it’s one big participation trophy. Hasn’t touched the game in weeks. They are treating this like a mobile game pushing out the dedicated/passionate players so that they have to do less work and refinement on the dev side while catering to new players who grew up with FOMO buying Fortnite skins. The most expensive skin I bought was for League of Legends which was a 20$ legendary skin for the Champion Kayle. In a game I have over 4400 hours in and hit diamond at the time. Im not mad at them either just sad like you are, they just don’t have the cognitive ability and or weren’t around in the golden ages to be able to see how far it’s fallen from grace.

[@xreve_]

@@dukeofhaggard9450 I totally get what you're saying. It feels like the game has shifted focus to appeal to a more casual, mobile-game mentality, where the dedicated players are left behind. It’s frustrating when you put in the time and effort to develop your own unique playstyle, only for the game to counter it directly with mechanics that feel like they’re designed to level the playing field for newer or less experienced players. I also feel for your girlfriend. It's tough when the game takes away the ability to see clear improvement in a way that feels rewarding. It feels like they’re more focused on participation than actual progression now, and that’s a shame. You’re right, though-it’s not just about making the game easier; it’s about driving microtransactions and catering to a newer, less invested audience. It’s sad to see how far it’s fallen from what it used to be.

[@alexanderross7607]

preach it brother. I am staying on Tarkov until they figure this garbage out.

[@thehungrybunana6901]

This is why i play as 2p with my wife, better matches. Unfortunately shes starting to play like me and is almost if not as good as me and is now feeling my pain with this game. Shes the only reason i play CoD and now shes starting to hate it like me. Might be the last one i buy, ill just watch the campaign on youtube like i did with Ghost.

[@xreve_]

So sad.. You improve if you play more, thats the goal. Back in the days you got rewared for that, since you won more and more gun fights. Now you get punished if you do better than average. How come, if you improve in a video game, the game makes it harder for you to enjoy it, and actively punishes you for that. This is insane to me. And it felt like this since MW2019 afaik. I stopped after BO2, Ghosts Multiplayer was horrible in my opinion.

[@Rainbowhawk1993]

Single Player gamer to Multiplayer gamer: “Wow, sucks to be you.”

[@xreve_]

Ah, dont worry. I play more Singleplayer Games than MP. Since over a year. Singleplayer Games heal your soul, thats a fact! What are you playing at the moment?

[@Rainbowhawk1993]

@ Right now? Uncharted 2 and Quake 2 Remastered

[@Jd-ace]

im sure the people from call duty are just sitting back and watching people just try to manipulate the game to their favor over and over again and are like got you!!!!

[@tariquehaniff]

Got to a 3kd in less than a week after not playing for 10 years

[@davidbowerman3089]

War zone and eomm ruined cod, the map are terrible due to them making it first and breaking it down for the 6v6 maps.. no creative, blaintant lies about 3 lane maps.. Back in 2007, we literally had to get good against a variety of players and now its terrible; no skill gap, no variety but all the clones of yourself or higher against a algorithm that is literally set against you

[@xreve_]

It’s frustrating, but the impact of these systems is already clear in the comments. There are people who’ve never experienced COD without SBMM/EOMM and don’t understand what made the older games so great. Then there are those who completely misinterpret the discussion or claim I’ve said things I never did-likely because they didn’t watch the whole video. It’s a reflection of how the current state of COD has shaped the community: divided, confused, and sometimes unwilling to have a meaningful conversation about the real issues. And then there are people saying I’m the reason they would start cheating… That’s just insane!

[@davidbowerman3089]

@@xreve_ I know, I just feel sorry for the new generation of player, that they will never experience the "golden years"

[@xreve_]

@@davidbowerman3089 same here, same here .. I see them as individuals who do not know better, never will, and are so convinced that the games now are so much better. Just because the look better, does not mean it plays better.

[@Night_City_Vibes]

Simple question what prestige are you ? I am 115, no matter how you try to wash it I am not a casual player. So why should I be in a casual lobby, if you have played for years and you’re a high prestige why should you ever be in a lobby full of privates?

