Because Destiny 2 is intended to be a looter-shooter with MMO elements, it features all sorts of game modes for players to tackle, ranging from PvE to PvP with something in-between. For PvE, players can delve into Dungeons, take on full Raids, or venture into the various playlist activities like Strikes and Nightfalls. For PvP, the selection is a narrower despite there being different game modes in the Crucible on a rotation, but things are supposed tp get better in Year 5.
Season 17 will feature a new PvP map for Destiny 2, which is something fans have been waiting on since the release of the Shadowkeep expansion in 2019, and Iron Banner changes are on the way. Season of the Risen's storyline even makes changes to Iron Banner more lore-friendly by stating that Empress Caiatl has her own ideas to improve Saladin's presence in the Crucible, and players should expect a new vendor and reputation system to tag along. Still, recent complaints about matchmaking issues could lead to Bungie reissuing the SBMM system, but that could be good compared to what's happening now.
Why SBMM in Destiny 2 Could Improve Upon The Current System
Recently, the Destiny 2 community has been pointing out increasingly inconsistent matchmaking, with teams and lobbies being formed in a way that often guarantees one side will win over the other. Essentially, players are noticing that the matchmaking system tends to make teams with highly skilled players against those who are not as good, resulting in unbalanced matches that either end very soon or drag on for way too long. Some Crucible fans may have been under the impression that the skill-based matchmaking was active.
To these issues and assumptions, Bungie responded saying that the matchmaking system the game currently relies on doesn't revolve around the skills of every single player when it comes to forming teams. In fact, SBMM was turned off several years ago, and it is still inactive for most Crucible playlists as a result of the feedback from top-level players back then. However, the current situation has seen complaints from players who belong to all tiers of skill, as matches are so unbalanced that one team steamrolls to victory with no chance of coming back for the losing one. SBMM is used by games like those in the Call of Duty series to avoid just that.
Yet, without SBMM, it's virtually impossible to prevent the current system from forming lobbies and teams as it has been, meaning there's room for the skill-based selection possibly becoming a thing again. Allocating skill levels for all players is only possible through SBMM, and though it has its cons, it's probably the lesser of two evils when it comes to the future of Destiny 2's Crucible.
With SBMM active, matches would be more balanced in general, and this change could give Bungie some time to come up with a different solution. Destiny 2 is not a game with a focus on competitive modes, but some players have been pointing out that it could use a rank-based system akin to titles like League of Legends or Rocket League. Ultimately, SBMM is not a bad thing when the alternative is uneven matches that can drag on for minutes, especially so in Iron Banner, further punishing the losing team.
Destiny 2 is now available on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.