I have grown to hate Call of Duty’s obsession with thoughtless and cringe licensed skins — which is why I’m praying to the FPS gods more than ever that ‘Battlefield 6’ is actually good

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After months of leaks and speculation, EA finally revealed the Battlefield 6 trailer yesterday.

In line with the tradition of Battlefield 6 trailer reveals, it was grandiose, dramatic, and sparked immense excitement. However, there’s something unique about this rollout.

Following the last title, Battlefield 2042, Microsoft recently made a significant $71 billion purchase of its closest competitor, Call of Duty. Meanwhile, Fortnite has been captivating a vast number of gamers, creating a ripple effect that forces other shooter games to adapt some of Fortnite’s sales tactics in response.

For quite some time now, Call of Duty has included licensed skins in the game. However, the continuous influx of WWE characters, celebrity appearances, and even peculiar historical misfits like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Beavis and Butthead seems to have originated from an overactive Fortnite-influenced imagination (apologies for that). This bizarre blend appears to be a stark contrast to the original essence of Call of Duty, and it’s causing growing frustration among many players.

To be sure, today’s gaming enthusiasts are becoming increasingly discerning and critical. With an abundance of free-to-play games available, they have more options than ever before. Additionally, the rise of alternative forms of entertainment that don’t require a hefty initial investment of $70-$80 has further expanded their choices.

The scrutiny facing Battlefield and Electronic Arts (EA) as a whole has never been greater. Previous studio heads who made Battlefield the game it is today have departed, with Vince Zampella of Call of Duty, Titanfall, and Apex Legands fame taking charge. However, despite Zampella’s credibility, there are concerns that EA is systematically damaging almost every franchise they own, including FIFA, Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Star Wars: Battlefront, and even Battlefield itself.

As an analyst, I can’t help but express my disappointment with Battlefield 2042. The game seems to have taken a turn that left many long-time fans feeling let down. The changes in gameplay appear geared towards appealing to a broader audience, which some believe is the result of a last-minute shift to follow the Battle Royale trend.

Unfortunately, this shift wasn’t without its flaws. The game was plagued with more bugs and technical issues than we’re accustomed to, significantly impacting the player experience. EA’s efforts to rectify these problems have led to delays in the live service program, prompting a wave of petitions for refunds that gathered over half a million signatures.

It’s clear that Battlefield 2042 didn’t meet the expectations of many gamers, and I share their sentiments.

Amidst these circumstances, people are no longer inclined to assume the best about EA. This is regrettable for them, as Battlefield 6 seems poised to seize a larger market share than it has in quite some time.

Call of Duty has made a mockery of everything it was built on, but the kids love it, apparently — and that’s fine, but I’m out

By 2025, the Call of Duty franchise had amassed a staggering $35 billion in total earnings throughout its existence, with a significant portion coming from revenue generated after the initial game launches.

In contemporary gaming, the economy based on skins has become a significant and profitable sector. After gamers rejected the concept of “pay-to-win” or paying for power enhancements, publishers have chosen to emphasize cosmetic upgrades as an alternative. Notably, licensed characters and celebrities are the ones that generate the most revenue.

It appears that many individuals share strong negative feelings towards Call of Duty during its “skinfest” period. Over the past fortnight, I’ve seen two highly-shared tweets criticizing this phase, with one reaching over 1 million impressions and another surpassing 3 million.

And yeah, I’m well aware of how this ages me potentially, and also those who agree. We’re old.

It’s clear that children enjoy this content immensely, as companies like Microsoft and Activision continue to heavily invest in it. Although Activision doesn’t disclose detailed figures about the performance of its virtual goods market for Call of Duty, you can make an educated guess based on Call of Duty Mobile, a free game, about how well in-app purchases do for similar titles. A single report indicates that Call of Duty Mobile has generated over $25 billion in revenue since 2019 alone.

pls god make battlefield 6 good. https://t.co/0hZX10O6YlJuly 2, 2025

It’s pretty simple, if people didn’t buy the skins etc. then the publishers wouldn’t do it.

In simpler terms, playing this game feels too much like Fortnite for my taste and takes me out of the experience. I get tired of being killed by characters that resemble WWE’s Rhea Ripley with a steel chair. In the past, Call of Duty at least made an effort to create war scenes that were somewhat realistic, though they had an arcade-like feel. Now, it seems like they don’t even bother trying anymore.