[@xreve_]

I didn’t prestige at all-couldn’t care less, and I’ve probably only got around 25 hours in the game. The question isn’t whether I should be in public lobbies, but why I’m being punished for having played over the years. What am I supposed to do? I don’t want to stomp. I don’t want to 2box-I’ve never done that and never will. If I cared about stomping lobbies, I wouldn’t even be making this video. I wouldn’t care enough to speak up. What I want is random, authentic lobbies. The chances of me dominating in those lobbies are naturally higher, but that’s just the balance of skill. Take MWIII, for example-I dominate almost every match. Is it because I’m sweating or tryharding? No, sweating is exhausting at this point. My prime is long behind me. But I play casually, above average, simply because I’ve been using MnK for over 20 years. Is that my fault now? Should I actively play like trash just to "earn" enjoyable lobbies? And don’t get me wrong-your dedication to the game, being a prestige master level 110, is something else. You’re definitely not a casual player, and I’d argue that you should be matched with others at your skill level because you’re not playing casually. But for me, I just come home and want to enjoy a few rounds of COD. Back when I was 11-16, I had my prime. That was when I grinded. For over a decade now, I’ve just been casually gaming. I respect the grind, but that’s the whole issue here. Based on other comments, I assume players like you don’t have much of an issue with the system-and that’s fine. But understand that I’m not the grindy type anymore. I’m just a guy who’s played on MnK for over 20 years and, like many others, feels punished for being more skilled. Take MWIII again: I casually "stomp" with a 3KD, yet nobody complains about SBMM there. You know why? Because BO6 is out, and most players have already moved on. This cycle is exhausting. I’m 100% sure BO6 will feel like MWIII once the next COD drops.

[@Night_City_Vibes]

@@xreve_ than why are you whining ? You have not played enough to be good, blaming average players when you have played only 25 hours tells me that you are not actually playing the game. So why make a video unless you are lying to me now. If you could care less than why make a whole video whining ? I am 115 prestige, you see me whining about how difficult it is, and boy is it difficult, because I am in lobbies with people equal to me, I am not bitching on line. There are games where I get bodied , there are games where I am winning, but you know what I am not doing is beating up on people less than me. You think you should be in a lobby with people less than you, with less than 25 hours I don’t know how you even have an opinion. You don’t actually play the game. And with less than 25 hours you are literally in an average player lobby so that means you are getting owned by average players.

[@xreve_]

Honestly, your mindset is exactly what's wrong with the community. You think grinding all day makes you superior, but in reality, it just means you're obsessed with a game instead of having a balanced life. I’ve put in way more hours in previous CODs, and I don’t need to flaunt some arbitrary prestige level to make my opinion valid. The fact that you think your ‘115 prestige’ somehow makes your perspective more legitimate is just a weak argument. You’re not a better player than me because you’ve spent more time grinding; it just shows you have a one-track mind. If you actually took the time to listen to my video and understand the frustration behind it, maybe you’d see where I’m coming from. But instead, you’re more interested in putting others down to make yourself feel better. I saw you trash talking in the comments, and it’s clear you’re not interested in having a proper discussion. I won’t engage in conversations like that, and I don’t have time to entertain anyone who can’t discuss things respectfully. Keep clinging to your rank if it makes you feel important, but it's just a shallow metric in the grand scheme of things

[@Night_City_Vibes]

@ no it says that I should not be in a lobby with people who don’t spend the same time in the game as me. I am not superior, I am not average, so I should not be in a lobby with those who are truly casual players. Sorry that you’re intimidated by facts. Now you have played 25 hours if this is true than you are in lobbies with people who are just as casual as you are? So you’re not even in a sweaty lobby yet you are on here complaining. KD isn’t a good measure of whether you are good or not at BOP 6 that’s not actually a good measure of a player. It’s probably better to say a KD of 1 against certain lobbies isn’t the same as a KD of 1 in a casual lobby. There is a mechanic that we are not aware of that measures how good played lobbies are, take player A who is really good and player B who is just learning. They are never in the same lobbies but they have the same KD of 1, player A thinks his lobby is sweaty, player B may not even think about it. There experiences are both so balanced than the player compares his experience in other games where he would regularly have KD of 3 , let’s call him xevere, extrapolating that experience to BOP6 which is an false equivalence. Because BOP6 lobbies are balanced to negate any experience beyond kds of 1 or more, because they want the games to be way more balanced. And this is clear through games. They are much more closer, wins are by one to two kills.

