THE FINALS has SBMM, here’s what you need to know

Skill Based Matchmaking is an important part of any online game like THE FINALS as it prevents higher-tiered players from being paired up against those slightly newer to the game.

Without SBMM, it'd likely deter players who aren’t quite as familiar with gameplay from trying their hand - allowing players to jump on even if they’ve come to the party a season late out of launch.

It also allows players to gradually improve, making the learning curve less steep - so here's a rundown of how it all works in THE FINALS. 

Here’s how SBMM works

SBMM will match players in games with other players who have a similar skill level. This is worked out whilst you're playing the game, so if you perform well, then your matchmaking will reflect it putting you up against players of a similar quality. 

It’s most noticeable if you go on a bit of a run, winning a few games and tearing up the opposition, as you’ll then begin to struggle a bit more. 

How SBMM affects gameplay in THE FINALS

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In a patch shortly after the game was first released in December 2023, the developer stated "Matchmaking times are likely to be ever so slightly longer, but you should find yourselves in slightly closer matches." This alludes to how the SBMM works in THE FINALS, and how the developer tweaks the game to keep it fair. Although, this was not without criticism as seen in this Reddit thread. 

Keep reading GGRecon for more helpful THE FINALS guides. We’ve also covered how the ranked system works, listed all of the maps as well as all the modes, and given it our full review treatment too.