This will be the first year, for as long as I can remember, where I won’t be buying a Call of Duty game at launch, if at all.
My younger self would have never imagined saying that one day, but here we are. From Finest Hour and Modern Warfare to World at War and Black Ops, Call of Duty was always my go-to FPS growing up; however, it has left me with no choice but to walk away, for now.
Call of Duty once carried a spark that would be impossible to resist. Whether it was an inviting single-player story, grounded combat, realistic environments, or an intriguing set of characters you could naturally bond with, it had it all.
Unfortunately, the qualities that made it the success it is today are no more. A combination of its out-of-touch vision, cringey gimmicks, and repetitive nature has seen the franchise become trapped in a downward spiral, subsequently pushing long-term fans like me further away.
It’s sad, of course, but that is the reality right now. Call of Duty has abandoned its true identity and roots, making it extremely difficult to resonate with anything it now looks to produce. The sweaty lobbies, the cheesy character callouts, the same mechanics and familiar features…I’m just over it.
To be fair, the devs over at Treyarch, Raven Software, and Activision do deserve some credit. They’ve clearly been taking community feedback on board since the Black Ops 7 Beta, having made a range of significant changes ahead of launch, with the removal of SBMM (Skill-based matchmaking) one of the most notable decisions.
While this is certainly promising and a refreshing change of stance, you would assume some of those decisions were possibly forced or accelerated by the emergence of Battlefield 6. Now, those of you who often read my articles or regularly watch the Gfinity Twitch streams will know that I have been addicted to BF6 since it was released. My review of the game was full of praise, and it is genuinely a breath of fresh air for the FPS scene.
If we’re going to address the elephant in the room, then yes, this is another key reason as to why I won’t be getting the new Call of Duty. Again, I couldn’t have imagined saying that a few years back, but honestly, Battlefield 6 has made it an incredibly easy decision. Whether it’s the grounded military feel, the authenticity of environments, or the satisfactory gunfights, BF6 combines all of the ingredients that make a First-Person Shooter great and executes them to perfection.
It has everything I look for in a modern FPS, and I’m completely hooked. Season 1 is here, with even more content arriving in the coming weeks and months. I simply don’t have the urge or the need to jump ship, so why would I? Ultimately, Battlefield 6 has earned my trust, time, and respect. Until I reach a point where I feel as if there is nothing more to gain, then I’ll be staying put.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: it’s going to have to take something special for Black Ops 7 to turn my head and lure me away from its main rival. It’s so weird saying that, because it always used to be the other way around, but the tables have well and truly been turned.
By the way, I’m not saying BO7 won’t be a success in its own right, because I think to an extent, it will. As I mentioned before, developers are making a bunch of positive tweaks to improve the overall experience, and admittedly, I did have a fun time in the Beta when the classic matchmaking style of older Call of Duty titles was introduced.
Make no mistake, what we have right now is healthy competition, regardless of which side of the fence you are on. Although I see myself being on the Battlefield 6 train for the foreseeable future, there will inevitably be a stop where I get off.
Call of Duty, this isn’t goodbye, it’s see you later.
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