[@Night_City_Vibes]

@@xreve_ bro your video is literally titled the problem with COD is causal players - lmao and I am putting you down. That’s some serious gamer fragility. I am not superior, I assure you have no idea what my life is like. I have spent less time in the game, because I play well enough to max my games based on XP, any how that’s neither here nor there. Keep tha energy going though. You cannot compare your experience in MW3 to BOP6 they are not the same game. BoP6 is literally balanced to the point that games are rarely ever blow outs. That’s why they feel sweaty. Simple as that. Bro it’s ok to be an average player, and you might not even be average, but you’re in a balanced lobby - and it’s clear you don’t like it. So I don’t know what to tell you. This isn’t MW3

[@SIGNAL.115]

I hate and love bo6 multiplayer at its core is amazing and zombies is amazing but the sweaty movement ruins the pace of the game im always getting shot from behind where my spawn is because of the fast movement and the sbmm on top just makes it worse. I was averaging 3-4 kd with my 5 man of friends yesterday as I haven’t been on the game for 5 days and I got back on today and had a .9-1kd solo queue because I got spawn trapped it was painful and I truly missed the authenticity and variety of bo2 lobbies

[@xreve_]

I see no issue with them making less revenue, while caring about the quality of their game. Really interested in how the new Battlefield will look like. If Battlefield goes back to the roots, maybe its time to leave COD behind.

[@SIGNAL.115]

@ facts man I’ve alway loved battlefield 2042 was the worst of the franchise but it wasn’t a game like game pass I’m 16 and I can the flaws of modern fps shooter thank god I had a 360 till 2017

[@thefoxden5753]

I don't even know what to say, as my opinions are pretty much universally hated. I guess I can say I agree that casual gamers are the main demographic of the corporate machine because they don't have enough time in their day to really play a game long enough to have a valid opinion of something, so companies take advantage of that to make the minimum effort to put a lazy half baked product out on the market with flashy trailers and BS promises, only for the product to be half of what they said it would be, and only a quarter of what we wanted. That isn't the casual gamers fault in any way, so to say they themselves ruined gaming is kind of not true, it's the corporations that took advantage of their short amount of down time and even shorter attention span.

[@Moose_rs]

You can’t chill and dominate anymore my guy just the way it it. Focusing on KD is silly . Play ranked and play for the win. If you can’t have fun winning in ranked then maybe cod isn’t for you. COD is a competitive shooter at its core. SBMM is absolutely necessary to keep the concurrent population thriving. Average players always leave when they get stomped out. I definitely understand your frustration with wanting to have a pretty KD but since you’re basically playing ranked pubs without the rewards of a ranking system you are better off playing actual ranked and having a more realistic goal of ranking up rather than focusing on KD ratio. That’s my personal Goated opinion

[@xreve_]

I see your point, but for me, it’s not just about KD. I get that COD is competitive, and I’m all for that, but sometimes you just want to play casually without being forced into these sweaty lobbies. Ranked is one thing, but the public matches shouldn’t feel like ranked all the time. I enjoy the game for fun, and it’s tough when it feels like I’m always grinding. Just wish there was more balance for players who want to chill a bit. Appreciate your perspective, though. Thats why I like to hear different opinions about it. Everyone has their own. And thanks for keeping it neutral!

[@Moose_rs]

@ I suppose a potential fix to this problem would be to Divide public matches into Party Playlists like Halo had in Halo 3 and then regular matchmaking. It was surprising how well it separated the game population into complete casuals sticking to the party playlist and the more intermediate skilled players playing regular matchmaking and the real sweats stuck to ranked play

[@The_CajunNinja]

You know black ops 6 multiplayer is trash especially when Fortnite’s new first person game mode has more players than Call of Duty all together.

[@Matt-n3v]

Its modders on console and pc cheaters .. that tick me off in the higher k/d lobbies . The game punishes me by puting more hackers. First it one hacker then its 3 hackers lol then if i haven't rage quit the 3rd game is almost a full team of cheaters .

[@nogi2167]

“Why is CoD rewarding mediocrity?” Because the overwhelming majority of CoD’s player base is mediocre. It’s not some wild concept, tbh. You don’t cater to the far end of the bell curve - you cater to the middle. And if the middle is of below average skill, you build your game to appeal to people of below average skill. That’s not even crazy, hare-brained game design. That’s basic business 101: you cater to your largest demographic

[@rezcellent]

You aren’t supposed to be good at these games. You need to buy stuff in the store. That’s it. This is a store. Not a shooter. If the games free you are the product.

