Call of Duty has been around for over 20 years and during this time fans have gone through a lot with the series. However, what they really dislike is the development of the shooter, as it was once considered realistic – now absurd and colorful skins adorn the multiplayer.
What are fans complaining about? Primarily about the development of the shooter. In the early days of Call of Duty, the game was considered realistic and served as a direct competitor to Medal of Honor. Years later, little of that remains, as Activision has shifted its focus from realism to profit and has successfully implemented this with absurd skins.
For many, it’s clear: Fortnite is to blame, as they also continually bring wacky and colorful skins to their shop and are therefore very successful. Call of Duty followed suit and fans who loved the realism were left behind. They do not celebrate this development and reminisce about the past when everything was better.
Call of Duty has become the Fortnite for Adults
What is the current mood of the fans? They are dissatisfied with the current development of their favorite game. Especially in multiplayer, the absurd skins are noticeable. Reddit user G-Geef summarizes it aptly and over 9700 fans agree with him when he said: “To be honest, it has worked out pretty well for them. It turns out that positioning as ‘Fortnite for people who think they’re too old for Fortnite’ is very profitable.”
The absurd skins consist of brightly colored outfits, famous personalities from the stoner world or even cartoon characters like American Dad. If one were to compare Call of Duty: 1 with Black Ops 6, one might think they are games from two different titles.
However, the fans do not want to give up the shooter. There are many alternatives on the market that have a realistic touch (e.g., Arma 2, Hell Let Loose) but what Call of Duty does well is its user-friendliness.
It is very straightforward and easy to learn and offers something for every player through its many modes. Other shooters are more complex, and many older fans like Simalacrum (via Reddit) also don’t have the time to get into the more realistic shooters until they find them enjoyable. It is clear, however, that Fortnite played a significant role in influencing Call of Duty’s direction with its success through its skins.
In addition to the skins that also now adorn the famous Activision shooter, it is also the “Battle Royale” mode Warzone that Call of Duty has adopted from Fortnite. Activision has taken a great deal of inspiration from its competition to maintain its success.
With Black Ops 7, another installment of the shooter is set to be released in 2025, and many already know that Activision will also bring colorful skins to the shop here. Some fans at least recommend a similarly beginner-friendly alternative to Call of Duty, which is Battlefield 6. The shooter is also gearing up and so far has been well received by fans: I am Gen Z and I say: The movement of Battlefield 6 is great and should stay that way, but I can recommend a slower shooter to you Boomers
