A new title is entering the ring of shooters and is set to follow a trend that the newly released XDefiant has been receiving both praise and backlash for; Digital Cybercherries’ Hypercharge: Unboxed launches on Xbox imminently without one staple feature.
Just like Ubisoft’s shooter, the new action figure game won’t feature skill-based matchmaking (SBMM), a mechanic that has been a topic of heated debate for a long time, particularly within the Call of Duty community. Now the question remains whether Black Ops 6 will follow this SBMM-free trend.
Hypercharge: Unboxed Is ‘All About the Fun’
Digital Cybercherries’ Hypercharge is a 90s-inspired first- and third-person shooter in which players assume the role of action figures. In the style of Toy Story, players face off against NPCs and player-controlled toys.
The shooter, which FandomWire critic Daniel Boyd regards as one of the most underrated games from recent years, won’t feature skill-based matchmaking in its PvP mode. Stating that “it’s all about fun,” the developers confirmed this in a recent post on X.
Our action figure game will not have SBMM (Skill-based matchmaking).
Just 90s-inspired jumpin', shootin', and good times. It's all about the fun! #xbox pic.twitter.com/eFZIs5pmM3
— Hypercharge | Pre-order now on Xbox! (@HyperchargeGame) May 24, 2024
Skill-based matchmaking, or SBMM for short, is a feature that matches players against opponents who are at a similar skill level. This means beginners will play against equally inexperienced players, while advanced players will face similarly experienced opponents.
With this, the new action figure shooter is following in the footsteps of XDefiant. Ubisoft’s recently released first-person shooter doesn’t feature skill-based matchmaking past level 25. While beginners will still be matched with players on the same level, anyone on level 25 or higher will be matched with players of all levels.
Thanks to XDefiant, The Skill-Based Matchmaking Debate Goes On
Ubisoft’s decision to omit skill-based matchmaking in XDefiant has caused both backlash and praise among gamers. While some are glad that casual games allow them to relax and enjoy a more casual experience, others have complained about an imbalanced experience as they have to team up with unskilled players or face off against overpowered opponents.
This debate is not new to the Call of Duty community. Activision Blizzard’s shooter has long been at the center of a heated discussion surrounding skill-based matchmaking. As a response to the ongoing debate, Activision Blizzard recently explained the matchmaking process and how players’ skills play into it.
While the team refrained from making a clear announcement about the future of skill-based matchmaking, it stated that this feature helps retain players who stay engaged for longer if they play against similarly skilled opponents.
With both XDefiant and now Hypercharge taking the SBMM-free route, one might wonder whether Black Ops 6 could follow a similar path. Given Activision’s long-running commitment to this feature, it is unlikely the upcoming title in the series will omit it, despite the ongoing debate. However, it remains to be seen if the developer will change its mind on the topic.
How do you feel about skill-based matchmaking? Are you happy both the new shooters are omitting this feature, and would you like to see Black Ops 6 follow this path as well? Let us know in the comments below.