[@zippydingding5558]

The more you speak to anyone on tick-tock live and twitch the more you see women milking noobs for money 😂

[@canttakeanymore]

MW2 was the first one I started devoting some real time, and got some proficiency then. The fun was improving! So, I hear you, but I would like to offer an, addition?...to your thesis. I mean, you're not wrong, but I think it's a little more sinister. See, I'm historically mediocre, and I'm 150 yrs old. In BO1 -- the oldest BO I managed a 1.52 KDR, so I'm pretty average (and that IS pretty average if you think of a bell curve), but I've had a lot of fun, and, until the last 4-5 years I've seen the franchise deteriorate. Especially the correlation between time spent and improvement. I'm not seeing that correlation much at all anymore. See, I don't think a few months isn't gonna fix it, because this is intentional. They are turning this game into Candy Crush, the FPS version. I'm 150, and I'm hardcore--Infamous and Bioshock, all that. I love games, and they have FUCKED this one, my friends. Great video.

[@xreve_]

I totally get what you mean, and I love the way you put it-this isn’t just a gradual decline, it’s an intentional shift. The correlation between time spent and improvement used to be so clear. You’d get better if you put in the work. But now? It feels like all that effort doesn’t matter as much anymore. It’s like they’re slowly turning Call of Duty into more of a casual experience, where the emphasis isn’t on improvement or skill, but just on keeping people hooked and throwing them into a loop, like Candy Crush with guns. It’s a shame, because you’re right: the old COD games were all about the thrill of getting better, and the community was built around that. Now, it’s like they’re trying to make it all about engagement, no matter the cost to the actual experience. Thanks for the thoughtful input, and I appreciate the perspective!

[@dpgladius8214]

It's not skill. It's junk movement.

[@anthonywison1240]

People like you make me resort to cheating

[@xreve_]

Cheating, though, isn’t the solution. It ruins the game for everyone-especially for the casual players who just want to enjoy it without dealing with unfair advantages. I get that it’s frustrating to face players who are more skilled, but there have always been people better than us in any competitive setting. That’s just how it is. When I faced players way above my skill level back in the day, it didn’t make me want to cheat-it motivated me to improve. I wanted to understand how they played, learn from them, and eventually challenge them. Cheating takes away that opportunity for growth and undermines the integrity of the game for everyone involved. That’s where the real fun and improvement come from-not from forcing close games or resorting to shortcuts like cheating.

[@Itslndbaby]

Cod has always rewarded trash players it just has gotten out of control. Remember last stand?

[@xreve_]

Yeah, exactly... We even had dedicated servers that kicked players for using Last Stand. The issue is that not many people see the bigger picture. It's usually the veterans who understand this. That’s why I chose such a controversial title; I knew it would spark a conversation between both veterans and newcomers. And it shows. It really proves the point-those of us who played the older games know how they felt, and now we have games that just play differently. We’re talking about it, acknowledging that times change, but the new generations often don’t respect or accept that there was a time before them, when things were different. And it was always like this, still is like this, and will always be like this ..

[@flowerslead7583]

I see where you're coming from. But. IMO. You dedicated countless hours to mastering the game, seeking the thrill of improvement and the satisfaction of being at the top. Now that you've achieved it, you're frustrated by the very system that rewards your skill by placing you in tougher lobbies. Isn't this exactly what you were striving for all along? Why should the game cater to your desire for an easier experience when your effort was aimed at becoming exceptional? There is dynamic situation. There is stomping weaker players, and fighting it off. Now you are fighting it off.

[@xreve_]

I get what you're saying, and you’re right-dedicating hours to improve and seeking out challenges was always the goal. But that’s not what this is about. The system we have now isn’t just about tougher opponents; it’s about being placed in situations where your performance is deliberately managed. One game you stomp, the next you get stomped-it’s not a natural progression, it’s forced. The problem isn’t fighting tougher players-I welcome that. It’s the artificial way the system works, deciding when I succeed and when I don’t, rather than letting it happen naturally. Back in the day, you could stomp or get stomped, sure, but it felt real. Now, it’s less about skill and more about keeping everyone hooked in this calculated loop. So, no, I’m not frustrated by tougher fights-I’m frustrated by the lack of authenticity. I just want the game to reward skill and effort organically, not punish it to keep things “balanced.”

[@flowerslead7583]

@@xreve_ That is definitely the issue. It is a rigged system. But it's worse than just EOMM. It is likely that top players/streamers are given artificial advantages as in dealing slightly more damage or taking slightly less damage in order to maintain relevance and showcase the game (while I have no direct proof of this, but I have checked the feasibility with game devs who confirmed it). It is a show where the player is managed top to bottom while playing, and while watching streams.

