There’s good news for all CoD fans who are annoyed by brand crossovers.
American Dad, Beavis and Butthead, the Ninja Turtles – Call of Duty features many different brands that have nothing to do with even remotely authentic military shooters. Many players have been unhappy about this for some time, prompting Activision to pull the emergency brake on skins just a few weeks ago.
Now there are new statements from the developers on the subject. The so-called Carry-Forward program allows the colorful skins in Black Ops 6 and gives players a fresh start with Black Ops 7.
More Black Ops without the bells and whistles
To prevent Nuketown from looking like Comic Con again six months after the release of Black Ops 7, the developers have apparently rethought their crossover strategy.
In interview with Dexerto, Treyarch’s Senior Director of Production, Yale Miller, reveals that previously planned crossovers have been canceled:
There were opportunities that we had in mind, but after a few discussions, we rejected them outright. Big, big brands, big projects, and we said, “No, we’re not doing that because it just doesn’t fit with us.”
However, Miller does not reveal which collaborations have been canceled. He goes on to explain that they are looking for skins that are more “down-to-earth,” i.e., that fit with Black Ops. He clarifies:
We want to stick to things that we can say with a clear conscience, “Yes, that feels like Black Ops.” That’s really our goal. And I think that’s a good clarification of “down-to-earth.”
However, Miller does not reveal exactly what this means for the cosmetics in Black Ops 7. The shooter is scheduled for release on November 14, 2025.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has a very futuristic setting again compared to its predecessor, which means that the skins can be a little more extravagant. It’s unlikely that Activision will completely forego crossovers. According to Miller, however, more attention will be paid to compatibility with Call of Duty when selecting partners.
