Call Of Duty crossovers like WWE and Gundam are ruining the game

A reader feels that the increasing fantastical crossovers and skins for Call Of Duty are diluting the experience, in a rush to be more like Fortnite.

The easiest way to tell if a game is popular or not is what percentage of players are complaining about it on a regular basis. The higher the percentage, the bigger and more successful the game is, which makes me wary of moaning about Call Of Duty, because I don’t want to come across as one of those sort of fans.

But I’ve just heard about the WWE crossover with Call Of Duty and for me that’s the tipping point. I’m not saying that’s the dumbest crossover they’ve ever done – that’s still probably Nicki Minaj – but there’s been so many completely random additions now, that I feel it’s out of control and it’s becoming impossible to take the game seriously.

They’re obvious trying to copy Fortnite but things started off reasonably fine, with Rambo and Die Hard. But then they went from there to Judge Dredd and Scream, which is a bit more random and not really very compatible with Call Of Duty. But after that things were just off the chain, with Attack On Titan, Godzilla, and Terminator. All of which, I would say, are a terrible fit for Call Of Duty.

After that we got Shredder from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, then The Boys – most of which have zero need to use a gun, Tomb Raider, Spawn, and He-Man. Doom at least makes some sense but Lilith from Diablo 4 as an operator? I don’t care if Microsoft does own Blizzard, that’s just dumb.

It all seems so random and it’s only getting worse with Warhammer, Gundam, and now WWE. I mean… Gundam?! Call Of Duty is the least anime thing ever and those robots are meant to be, what? 50 foot high or more? How does it make any sense wandering round as one in Call Of Duty?

Modern Warfare 3 was terrible, so we’ve had more things to worry out than silly crossovers lately, but I’m hoping that this year’s Black Ops 6 will be a return to form for the series. What I’m also hoping is that the random crossovers stop.

It’s about to be a smackdown ð¥

WWE is bringing its best to the ring in Call of Duty Season 5 starting July 24 ð¤¼ââï¸ pic.twitter.com/VE0uX6GfOF

— Call of Duty UK (@CallofDutyUK) July 12, 2024

I do not want to be playing as Luke Skywalker or Frodo Baggins in Call Of Duty, or whatever other random pop culture icon they drag up next (rumours say Deadpool and Wolverine are next).

Call Of Duty has never been a serious military simulation but I feel it has always kept a good balance between realism and fantasy. It’s grounded to a degree, but it doesn’t let that handicap it, and always puts being a fun video game above everything.

But it has a tone and atmosphere that I think is distinct and it’s being worn away by all these ridiculous crossover that are only in there so Activision Blizzard can make some easy money, which to them is apparently much more important than the integrity of the game.

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So yes, I’m moaning about Call Of Duty but I do feel that things are getting worse with every new skin they add. With Black Ops 6 I’d like to see them take a step back and try to stick with the original concept of an arcade military sim, not a wrestling game or a mech simulator.

By reader Xane