I have mixed feelings about Call of Duty’s ‘Carry Forward’ policy, but I’m glad Treyarch changed up this operator skin

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Black Ops 2.

In my explorations through the annals of Black Ops lore, I’ve encountered a recurring figure named T.E.D.D., who has maintained an eerie, apocalyptic appearance throughout. His visage is distorted, as if melted plastic, and his armor is twisted and bent, giving him a haunting presence.

As a researcher delving into the world of Black Ops, I’ve noted the consistent reappearance of a character known as T.E.D.D., who carries an unsettling apocalyptic vibe. His face seems to have been melted, and his armor is bent out of shape, creating a chilling impression.

Instead, the planned iteration for an operator skin in Black Ops 7 received criticism from the Call of Duty community as being “cartoonish.” This might be because the revamped T.E.D.D. mannequin head retained a more youthful appearance rather than the usual melted version.

As a result of receiving significant criticism, Treyarch, the main developer studio, decided to revamp the operator’s skin, giving it a more intimidating and grotesque appearance, featuring a freshly-melted facial design.

The renovation has received a variety of opinions, as some enthusiastically praise T.E.D.D’s re-imagining, while others criticize that the three remaining models within the Vault Edition package are still excessively extravagant for Call of Duty.

Carry Forward and losing the Black Ops identity

As a dedicated fan, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of dislike towards the fresh T.E.D.D. model, which coincided with Activision’s recent revelation that their earlier announced Carry Forward policy for operator skins wouldn’t be implemented when Black Ops 7 drops on November 14.

Modern Warfare 3 (2023), Activision introduced a feature called “Cross-Game Progression.” This means that any custom skins or weapon bundles you acquire or unlock in the previous game, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022), will be carried over to the next game because both games share the same main storyline.

In simpler terms, purchasing a skin for the character Simon “Ghost” Riley within Modern Warfare 2 meant that you could only utilize this specific skin in both Warzone and Modern Warfare 2 until Modern Warfare 3 was released. Once Modern Warfare 3 arrived on the scene, the skin became usable across all three games.

By implementing Carry Forward, the iconic Ghost skin from Modern Warfare 2 can be utilized across Warzone, multiplayer modes in MW2, and multiplayer modes in MW3. This feature effectively prolongs the lifespan of the skin, enabling you to enjoy it for a longer period and continue using the bundles you’ve earned or purchased over time.

Initially, the concept of Carry Forward was widely appreciated and expected to continue in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. However, when it didn’t return, some fans were disappointed. At that time, Treyarch announced their unique vision for Black Ops 6’s multiplayer, which included plans for operator skins within the game’s universe.

After the initial launch, it appears that seasonal events have overlooked the idea of maintaining a balance, as character collaborations such as those featuring Beavis and Butthead or weed-related themes with Seth Rogen’s and Jay and Silent Bob’s characters took over the Call of Duty store.

Currently, the creators of Call of Duty find themselves in a position where the gaming community is divided over the visual style of the game. While some appreciate the diversity provided by operator skins, there has been an increase in vocal criticism from players regarding the excessive marijuana-themed microtransactions and seemingly random collaborations that seem to make little sense.

In contrast to other Call of Duty (COD) series, Black Ops has consistently opted for a unique, vibrant visual style. While many games leaned towards browns and grays during earlier generations, Black Ops distinguished itself with its colorful map designs. One of the first weapons themed around unicorns, which could be obtained through microtransactions, was introduced in a Black Ops game.

And I love me some unicorns.

I’m usually one of the first to spend my Call of Duty Points on the shiniest unicorn-themed skins and weapon packs in the store. Consequently, I greatly appreciate the Carry Forward feature, as it allows me to take my extensive collection of unicorn packages with me into each new annual multiplayer season.

In simpler terms, while the vibrant, arcade-like appearance of Black Ops has always added to its chaotic atmosphere, the introduction of cel-shaded cartoon elements seemed to blur the game’s unique identity. For instance, Black Ops-style unicorn helmets are acceptable, but cel-shaded cartoons are a noticeable departure from the norm.

Upon my visit to Treyarch’s office prior to Gamescom, I discovered that the project Carry Forward was in a precarious state. It wasn’t surprising to me when I heard, a few weeks later, that the project had been canceled altogether.

Treyarch is addressing fan input by scrapping Carry Forward and revising the T.E.D.D. design, yet this alteration may not cater to fans and customers as effectively as desired.

As a dedicated Call of Duty fan, I’m thrilled about Carry Forward! This feature ensures that the purchases I make in the Call of Duty store don’t disappear when the game they were originally tied to ends its life cycle. It makes the gradual depreciation of COD HQ more bearable, knowing that my hard-earned investments stay accessible for future gaming adventures.

Enhancing the appeal of Season 5 and 6 operator bundles and battle pass rewards is beneficial as they tend to lose their value within a month or two after being obtained or purchased. This could be achieved by finding ways to keep these items engaging and useful for a longer period, such as through periodic updates or exclusive perks that continue to provide value over time.

Finding a solution in the settings menu

Previously, I discussed seven modifications I’d like to incorporate in Black Ops 7, emphasizing the need for a customizable setting allowing players greater choice over the operators they encounter during gameplay. While removing Carry Forward entirely might seem like an option, I believe offering control is more preferable and, judging by some online discussions, this concept may be resonating with gamers.

In Call of Duty games, certain Operator skins are restricted for a specific time to PlayStation users exclusively. During this period, these exclusive skins appear as generic military operators to players on other platforms. The game provides several options in the menu to let users decide whether they want to enable or disable vibrant, unusual skins, collaborative designs, and items with drug-related themes separately.

For now, we’ll unfortunately have to part ways with the decent skins from Black Ops 6 (even though there weren’t many), hoping that the T.E.D.D. rework is a sign of good intentions from Treyarch and other Call of Duty studios involved in developing Black Ops 7.

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2025-09-12 14:43