[@xreve_]

That’s an interesting take, and honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s true. Rigging the system in favor of top players or streamers to make the game look better for an audience would fit perfectly into the whole “player management” philosophy we see with EOMM. It’s all about creating the illusion of fairness and skill, while in reality, everything is manipulated to maximize engagement and revenue. Even without solid proof, the idea makes sense when you think about how heavily these games lean on influencer marketing. If top players always perform well, it sells the dream of being good at the game, which keeps people grinding-and spending. It’s crazy to think how far we’ve come from the days of just playing games for fun. Now, every match feels like it’s designed for someone else’s benefit, whether that’s streamers, casual players, or the developers themselves. It’s not just a rigged system-it’s a whole rigged ecosystem. Thanks for bringing this up; it adds another layer to why these systems feel so wrong.

[@ruslanagadzhanyan2753]

I am by no means an average game, I am sweatlord and I know it, you know how I know that it is not about "variety" and all about stomping? I know it because people are mad about SBMM only when they can't drop nukes, go on a long streaks, when they blame Activision for not listening to them, when they try to call average gamer names, gaslight him into thinking that he is a problem and many, many more... it has never been about variety for people who are mad about SBMM and want it gone, it always been only about stomping. I don't like SBMM either, but here is a thing to understand, literally every single game with matchmaking have SBMM in pubs, I don't like SBMM, but I am not mad about its existence because I understand why it is here, I understand that it is a "necessary evil" sort to speak, I am not supposed to be in the lobby with average to below average player and neither do you.

[@xreve_]

It seems like there's a misunderstanding here. It's not about stomping or being a "sweatlord"-it's about how SBMM and EOMM manipulate the experience for everyone, no matter their skill level. The issue isn't that people are mad they can't drop nukes or go on long streaks, it's that the system forces matches to be artificially difficult for everyone at different times, just to keep people hooked. This creates a frustrating loop for players of all skill levels. I get that SBMM exists in many games, but that doesn't make it right or ideal. The problem with COD right now is that it's not about creating a fun, fair, and challenging experience. Instead, it feels more like the game is designed to control the outcome and keep you playing longer, even if it means ruining the overall enjoyment for players. It's about balancing fun and skill, not just making sure everyone feels "engaged," even at the cost of actual gameplay quality. So, I understand your point, but there's a bigger issue here that goes beyond just SBMM. I am also not mad at SBMM, I also mentioned that multiple times that the system has its place. Just not how it works with the systems behind it. It is artificial.

[@ruslanagadzhanyan2753]

@@xreve_ the thing is the game is pretty "layed back" for average to below average players, SBMM is basically shielding them from us and I agree that this is how it should be, we (people who are above 1.7 K/D) should not be placed with the people who have a K/D somewhere around 1.0, we should not be there and here is important part, SBMM is ruining fun for us (and we are a minority), average to below average players are mostly not affected, so the only people who are being negatively affected by this system are people who are better than average player, but not good enough to be considered "very good" players, yes it supposed to keep people engaged by... once again shielding them from us and that's how it should be. I remember I once played COD Mobile when I wasn't as good of a mobile player as I am now and I once was unlucky enough to face of against Faze (with real username, unique to pro players icons etc.), of course they rolled us, this was the moment I kinda realised that it shouldn't be like this and understood why "big" COD have a strict SBMM, because it was not a "learning experience" it is just a beat down, these players has far too advanced knowledge of the game for casuals to comprehend and you won't learn anything from this engagement simply because there is a wide knowledge gap between casuals and pros, as I said, it was not a "learning experience", it is a beat down.

[@Outright__]

As a 7 year old on my first 360, I never needed SBMM to play BO2.

[@ruslanagadzhanyan2753]

@ BO2 was released more than 10 years ago, times were different, players were different.

[@Outright__]

@@ruslanagadzhanyan2753 Agreed, gaming was so much more niche which would’ve resulted in more sweats… ironically the games more casual now.

[@fircommenrs]

Stop buying this dog shit with SBMM. I played modern warfare 2 (new one). Last cod I played before was black ops 2. So guess what? I felt SBMM shit. Never baying cod again until they get rid off it

[@xreve_]

I havent bought COD Ghosts when it came out, my last COD I bought was BO2. So I totally understand you, I just gave it a try since it was included in the Game Pass.

