People say competition is a good thing, and in the world of video games it’s a phrase that history has proven correct over, and over, and again. This has happened once more with Call of Duty, which has done a mighty U-turn in regard to its approach to paid cosmetics in the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
First, a bit of context. You may have seen all manner of wacky, out-there skins popping up across recent Call of Duty games and Warzone. Beavis and Butthead, American Dad, and Nicki Minaj have all grabbed rifles and taken to the front lines. Snoop Dogg has shown up, as has Messi. Cheap looking Fallout vault suits have made a wasteland of what is left of the series’ visual identity.
The reason why these have become so popular is multifaceted but to put it quickly and simply it’s because they make money, and because it pushes Call of Duty further towards the cosmetic goldmine that is Fortnite. This process is not solely linked to Call of Duty, and has hence been dubbed ‘Fortnitification’ : the constant chase to make metaverses of online games.
An evening in an FPS is no longer just a tense firefight, it’s an endeavor of self-expression. A way for you to champion your fandom to the millions of other players doing the same, the developer and publisher profiting nicely from the nurtured culture of seasonal spending.