CoD: Activision Reportedly Shutting Down SBMM Warzone Site
| Tags: Activision, Call of Duty
| Author Charlie Cater
The helpful online Warzone tool is reportedly being shut down by Activision.
Since Warzone’s release, skill-based matchmaking has been on the lips of every single player. While a legitimate ranked mode is missing from the game, players feel that there is some form of SBMM putting them in lobbies with similarly skilled players.
Fans and players have tried to find evidence of this. Services such as SBMM Warzone have come in to help the community. By using Activision’s API (Application Programming Interface), they can see the skill level of every lobby, allowing players to check the difficulty of their games. However, it seems that Activision has requested them to shut down.
Activision’s lawyers reached out and asked us to shut down https://t.co/aX094FtqB8. According to their ToS, we can’t use their API. We’ve tried to reach them multiple times to become Partners, now is our last shot. Anyone working at #Activision, please reach out [1/7] ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/EBFNSee2R7
— Warzone Stats Tracker | Best Warzone Loadouts (@WZStatsGG) March 26, 2021
The creators of SBMM Warzone, Ben and Dav, explained how Activision has requested them to shut down by Monday or face legal action. They detailed how Activision wished to “guarantee their players' privacy”. While they agreed this is needed, becoming partners seemed like a better idea to them. After reportedly trying to reach Activision multiple times to discuss a possible partnership, no response was heard. Therefore, they are willing to shut down if need be.
Community reaction
SBMM Warzone has been a great tool for the Warzone community. While it has caused controversy at times, it also makes those Warzone wins even sweeter when you see it was a Diamond lobby.
Popular YouTuber and London Royal Ravens co-owner Vikkstar123 commented on the situation. He said how SBMM Warzone “is a great asset”, and that he “intends to let Activision know this.”
Sorry to see this happening, your site is a great asset, especially while no ranked system yet exists for Warzone. I intend to let Activision know this.
— Vikkstar123 ★ (@Vikkstar123) March 26, 2021
With Vikkstar being one of the only public figures with a direct line of communication to Activision, he seems to be the only hope for the community. A major Warzone update expected soon with a new map. So we can hope to see a Ranked Mode then if SBMM Warzone and Activision can come to an agreement.