[@anthonywison1240]

So what you’re saying to only way for you to have fun as shit on people that are not as good as you That’s a lie I never spend money in the store only buy the game only money I’ve spent

[@xreve_]

I think you misunderstood what I’m trying to say. The issue isn’t about wanting to stomp less experienced players every game-that’s not fun for anyone, including me. The problem is that SBMM or EOMM creates an artificial system where every match is micromanaged to control outcomes, instead of letting games happen naturally. Multiple times I mentioned it in the video, and once explicitly explained why I do not want to stomp noobs. The issue also is this 2boxing. We never had this back in the day, it was literally impossible. It is possible now or was better said, because 2boxing existed. Then all the public lobbies got stomped by these people. That is stomping. Back in the day you were just thrown randomly into a lobby, you would not get stomped. For newer players, like you, this system puts just enough pressure on you to keep you engaged, but it’s still stressful because it doesn’t let you grow at your own pace. For experienced players, it feels punishing because the better you do, the harder the system pushes back. Nobody enjoys feeling like their performance is being manipulated, whether it’s to keep matches “close” or to enforce some kind of fairness. I’m advocating for a system where matches are more organic, where you can learn and improve naturally by facing a mix of skill levels. And honestly, resorting to cheating isn’t the answer-it only makes the experience worse for everyone, including casual players who just want to enjoy the game without all the manipulation. At the end of the day, my goal is a better experience for everyone, not just for one group.

[@anthonywison1240]

@@xreve_ I want to say thank you for answering me back and explain it to me. And not just making fun. Now I understand where you’re coming from And now we stop saying that I will definitely watch you from now on

[@xreve_]

@@anthonywison1240 No worries, I wouldn't make fun of you, no reason to. I'm glad I could explain my point of view and that you understand it better now. As for where that mindset comes from, I’d guess it's due to streamers and big content creators who 2box and stomp lobbies. Before the whole 2box thing, there was no way to play like that. Sure, there were exploits to play against literal bots in BO2 for real XP, but stomping lobbies was actually rare. For example, on a Saturday, I’d play for 8 hours. And if I was lucky, I might get one game where I went like 60-15 or dropped a nuke. But those 8 hours were a mixed experience. Sometimes, I’d do badly because there were better players, or my mates were way ahead of me. Other times, the games were balanced, and occasionally I’d dominate a bit. But that variety was key. And when I did get that 60-15, it felt earned, and it was amazing. Now, in BO6, I can get a 60-15 in my first two games because the system purposely puts me in with lower-skilled players. By the third game, I’d get stomped, and then it just cycles back and forth. That’s not how I want to play. I miss the old times, where I didn’t have to worry about stomping public lobbies. It just wasn’t the norm, and that’s all I care about-having a healthy, mixed variety in the game.

[@terrysanders7933]

Ping will never be king 😢 again

[@xreve_]

It could be if there would be no matchmaking based on different variables, and if lag compensation would not be a thing. Every game out there needs to take Titanfall 2 as a prime example of how a working netcode should look like in my opinion.

[@terrysanders7933]

@xreve_ exactly

[@IronKnee963]

No offense, but I feel like most of you are lying. You claim to have started with MW2 2009 and talk about wanting to get better with mechanics etc and the first thing you bring up is quick scoping? lol I never hear guys like you mention actually mechanics that mattered back in the day. The first and foremost thing you had to learn if you wanted to get better, is how to STRAFE JUMP. Being able to strafe allowed you to go places quicker and even access parts of the map you couldn't otherwise. I'm not even talking about out of map or tree glitches, but actual buildings you could scale and that were meant to be accessed. Perfect example would be overgrown. So many roofs are easily accessible by strafing and it 100% improved your gameplay if you knew how to do it. Another example would be the latter on High Rise which you could only jump to if you knew how to strafe. Or how about something as simple as finding the right sensitivity for you? I remember myself and everybody who started out mostly played with base sensi, until it felt sluggish and we experimented with what was best for us. Or what about nade spots? It just seems weird how none of the alleged OGs (to be fair you did mention later in the video you were 11 or something) mention actual things from the past besides the viral gimmicks like QS and boosting. Also, they didn't remove dedicated servers because players were playing without owning the game. They did it because people would've kept playing the old one instead of buying the new game, if the new game happens to suck. They never removed it from OG MW 2007 and it still works. Also, Ping was never King in the old COD's. LOBBY HOST was KING and then you had ping. Host advantage was a very annoying problem on console. Sorry for my rant, but these were just my thoughts while watching the video. BO2 actually ruined the franchise as far as rigging goes. Not just SBMM/EOMM, but they actually removed kill streaks completely and added a sight that can see-through walls and another target-finder sight that acted like a laserbeam with any LMG. That game brought the shift of completely hand-holding the casual scrub, while punishing the actual good players who wasted their life away playing the franchise for so long. My entire Pro clan from OG MW3 days couldn't compete in BO2 - that's how rigged it was. Every good player I know back then dropped the game - only to come back to Ghosts and guess what. The EOMM/Camper-friendly bs was gone and what happened? The new causal generation that started with BO2 (maybe played older titles as a child/little brother) started crying about the game and didn't spend money on micro-transactions - another thing they introduced with BO2. That's when the franchise took a full deep dive turn and never went back.

