Not every game has to be Fortnite. One perfect example is how bad Call of Duty crossovers are. The FPS' collaborations are so incredibly bizarre I can't help but wonder if they're intentionally trying to appeal to a demographic who might be too old to care.
Recently, it was revealed that Seth Rogen would be joining Warzone and Black Ops 6 as an Operator (skin). No weird gimmicks, not the actor playing a character. It is simply a Hollywood A-lister in a first-person shooter. Who is this even for?
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+ 2It's not even the first time Call of Duty players have scratched their heads at the bizarre directions the developers have taken while trying to become Fortnite "for adults." Not long ago, comedic duo Cheech and Chong were added to Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone. Listen, no one's denying their popularity or how loved they are in North America. But do you really think the average Call of Duty player cares about two comedians who peaked in the 70s and 80s?
Even if there have been more timely additions like Snoop Dogg, Nicki Minaj, or even WWE wrestlers like Cody Rhodes, Rey Mysterio, and Rhea Ripley, none of it screams Call of Duty. Fans are fed up, even once Warzone addicts like myself can admit that all these Operator skins feel so out of place and remove any sense of identity the franchise one had just to try and rack up some extra cash.
I don't blame the developers, sustaining a live-service game is tough and the market is overcrowded. Other competitors besides Fortnite have had to tap into the collaborations well, but they've done it in much more meaningful ways, without betraying the general aesthetic of their unique worlds.
One of my favorite battle royale games featuring well-executed crossovers is Apex Legends. They've had outfits inspired by other IPs, such as Seer's incredible Green Ranger (from Power Rangers) skin. But for the first proper collaboration, Respawn teamed up with Square Enix, bringing Final Fantasy VII items and skins to the battle royale.
click to enlarge + 2Characters like Horizon, Crypto, Valkyrie, and a bunch more received skins that paid tribute to Final Fantasy without feeling out of place. You could even get a Buster Sword Heirloom. It was a fantastic crossover that I wish more games could replicate.
Instead, Call of Duty is simply content with becoming Fortnite for boomers. They revere "4/20 day" like it's something most COD players care for. It's a bizarre strategy that feels out of touch, almost as if it was fabricated by a bunch of old hags who are desperate to see bigger and bigger revenue.
If you're into these sorts of collaborations in Warzone and Black Ops 6 (or whichever is the latest Call of Duty entrance) more power to you. I'm not even saying the franchise should be devoid of cool crossovers, but it would be much more interesting to see an actual effort to integrate them seamlessly into the Call of Duty aesthetic rather than having them be massive out-of-place ads.
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