While some pro CoD players are worried about a perk change, many casual players are looking for an experience that limits the professional play experience. While Modern Warfare 2019 offered a CDL playlist, it only featured the rules of pro players and no special ranks, calling cards, or rivalry possibilities that the other versions of the mode offered. Black Ops 2-4, on the other hand, all included a Ranked Play variant. According to David Vonderhaar, Black Ops Cold War will be no different.

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In an interview captured by CDL Intel, which provides news on the CoD eSports scene, Vahn all but confirms the addition. Within the discussion, Vahn attempts to “say something without saying anything” in the traditional wink and nudge fashion shown from Treyarch developers. He makes the fair point when he asks the interviewer if he has “seen a Black Ops game without a competitive agenda,” all but ensuring that the mode will arrive at some point in Black Ops Cold War’s life cycle.

Whether it comes at launch or later is unclear, but regardless, fans who thrive in competition settings will be happy to see the Ranked option come to the game. Ranked Play should also be the only mode where fans are not bothered by Black Ops Cold War’s disbanding lobbies, as that is expected anyway with players climbing up the ranked ladder. The lobby disband occurrence that has caused quite the stir among beta players, however. This “feature” was not included in the alpha but was added into the beta for some unknown reason, likely to discourage aggressive in-game chats to continue on for too long at the cost of stopping rematches and friendly competitions.

While Ranked Play is no doubt a positive addition, its inclusion is sure to start a new chapter in the ongoing Black Ops Cold War skill-based matchmaking debate. Love or hate the mechanic, the inclusion of Ranked Play certainly makes SBMM in casual play more questionable. After all, when there is a mode designed around close, extremely fair games, keeping strict rules in normal multiplayer seems a bit less necessary. Treyarch will surely hear some more fan complaints regarding SBMM in Black Ops Cold War, likely throughout the game’s entire lifecycle if changes are not made.

Still, Ranked Play is on the way to Black Ops Cold War, and its inclusion is undeniably beneficial for the game’s future. For PS4 players who want practice and have pre-ordered the game, they can jump into the much-improved beta of Black Ops Cold War right this minute.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War will be available November 13th on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X.

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