Call of Duty public multiplayer needs to feel casual again.

For many of us, the excitement of classic Call of Duty came from the unpredictability. You could dominate one match, struggle in the next, and meet all kinds of players along the way. That variety made the experience memorable and gave you a reason to keep playing.

Former Call of Duty developer Brian Bright recently shared that his team’s work on NX1 focused on ping and region. He also stated that Activision eventually began hiring data scientists who worked with its marketing department to push for more skill-based matchmaking. His statement raises serious questions about how matchmaking priorities evolved.

For players like us, today’s public matches too often feel like the same competitive experience on repeat. Experimenting with a different weapon, relaxing after work, or playing with friends of different skill levels can become frustrating. When every lobby feels like another test, the fun starts to disappear.

We are asking Activision and Call of Duty’s development teams to remove skill-based matchmaking from standard, unranked public playlists and prioritize connection quality. Keep skill-based competition in Ranked Play, where players deliberately choose that experience.

We also want clear communication about how matchmaking works and meaningful opportunities for the community to test alternatives.

Call of Duty became part of our lives because it was fun, social, and unpredictable. It’s time to bring that feeling back.