Battlefield 6 has SBMM but doesn't prioritize it

The first open beta round for Battlefield 6 has been wildly successful, so much so that EA’s stock price has reached an all time high. The multiplayer beta featured several different game modes for players to try out. While the response has been mostly positive, some players have wondered why lobbies tend to disband after every match. The lead producer for Battlefield has shared insight on why that might be, and what criterion the game uses for matchmaking.

In a response to a comment on X, DICE’s David Sirland stated that just like previous titles, the matchmaking in Battlefield 6 prioritizes ping and time to game, above anything else. While the game does have skill-based matchmaking (SBMM), it is far down the list. Sirland explained that the large multiplayer modes need “a spread of skill to work well,” which is why the matchmaker balances teams evenly considering the skill levels.

This method of matchmaking is in line with what EA had originally confirmed, though at the time, it was unclear that SBMM would be lowest on the priority list. The four key areas that matchmaking focuses on are ping, player location, server availability, and then some skill factor.

Regardless, players have had a great time playing Battlefield 6. Shortly after launch, the open beta crossed 500,000 concurrent players on Steam. There were some instances of cheating as well despite the kernel level anti-cheat system, which blocked over 330,000 cheaters.

Those who missed out on the open beta will get another shot starting August 14. This time, the beta will last longer, ending on August 17. Battlefield 6 will launch on October 10 and is available for pre-order on all platforms. There is a Standard Edition and a Phantom Edition that cost $70 and $100 respectively.