CoD fans are tired: goofy collabs, aggressive monetization, and cheating
The big Call of Duty update brings new collaboration, maps, weapons, and Season 2 Reloaded . However, fans aren’t happy. They are tired of unnecessary crossovers, high game costs, and the ongoing cheating issue.
Table of Contents
Key takeaways:
- Another lighthearted crossover is on its way to Call of Duty, once again sparking community discussions about the state of the game.
- Activision’s aggressive monetization remains as relentless as ever.
- The bigger issue, however, is the rampant cheating in Ranked Mode, which has gone unchecked for months with no official response from Activision.
A major Call of Duty patch is set to launch on February 20, introducing the Reloaded version of Season 2. This update brings the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collaboration along with new game modes, maps, weapons, and a variety of cosmetics. However, instead of excitement, the community’s frustration has only grown. Many feel that despite the “Reloaded” branding, nothing has truly changed. In fact, everything remains just as it was before. And that’s not good news.
Let’s explore why the CoD community is outraged over the state of the game and why some influencers are even calling for a boycott.
Related posts:
CoD’s crossover epidemic
With the recent TMNT collaboration, the CoD community has once again sparked a debate about the crossover epidemic. Does Call of Duty really need so many crossovers? How frequently should they happen, and what kind of content should they include?
Pop culture crossovers are nothing new in the CoD franchise. Shredder, Squid Game, Terminator, Diablo, The Walking Dead, and Michael Myers are just a few examples. Whether players love or hate them, these collaborations are here to stay—because they make money. The days of Call of Duty being a grounded war simulator are long gone.
That said, a successful game still needs a clear identity and style. Not every crossover fits the franchise. While some collaborations introduce fantasy elements, they at least maintain a darker, more serious tone, even if they aren’t entirely realistic. Old-school players may argue that these additions ruin the original CoD atmosphere, and while that may be true to some extent, the game still holds onto its overall tone.
Many players have pointed out that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles aren’t nearly as serious as even their vis-a-vis, Shredder. This could further blur the identity of the CoD franchise, making it feel even more like Fortnite.
Collaborations aren’t the biggest problem regarding a game’s overall health. Sure, they can sometimes feel excessive or out of place, but they’ve become a common trend in multiplayer games. Call of Duty isn’t the only franchise using crossovers as a major marketing tool—you’ll see the same strategy in most Activision Blizzard games, as well as in Fortnite or Minecraft. At this point, it’s rare to find a multiplayer game that doesn’t include some crossover events.
Activision’s monetization
Call of Duty was developed by Activision, a company widely criticized for its questionable and aggressive monetization strategies. While it may not be as infamous as EA in this regard, Activision’s reputation is far from spotless.
CoD isn’t the only franchise affected by this approach. Similar tactics are evident in Diablo, Overwatch, Hearthstone, and other Activision-owned titles. Players are required to purchase the game itself, but that’s just the beginning—there’s also a battle pass, expensive cosmetic items, and microtransactions that often cost more than the game itself. Developers frequently introduce pay-to-win mechanics, offering minor in-game advantages to those willing to spend extra money. While this is a highly profitable strategy, it creates an unfair experience, particularly repellent for new players.
Unfortunately, none of this is surprising for CoD’s fans, and aggressive monetization has become increasingly common across the gaming industry. However, the real issue starts when these practices are combined with the game’s rampant cheating problem, which has persisted for months, making it nearly unplayable for many players. So, what are we paying for?
Call of Duty Cheating problem
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is in a crisis due to widespread cheating. Players are dealing with aim hacks, wall hacks, and exploits that allow cheaters to kick others mid-game. The problem is especially bad in Ranked Mode, where competitive integrity is completely ruined.
Cheating is nothing new in online shooters. Games like Counter-Strike, Destiny 2, and Fortnite have all faced similar challenges. The difference? They addressed the issue with effective anti-cheat solutions. Meanwhile, Activision has been slow to respond. The cheating problem has been around for months, yet there’s still no meaningful fix.
What makes it even worse is Activision’s silence. The company acts as if nothing is wrong—no proper statement, no promises to fix the issue soon. Instead of focusing on improving the game, they continue pushing crossover content and aggressive monetization despite the game’s current broken state.
Conclusions
Critiquing the games we love is important, but that criticism shouldn’t turn into outright hate—especially toward individual developers. The gaming industry is vast, and most Call of Duty developers are simply doing their jobs. They have no control over monetization policies, which are decisions made at the corporate level. Likewise, most developers aren’t responsible for fixing every exploit that leads to cheating. The real issue lies with the executive’s unwillingness to make anti-cheat measures a top priority. Probably, because Activision higher-ups don’t even play the game.
Hopefully, Activision will address the cheating problem sooner rather than later so we can enjoy the game at its best. We strongly oppose cheating and using third-party software to gain an unfair in-game advantage. Our CoD boosters play fair, using no cheats—only their skill and experience to help you achieve your desired ranks.
Comments