How To Fix Long Matchmaking Times In MW3 & Warzone

Matchmaking in Call of Duty will always be a hotly debated topic, whether its the Skill Based Matchmaking (SBMM) causing problematic match-ups, or just failed connections, things have been a little bumpy to say the least.

However, Activision have been keen to clear up some of the confusion, having recently released a blog post that detailed everything that happens under the surface when it comes to matchmaking. So if you're wondering what is and isn't affecting your matchmaking, and how to fix those pesky wait times, here's what you need to know.

Long Queue Times In MW3 & Warzone: How To Fix

Neither Modern Warfare 3 or Warzone are going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, both games are still seeing a healthy concurrent player count so lack of available players isn't the issue. What might be, however, is your own personal internet connection or the game's servers. 

To check if your matchmaking times are being affected by server issues on Activision's side, you can check if the servers are down by heading to Activision's Online Services website, here. 

If all servers are online, and without issues, then the problem could be with your own connection. Check the stability of your own connection and, if needed, restart your router. 

How To Speed Up Matchmaking In MW3 & Warzone

Contrary to popular belief, there isn't a way to speed up your matchmaking outside of ensuring your connection is stable. Call of Duty's netcode often prioritizes stable connections or low ping to reduce latency. 

In a recent blog, Activision confirmed that canceling out of matchmaking search and restarting it, or even quitting "does not quicken the matchmaking process." An example they give is for players queuing for the “Rustment” playlist, which consists of Rust and Shipment in rotation. 

Players have been known to leave lobbies and matches early, hoping to queue for Shipment instead of Rust. According to Activision: "This creates a vacant spot on a team during an early stage of the match. As the matchmaking process may prioritize backfilling that spot, this could result in players perceiving that Rust is disproportionately selected over Shipment. TL;DR – trying to cherry-pick maps may have an unexpected result."

So, in order to speed up matchmaking for any playlist, the best thing you can do is ensure that your internet connection is as stable as possible.