Attention aroundCall of Dutyis starting to shift away fromBlack Ops 6as players gear up for more information on the upcomingBlack Ops 7. While it might be expected thatBlack Ops 6would quietly sail into the sunset, the title has been at the middle of some pretty big controversies over the past few months. Activision is adding a huge range ofcrossover content toBlack Ops 6, often including things like operator skins that completely go against any semblance of immersive themes or realistic visuals thatCoDhas.
Out-of-place cosmetics are not an issue that is limited toCall of Duty: Black Ops 6, however, speaking to a much larger issue that has divided the franchise’s fan base for quite some time. This issue seems to have come to a head recently, with a real disconnect starting to take hold betweenCoD’s initial identity and its modern practices. The longstanding rivalry betweenCall of DutyandBattlefieldis set to be reignited with the upcoming launch ofBattlefield 6, and this game could win a lot of fans over by simply maintaining a gritty and grounded overall theme with its own customization.
Call of Duty’s Identity Crisis Could Be Battlefield’s Gain
The type of content associated withCall of Dutyhas shifted dramatically in recent years. Starting around the time of the franchise’s divisive transition into live service content delivery in 2019, things like battle passes and a massive in-game store have dominated the series. Like many other big franchises, it is no secret thatCall of Dutyis attempting to emulate the massively successful business model ofFortnite, which extends to consistent content collaboration with other IPs.
Call of Dutyhas introduced a massive range of crossover content because of this, collaborating with film, TV, and real-world celebrities. This has become more and more invasive and against the grain of a given game’s more grounded setting over time, with heavily stylizedBeavis and Butt-HeadandAmerican Dadskins being added toBlack Ops 6over the past few weeks.CoDcollaborative content is seemingly becoming more and more on-the-nose with how departed it can be from the franchise’s usual graphics and themes, turning the shooter series into a cultural mishmash of conflicting aesthetics.
The sentiment around these skins and weapons is only worsening asCall of Dutyleans further into them, with a lot of division currently circulating aroundBO6because of it. With it becoming a growing opinion thatCall of Dutymay have jumped the shark with its frequency of conflicting collaborations, the ball is firmly inBattlefield’s court to go against the grain of this industry-wide pattern.Battlefieldstands as arguably the most longstanding and relevant directcompetitor toCall of Duty, making the upcoming launch ofBattlefield 6one of the most important showdowns in both franchises' histories.
While unconfirmed,Battlefield 6is expected to launch around November 2025, with current reports suggesting the game will release no later than March 2026.
Battlefield 6’s Focus on Tradition Should Be a Perfect Match For More Grounded Experiences
Battlefield 2042was no stranger to controversy itself, and the way DICE handled the concept of in-game operators for the title was a particular point of discussion. Reports suggest thatBattlefield 6is taking things back to basics with grounded soldiers as opposed to exaggerated specialist operators, alongside things like a more traditional class system. With DICE citing the likes ofBattlefield 3and4as the major inspirations forBF6, the game can surely maintain a more gritty and consistent in-game feel away from the pitfalls of whatCoDis currently facing.
Of course,Battlefield 6can still possess an engaging level of customizationand even in-store content, but this can be achieved while staying true to the themes and immersive qualities of the game. This seems to be quite a hot-button issue forCall of Dutyat the moment, and DICE can get an easy victory over the Activision giant by simply maintaining a level of consistency for its in-game experiences that does not lean into things like massively outlandish skins and collaborations.
