OK, gamers: Circle September 30 on your calendar because it’s Call of Duty NEXT. There’s a long list of things to be excited about. Not only will there be the Black Ops 7 multiplayer and zombies gameplay reveals, but also the new Warzone content preview. That alone is enough to set the tone for this month.
What can we expect? Personally, I’m looking forward to the event being streamed, as this will allow everyone to tune in, no matte their location. I for one was not expecting the words “first proper gameplay footage of Black Ops 7 multiplayer” to appear. The zombies reveal will no doubt be impressive, considering the hype Treyarch zombies and their game modes receive. Everyone is on the edge of their seat waiting for the “new Warzone content.” Everyone just seems to want more information. Could it be a new map? New modes? Honestly, the possibilities are endless…and soon.
The comments in response to this announcement paint a completely different picture. There’s skepticism, excitement, and a dash of salt thrown in the mix. Mira Seanzie comments with excitement, “zombie season one,” which was echoed with many other tweets. Many users, including Markus, are screaming at the top of their lungs for a release and are impatiently waiting for the “pre-release hype” to die down. AviJEY highlights how many are looking forward to the Black Ops futuristic era, as it has been some time and everyone seems to be rather excited about this.
On the flip side, there always seems to be one. Some users seem completely indifferent. More to the point, Dewitt myers is upset about the removal of “carry forward” and the damage it did to their pre-order. Adopting the “#BringBackCarryForward” hashtag, which calls for the return of carry forward, their attitude seems quite hopeless. Saying “The absolute least excited I’ve been in years,” Sam Robinson seems to roll out some stiff criticism before the gameplay drops. Riggers_1997, on the other hand, explodes with anger, calling it a “Dead game” and saying, “I don’t know why people still like COD,” which, while aggressive, is a diffusing statement and some people love to be that harsh.
In addition, the business side of Call of Duty also opens the discussion on how the title has been able to nurture such a fanbase over the years. Looking at the community, a user named DiscoBearYeahh believes, and probably correctly, “This game will still sell well even after all this hate.” This is definitely true. The Call of Duty franchise is quite the powerhouse in game sales. Even the waved reception titles manage to sell a few million copies. Another reply from CharlesJhallory somewhat agreed saying “It’s COD, fng Vangaurd sold well,” but also warning that if they continue “to not listen to their playerbase it’ll just decline every year.” This is a valid claim. You cannot solely rely on the brand name.
Of course, there’s the usual infighting the Call of Duty community is known for. Everybody’s heard about Disputes rasieur, who, while arguing with TasheemTheDream, excuses their dislike of the game by calling it “genuine trash,” drawing comparisons that the campaign is like Modern Warfare 3, and the missions are like Warzone. “The game isn’t going to be good,” the person said. This is one of many arguments that spill over into COD Twitter, making it more entertaining than it really is. There are the hype squad and doom-and-gloom crew fighting over the integrations.
Digging through the responses, I found a bunch of other interesting details. The queries about the new Warzone map are coming in, wondering if Verdansk is staying or if the new one is “buns.” More technically, Genius brought up an issue related to the “#secureboot forcement” which excludes linux players and described it as “against the autonomy of the user.” It is a more niche concern but relevant for that part of the community.
With one month left, it means that we are stepping into a massive gap. Both Treyarch and Activision have a lot to showcase and basing it on the comments chasing the reveal, is a lot of players that need to be won over. The strong rumbles about the zombies mode, the real curiosity about the multiplayer, and the speculation regarding the new Warzone content has people on their toes. On the other hand, there is a large portion of the community who feels burned out and filled with doubt. September 30 is going to be a very interesting day; the critics absolutely need to be won over, which makes the reveal even more crucial. If anyone has the skills to do, Treyarch with a Black Ops title has it in the bag. It is a matter of waiting and seeing on their works. This stream is going to be very exciting; don’t forget the snacks as we wait.