[@xreve_]

I get where you're coming from, but I’m not lying. I started with MW2, and yes, the first mechanic I was interested in was quickscoping. Strafing, however, was something I got introduced to later, specifically on dedicated servers. I still remember the guy's name: Arcflare. So just because I got into quickscoping first doesn't mean I ignored the important mechanics of the game. I actually know a fair bit about map mechanics too. For example, I’ve got a video from 2015 on my channel where I explore out-of-map areas on Karachi. I knew the spots-like the plane on Terminal, or the top of the containers on Skidrow. On Highrise, I was the sniper up on the roof, a spot that many people didn’t know how to get to. I also remember the ladder on Highrise, where I would just run and jump, and always die. Trickshot servers loved that spot, for sure. I was scratching the surface with mechanics in MW2, though. The goal of that video wasn’t to go into a deep dive, but I get the points you're bringing up. I always adjusted my sensitivity, that was the first thing I did, and grenade spots were definitely useful, but not everyone paid attention to them-some people just threw grenades. Like I said, the video wasn’t meant to be a deep dive into old mechanics. And as for why I didn’t mention these things in my video, it’s because they feel somewhat irrelevant to newer COD players. I assume we’re from the same era-the golden era of COD-but the truth is, many of the newer players don’t want to hear about it. They often don’t listen, have trouble understanding, or just refuse to accept different opinions. For example, I’ve explained multiple times that I don’t want to stomp players in public lobbies, and that I want authentic matchmaking, but no matter how many times I say it or explain it from different angles, people still don’t get it. They just respond with “get good” or “it’s not in the game for a reason.” You know what I mean? That’s why I didn’t dive into the older mechanics. But you’re right, comparing the differences between the old and new systems would make for an interesting video idea. As for the dedicated servers, you’re absolutely right. I should have explained that in more detail. With 4D1, you needed to use Steam, so they could see how many people were still playing, for a reason. And yes, if a new COD sucks, people go back to the old one, and that’s always been the case. And you’re also right about the host advantage. I remember being the host almost every time. p-host in the corner .. While ping was definitely important, host advantage was a big deal on console. But yes, if you had 20ms ping, you had a clear advantage over someone with 100ms-that’s the point I was trying to make. Don’t worry about the rant, I see it as constructive. I really appreciate the points you brought up, and I think it’s a good foundation for a discussion. You clearly have some experience, and I value the insight. And with BO2, I get it. It was probably the most popular COD for many, and it definitely shaped a lot of people’s childhoods. For me, though, Ghosts felt like the point where the series started to go downhill. I was having too much fun with BO2 at the time to notice the flaws, but I can see them now. It’s the same with today’s players-they don’t know better, just like we didn’t back then. But for me, after Ghosts, COD just never felt the same. Thanks again for the feedback-I really appreciate it!

[@JS-ys7to]

This is probably the first person that I've run across that had the same problem with Bo2 as me. And then improving with ghosts lol.

[@xreve_]

To me that is really interesting. I cannot explain how much I hated Ghosts. I cannot put it into words. It felt so different, I dont know what it was. But I guess I was blinded by BO2 and other saw the dark side of it, I gotta admit that. But it is so interesting to see all these different perspectives. One of my friends who loved MW3, hated BO2 and praised Ghosts and actually started to play competitively on console. Different opinions, different tastes. Thanks for the insight!

