Activision Responds to Call of Duty Identity Crisis: Black Ops 6 Skins and Weapons Won’t Transfer to Black Ops 7

Activision Addresses Call of Duty’s Identity Crisis in Recent Blog Post

In a recent blog update, Activision, the publisher behind the Call of Duty franchise, acknowledged the ongoing discussions regarding the series’ perceived identity crisis. Notably, it was confirmed that “operators, operator skins, and weapons from Black Ops 6 will no longer carry forward into Black Ops 7.”

Call of Duty’s Evolving Landscape

This announcement may come as a surprise to many. The dialogue surrounding Call of Duty’s evolution has been prevalent for some time, especially since the introduction of celebrity operator skins and iconic fictional characters, resembling a more mature twist on Fortnite’s approach to character diversity. This sentiment is not particularly new within the gaming community.

The recent transition of the Battlefield series, particularly Battlefield 6, has underscored a growing desire among players for authenticity in military shooters. Many fans appear disenchanted with the idea of playing as characters like Cheech and Chong, Rambo, or Nicki Minaj in scenarios requiring a more realistic portrayal of combat. In this light, Activision seems poised to reiterate that Call of Duty is returning to its foundations.

“First off, thank you. Call of Duty has always been fueled by the community. Every match, every clip, every bit of feedback; you’ve shaped this franchise right alongside us. We know there’s been a lot of conversation recently about the identity of Call of Duty. Some of you have… pic.twitter.com/q9egebdlMD

— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) August 26, 2025

Activision’s Commitment to Core Values

“We understand there have been concerns about the essence of Call of Duty, ”Activision stated.“Some players feel we have veered away from what made the franchise special—intense, immersive gameplay that feels grounded in reality. We are listening to this feedback, and it resonates deeply with us.”

The publisher highlighted that Treyarch and Raven’s guiding principle in developing Black Ops 7 is to craft a spiritual successor to the fan-favorite Black Ops 2—one of the most cherished installments in the franchise’s history. While striving for this objective, they emphasized taking “big swings”to innovate without fully abandoning the essence of the series.

No Carry Over: A Fresh Start for Black Ops 7

Whether Treyarch and Raven succeed in capturing Black Ops 2’s spirit remains an open question. However, they are determined to ensure that Black Ops 7 stands apart, which is why the previously mentioned cancellation of carry-forward content from Black Ops 6 is crucial. Activision has explained, “Black Ops 7 must maintain authenticity to the Call of Duty experience and its premise.”In contrast, the existing content from Black Ops 6 will still be accessible in Warzone, meaning players can utilize their operators, skins, and weapons from the prior game in that environment.

What Lies Ahead for the Franchise

Further details about how Black Ops 7 plans to embody the distinct Call of Duty identity—characterized as “immersive, intense, visceral, and grounded”—will be unveiled soon. Activision reminded fans of the upcoming Call of Duty NEXT event scheduled for September 30, which will feature the multiplayer reveal for Black Ops 7, followed by its first beta the next weekend.

While this blog post articulates what Activision believes players want to hear, it remains to be seen if mere words will placate those who feel the franchise has strayed from its core identity. Players will be attentive to the actual execution, including the nature of collaborations within Black Ops 7, and whether they will continue to see celebrity costumes and fantastical characters in multiplayer settings. It should be noted that while there’s nothing inherently wrong with unique skins, a segment of the community appears to prefer a more traditional approach.

Moreover, the blog fails to clarify whether such collaborations will be entirely absent in Black Ops 7, suggesting that players seeking these experiences may still find them in Warzone.

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