They’re willing to compromise the quality of Fortnite’s user experience just to earn money, even if it means players have to fight with characters like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The skins aren’t designed to enhance the gameplay, but rather, they’re driven by greed, understanding that people will buy novelty items in the short term, despite the potential long-term harm to the game’s reputation and community. This is the influence of quarterly capitalism at work.

Indeed, it’s not uncommon for social media to foster echo chambers. The interactions on Twitter and YouTube ratings aren’t always a precise reflection of reality, but it seems like there’s been more conversation lately about whether Battlefield can truly challenge Call of Duty, something that hasn’t been discussed as extensively in the past. It appears that an increasing number of Call of Duty enthusiasts are growing weary of the cosmetic items and perceived greed, and they’re looking to Battlefield as a potential alternative at last.

This game typically hovered around a specific genre, aiming for raw realism and strategic battles rather than quick, intense moments. Rewards in Battlefield might have been delayed, but when they came, they were substantial and undeniably grandiose.

EA’s “Battlefield Moments” slogan truly reflects the game – moments like triumphing in a rooftop gunfight on a flaming airship and then parachuting down to land in an incoming airplane are unique to Battlefield. Some of my most thrilling gaming experiences have come from playing Battlefield, whereas my memories of Call of Duty tend to be less memorable.

However, it should be noted that Battlefield series games often encounter numerous bugs upon release, and Electronic Arts (EA) has shown a pattern of declining quality in their offerings, as well as growing indifference towards the fanbase of their franchises.

Battlefield 6 can offer a true alternative, but does EA have the stamina?

Among my greatest gaming disillusionments were Battlefield V and Battlefield 2042. Although Battlefield V eventually regained its footing, I never found that 2042 captured the essence of what I adored in games like Battlefield Bad Company 2, Battlefield 1, Battlefield 3, and Battlefield 4. In fact, I preferred the much-maligned Battlefield Hardline over 2042. My all-time favorite multiplayer shooter remains Battlefield 1, with Battlefield Bad Company 2 coming in a close second.

It appears that the fundamental structure of Battlefield 2042 leans more towards the popular Battle Royale gameplay style instead of sticking to the classic Battlefield gameplay, which could suggest a lack of strategic management by Electronic Arts in managing their franchises and development studios.

Electronic Arts (EA) is infamous for ending popular franchises. Games like Dead Space, Dragon Age, and possibly Mass Effect, as well as the studio itself, Bioware, have suffered from this trend. Additionally, EA’s titles such as Titanfall, Battlefront, and Plants vs. Zombies are also included in this list, along with many more. EA’s relentless pursuit of profit over quality often hinders their long-term growth, a pattern that has repeated itself numerous times. Therefore, it’s not unreasonable to assume that Battlefield 6 might feature pop-culture skins when it launches in 2025, but I seriously doubt we’ll find the Ninja Turtles patrolling the battlefield (I can only hope…).

Excited to explore more of Battlefield 6, but keep in mind that the trailers may have only shown its best side. So, we’ll have a clearer idea once the Beta is available on July 24, 2025.

It’s clear that the trend of crossover character skins popularized by Fortnite has spread across many shooter games, as developers strive to attract younger audiences while preserving their established brands and loyal fanbases. Games like Overwatch and Diablo 4 have incorporated crossovers, albeit keeping them consistent with their own universes. However, Call of Duty seems to have fully embraced this trend without much regard for its original setting.

In a more appealing fashion, they might have incorporated weapon designs based on popular brands or properties, perhaps weapon charms or similar items to maintain in-game consistency. Additionally, they could have offered an option for users to hide such decorative elements, catering to those who found the vibrant aesthetic too cheesy. Essentially, it would be like a filter for blocking unwanted items, but instead of blocking spiders, it would block unnecessary additions. Unfortunately, by 2025, it seems that Call of Duty has become unbearable for many people, myself included.

While there might not be a publisher more famous for mixed feelings than Electronic Arts (EA), none can be found. However, one can only let down people as much as they’ve previously pleased them. For me, EA has provided some unforgettable gaming moments alongside my most significant disappointments – I suspect this is a shared experience for many of you too.

Could Battlefield 6 provide an unparalleled chance for a gripping and authentic military shooter game, given its potential? Yet, one can’t help but wonder if Electronic Arts will meet these expectations. Over the years, I’ve learned to approach their releases with cautious optimism.

Battlefield 6 will debut in full on July 31, 2025. Please god, be good.

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2025-07-25 02:10