[@chrisupton6190]

Perhaps if movement exploits didn’t become so mainstream and prevalent/popular, and sweats didn’t become more prevalent and popular as a mentality, we wouldn’t have to deal with sbmm/eomm bullshit to ruin the game. That’s why I don’t really play with friends anymore in multiplayer, it’s why warzone sucks and is impossible to play and enjoy, and it’s why I’ve been playing older cod games more and more, the games had balance and more fun gameplay in general, the games didn’t have some dumbass “skillgap” bullshit movement exploits back in the original MODERN WARFARE trilogy, or BLACK OPS, or WW2, they only had that shit in exo suits which were ACTUALLY FUN unlike this slide cancelling and b hopping bullshit, there was a lot of community content that was just idiots fucking around with noob tubes and dumb crap like you mentioned in your intro. not anymore, now it’s just sweat sweat sweat 24/7 abuse these mechanics only used these meta guns etc… there isn’t any more fun in cod now and it’s so sad.

[@xreve_]

I totally get where you're coming from. The game’s shifted a lot, and it’s frustrating when the fun gets overshadowed by sweat and mechanics that aren’t even enjoyable for everyone. It feels like the focus has shifted from having a good time and experimenting with the game to just winning at all costs, using whatever works-whether it’s broken movement mechanics or the latest OP gun. You're right, the older COD games had a certain balance and fun that’s hard to find now. The community felt more relaxed, and it was just about enjoying the game with friends-sometimes that meant messing around with noob tubes or goofy stuff. Nowadays, everything feels hyper-competitive and optimized, and that can really kill the enjoyment. I miss those days too, when things weren’t so serious and we could just have fun with it. It’s sad that it’s come to this point where it’s all about skill gap and the grind. While not stomping on noobs, just having a mixed lobby, that is all. A lobby where you can try things out and have fun. Not a lobby that feels like youre playing competetive ranked tournaments.

[@chrisupton6190]

@ I mean the Omni movement is both a cool QOL update and a cool fun idea, but of course in our current gaming mentality and environment, someone has to abuse it to make the game harder for other players, and everyone is gonna copy that bullshit

[@onkelvesemir6027]

Geiles video dickerchen

[@anthonywison1240]

Imagine how you feel it’s worse for me do you think it will be fun if I play against player like you every game how much fun will I have getting shit ever game I started play 2 years ago you been play for 20 year

[@xreve_]

I understand where you’re coming from, and I get that constantly losing isn’t fun-nobody enjoys that. But that’s not what I’m saying at all. My point isn’t that I want to stomp less experienced players; it’s that the system should feel natural, not manipulated. Back in the day, you could run into players of all skill levels, and over time, you’d improve because you faced a mix of challenges.

[@johncrowley3322]

😂 cod isnt punishing skill its rewarding pay pigs/whales the more you spend the better more consistent your experience. Just like madden

[@xreve_]

Not really actively punishing, but you can feel it. And that is true, as far as I know, 50% of sales in Warzone come from 5% of the playerbase. Imagine that .. it is insane. They only bring out bundles because whales will buy them and it makes them the most profit. Most people do not know that but it is in every game with microtransactions. Mobile games are even worse. Same with FIFA right? Where you need to buy new packs for new players, and once the system knows you spent money and your team got better, it will force you to buy more microtransactions to keep up.

[@FadeMaster24]

Why are you nerds so obsessed???

[@xreve_]

It’s interesting you say that-why do you think so? Everyone has something they're passionate about, right? Whether it's a hobby, a sport, or a game. But if you're just tossing out a take with no real reason behind it, it kind of makes you wonder if there's anything that does matter to you enough to care about, you know? It’s hard to have a meaningful conversation if there's no substance to back up the opinion. Just a thought! But I am far from obsessed.

[@FadeMaster24]

@xreve_ BTW your xdefiant fail breakdown was on point

[@deathbox6944]

Def a dumb take but thats why youre a small ytber

[@xreve_]

Ah, I see we’ve got the internet expert here, huh? Don’t worry-your 10 seconds of attention mean a lot to me. Guess being a "small KZbinr" still got you to click, watch, and comment. Keep that energy up; it’s doing wonders for my engagement stats. Thanks for the free boost! And it is fine to be mediocre, not everyone can be better than average, keep your heads up :) Consistency is key ..

[@maryannguss9029]

Explain why genius. Saying it’s dumb with no explanation is dumber