Call of Duty is a difficult franchise to place within the gaming industry today. On one hand, it is a juggernaut that continues to grow in popularity with each passing day. On the other hand, older fans think that the franchise is the stalest and most mind-numbingly saturated it has ever been in its long-running history.
Modern Warfare 3, in particular, has been a real low point for the series, and with the announcement of the game’s fourth season, people are beginning to realize that the series is simply chasing trends and following in the footsteps of better and more successful franchises such as Fortnite.
Season 4 Features an “Emoji-Face” Operator Skin, and Fans Are Understandably Frustrated
The reveal of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone‘s fourth season has been somewhat difficult for fans of the series to process. From bringing back an iconic character to life for no discernible reason to having a collaboration with Gundam of all things, people are unable to understand just what Activision is doing with the series.
Now, the latest and greatest reveal of this season, in the worst possible way, has decided to appear before humanity. An Emoji-face operator skin, as X/Twitter user @DETONATEDcom shared. It well and truly cannot get any worse than this.
#ModernWarfare3 Season 4 is getting "Emoji-face" Operator Skins and its something straight out of a nightmare 😜 pic.twitter.com/JAzAoGFHee
— DETONATED (@DETONATEDcom) May 20, 2024
It seems to many like a monster that would pop up in the next Garten of Banban or some C-tier horror flick where the main characters defeat it with the “power of friendship.”
Reactions to the reveal, as one would expect, vary from disbelief to concerns for the series’ future due to a perceived shift in style to appeal more to a younger demographic and potentially emulate Fortnite.
Never beating the fortnite allegations
— Gabriel c (@glc1588) May 20, 2024
Remember the Nicki Minaj Operator Bundle? This is the next stage of that evolution. But, at the same time, many are saddened to see their favourite franchise like this. After all, these fun and quirky additions were never part of the identity that the brand built for itself over the years.
The Older Style of Call of Duty Games is Seemingly Needed Now More than Ever
The newer titles, particularly the Modern Warfare Reboot trilogy, have their fair share of good qualities that can sometimes make up for everything else fans get these days. Remember, Modern Warfare 2019 gave us a great peek into what the series can be in the modern era with its mission, Clean House.
However, it’s become clear that, in the past few years, the franchise has stopped taking risks with itself and has settled into the groove of giving its players titbits of the glorious days of old, giving them hopes for a return, only to take it away.
Perhaps it’s a by-product of Warzone being so successful for the franchise, but right now, many fans think that Call of Duty has lost its identity completely.
With that said, what do you think of the Season 4 reveals? Is Call of Duty truly as stagnant as people make it out to be? Let us know in the comments below.
