Call of Duty’s generational challenges re-emerge as Black Ops 7’s multiplayer trailer divides fans — 1.2 million views in 7 hours with 50:50 like to dislike ratio

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I recently wrote about how big video game companies are making me realize I’m getting older, and today’s trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 really drove that point home with its multiplayer reveal.

The new trailer for Black Ops 7 – with its bright colors, fast-paced action, futuristic tech, and that signature Travis Scott song – made it clear this Call of Duty isn’t made for me anymore. And honestly, that’s perfectly okay! I’m excited for Battlefield 6 later this year instead.

I checked out the reactions to the trailer, and it looks like many other people feel the same way I do.

Many long-running game franchises start to lose steam over time, and Call of Duty is now facing that challenge. Like Halo and World of Warcraft before it, Call of Duty is trying to attract younger players without alienating its existing, longtime fans. After 21 years, this is a major hurdle for the series.

Last year’s Call of Duty included so many trendy character skins and crossovers, aiming to attract younger players, that Activision had to pledge to reduce them in the next game. This gave Battlefield 6 a public relations advantage with older gamers – including me – and I think this year’s Battlefield 6 could seriously impact Call of Duty’s popularity.

While Battlefield has its fans, Call of Duty is a true icon in gaming. It’s incredibly popular – despite what you might see online, millions of players return to it every year. Most players are perfectly happy with each new installment offering a familiar Call of Duty experience, and that’s perfectly fine.

Call of Duty has been successful for a long time, but can it continue? With Xbox Game Pass potentially reducing traditional game sales, and fans seemingly split between wanting futuristic and more classic experiences, can Activision satisfy everyone with future installments like Black Ops 7?

It’s Call of Duty! Again!

When I started writing this, the multiplayer trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 had already been viewed 1.2 million times on YouTube, with an equal number of likes and dislikes (thanks to a browser extension that shows dislike counts). Now, it’s up to 1.4 million views, and there are slightly more dislikes than likes – currently 24,000 dislikes to 21,000 likes. This difference suggests a potential split between long-time fans and newer players regarding the future of the game.

Call of Duty releases a new game every year, which is a huge creative undertaking. Maintaining such a large and expensive franchise is incredibly difficult. With so many demands on people’s time, it’s a real challenge for Call of Duty to stay innovative while also satisfying its long-time fans and attracting new players. It’s a delicate balancing act, to say the least.

Many of the most popular comments on the YouTube video are quite cynical. Examples include remarks like, “The bravest thing about this announcement is leaving the comments on,” “I purchased this game over a decade ago,” “Featuring that song really highlights who Call of Duty is targeting now,” “Does anyone else feel like the movement in this reminds them of Titanfall?”, and “Seriously, who at Activision thought making *another* future game was a good idea when people don’t want one?”

I’m skipping the release of Black Ops 7 – it’s the first Call of Duty game in two decades I won’t be buying right away. I think it’s probably just because I’m getting older, but the trailer didn’t show me anything that grabbed my attention. [Link: https://t.co/Ep7VEWY02g – September 22, 2025]

Others offered more critical feedback, like the comments from Tom Henderson and LateNightHalo.

Did anyone else find the trailer a bit underwhelming? I wasn’t really wowed or excited by it – it felt pretty simple and subdued. I get that they’re holding back on showing all the cool details for the trailer, but based on what we’ve seen so far, the game just feels a little empty.

The trailer didn’t really evoke much feeling in me. It felt like more of the same from Call of Duty, and honestly, I’ve become pretty jaded with the series. I had hoped Call of Duty: WW2 would be different, but the strange character designs, gameplay problems, and lack of historical accuracy – and the disrespect that implies to those affected by the war – confirmed my belief that the series prioritizes profits over genuine quality and respect for the subject matter.

While a player who purchases every cosmetic item appears more valuable, the bigger issue is that players who don’t buy those items are now simply stopping playing the game altogether. This hurts the game’s community and long-term appeal.

Hating on COD is the hottest trend in gaming rnSeptember 22, 2025

The data only reflects the opinions of people who buy in-game skins, and doesn’t consider the potential long-term harm Activision and now Microsoft might face due to setting unrealistic goals. While I’ve discussed the skins previously, Call of Duty’s core issues are much more significant – the skins are just the most obvious symptom of a larger problem.

Players are frustrated with the current matchmaking system, which seems to create intensely competitive matches every time they play. Cheating is also a major problem, especially on PC, and it’s now spreading to consoles due to cross-play. Devices like the Cronus Zen let people use a mouse and keyboard while pretending to use a controller, giving them an unfair advantage.

I believe the biggest issue with Call of Duty is its attempt to appeal to everyone. Trying to satisfy both younger Gen-Z players and older Millennials and Gen-X gamers is proving difficult. These groups have very different gaming preferences, and it’s leading to a game that doesn’t fully satisfy anyone. Call of Duty isn’t alone in facing this challenge with different generations, and it’s a problem many games will likely encounter in the future.

It’ll still be one of this year’s best-selling games, but Call of Duty could be hitting a generational wall

It’s important to remember this is just based on what people are saying online. It’s possible the negative reaction is just noise, and the game will be successful regardless – maybe those complaining don’t represent the wider player base. Dislikes on Call of Duty trailers aren’t new; fans often use them to express frustration. Ultimately, when you’re one of the biggest video game franchises ever, you can’t please everyone.

The future of Call of Duty is being discussed, but Black Ops 7 is expected to perform well. Despite similar concerns, Black Ops 6 was still the best-selling and most popular game of the year, setting new records for the series. While Call of Duty games are generally enjoyable, they sometimes hinder themselves with over-the-top cosmetic items and can frustrate players with features like cross-play and competitive matchmaking.

This year’s Call of Duty release is happening at a unique moment, as players seem more split on what they want than usual. Battlefield 6 is clearly aiming to please long-time fans with a focus on realistic settings and traditional combat. However, EA’s choice to limit fast movements, like the ‘bunny-hopping’ seen in Call of Duty, has sparked debate within the community. This disagreement also seems to reflect a divide between different generations of players.

Honestly, I’m a bit lost about where Call of Duty should go next. If I had the answers, I’d probably be designing games myself! But it feels like they need to really decide what kind of game they want to be – either fully commit to what they’re doing now, or maybe try something totally fresh. Something that could grab a new audience, you know? Those younger gamers who don’t have families and might have more time and money to spend.

What do you think?

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2025-09-23 02:11