A new Call of Duty Game Teased teased following the Season 4 Update Backlash

There is no denying the popularity of the Call of Duty video game franchise. Activision Blizzard recently revealed there are 90 million Call of Duty players right now, with half of those playing the game via mobile devices. However, recent updates to the latest title, Modern Warfare II, have left loyal players disillusioned and scratching their heads, wondering what Activision Blizzard was thinking.

The original Call of Duty launched in 2003 on Windows, macOS, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. Lead developer Infinity Ward had no idea how successful the franchise would become. Fast-forward to today, and there have been 19 Call of Duty titles that have sold far more than 450 million copies, making it the best-selling first-person shooter game series and the fourth best-selling video game franchise of all time.

A remastered version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II launched in October 2022, proving a massive hit with players. Commercially, the title is a roaring success and was the fastest Call of Duty game to generate $1 billion in revenue. However, there is a reason the best online sports betting websites do not have Modern Warfare II in the top ten for the coveted Game of the Year awards.

Season 4 Reloaded Causes Major Stir

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is hurtling toward the end of its fourth season, and players are eager for Season 4: Reloaded to conclude. Why are they keen for it to be over? Are they tingling with excitement for Season 5 and the new features it could bring? No. It is because the latest, bizarre update has not only broken the game but has left loyal players anxious about the direction in which the franchise is heading.

Activision Blizzard has partnered with celebrities and other media franchises since the game's launch. Players can purchase skins for their characters to play as football superstars Lionel Messi, Paul Pogba, and Neymar Jr., basketball's Kevin Durant, and Shredder from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. These characters offered nothing besides visual benefits, but the latest partnership has flipped the game on its head, and players have not received them as intended.

Superpowers Have No Place in the Call of Duty Game

The popular Amazon Prime Video series, The Boys, is the latest media partner of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. Players can use COD Points to buy three characters from the hit show: Black Noir, Homelander, and Starlight. While these characters are purely cosmetic, Infinity Ward, in all of its wisdom, decided to add superpowers to the popular Warzone and DMZ game modes. As you would expect, those superpowers are vastly overpowered, leading to long-standing fans of the franchise complaining that they have broken the game.

In addition to the usual array of weapons and field upgrades, Modern Warfare II players can now find Temp V abilities in loot chests and other storage units. They are activated like other field upgrades, but they are vastly overpowered. For example, one Temp V ability allows the player to jump extremely far and high, akin to the Incredible Hulk. One enables the player's character to throw powerful bolts of electricity, but Homelander's Superman-esque laser eyes have caused the biggest stir.

Comparisons Drawn to Advanced Warfare

Social media and the Warzone subreddit on Reddit are awash with complaints from players claiming the new superpowers have ruined the game. After all, most players buy Call of Duty games because they are gritty, grounded military games. Players probably would not care too much if Infinity Ward created a game mode or playlist where the superpowers were available, but allowing them in the DMZ and Warzone modes is, frankly, ridiculous.

Many players have compared the superpowers update to Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, launched in November 2014. Sledgehammer Games developed this installment of the franchise, and the developer went down a different path from previous titles. Instead of the usual realistic setting, Advanced Warfare is set between 2054 and 2061, meaning, as the game's title suggests, some features were futuristic.

For example, your character has a robotic exosuit that allows for wall-running and superhuman strength. There was the ability to turn transparent for a short period or wear "nano gloves" that made it possible to climb vertically. The game was a commercial success and received generally favorable reviews. Still, it did not sit well with vast sections of the Call of Duty community because it was so far removed from the franchise's other realistic games. Unsurprisingly, no Call of Duty game has had a futuristic theme since.

Season 5 Lands August 9; New COD Title Teased

Players hope Infinity Ward will remove the superpowers from DMZ and Warzone when Season 5 drops early next month. August 9 is when Season 5 is set to drop, coinciding with the Season 4 Battle Pass expiring.

Strangely, there is a lack of rumors about what to expect from Season 5. Usually, Infinity Ward or Activision Blizzard hints at what to expect, such as new skins and weapons, alterations to the perk system, or new locations and maps. Both companies' social media channels have been eerily quiet. Perhaps they are terrified of facing a backlash and a revolt from angry players.

However, Activision Blizzard has hinted that a Modern Warfare 3 is coming. There is typically an annual release of a fresh Call of Duty title, and it has been 12 months since the last launch. The gaming giant is gearing up to officially show the new game to players, and has teased that they may get a first glimpse during Season 5 of the current installment.

Previously, new games have been teased during in-game events via limited-time playlists. The latest game was teased by allowing players to enter bunkers, where some computer screens contained a code and later a countdown. Once the timer expired, a barrage of nuclear missiles launched and destroyed one of the old maps, paving the way for the new title.

There is a buzz about the potential new Call of Duty game on social media, but there are equally many anxious players wondering what path the latest COD title will take them down.