Call of Duty Mobile has managed to once again surprise everyone by introducing the most unexpected crossover, and this time the shooter game developers have partnered with Street Fighter. To be honest, it’s either the best thing ever or the weirdest pairing…
As per the official statement, the mobile shooter unveiled the initial look of Ryu and other Street Fighter characters. Gamers’ response can be characterized as mixed. A section of the community is pretty pumped while the rest are patting themselves on the back for figuring out the link between a war-themed shooter and fighters.
A gamer openly said, “Mobile gets all the cool collabs and we get all the mid-collabs. I want RE and street fighter in BO7!” which is a pretty good argument. It appears that Call of Duty Mobile always gets to have the most fascinating things while the console versions are taking a chance. Another player made a comment along the lines of “Crazy how Mobile gets the better collabs” which, if one thinks about it, is quite right? Mobile has had some mind-boggling crossovers that would not even be tolerated in the “serious” version of the game for consoles.
On the flip side, not everyone is thrilled about this new collaboration. There are always a few gamers who can go like, “Please keep this on mobile. I like COD Mobile but we don’t need this mess in console.” which is definitely, a point that is reasonable. The vivid colors and the designs that are extremely exaggerated may be more appropriate on mobile considering that the expectations are different. One person went so far as to say that “Street fighter is goated! But the colors are vibrant as fk so yeah keep it in mobile” which may sound harsh but, in a way, has a practical point.
There has been an everlasting debate about what is actually “belonging” in Call of Duty discussions. Remember the uproar caused by the introduction of anime-style skins and other non-military supplies? There exists an unmistakable split among players between those desiring the pure, realistic military experience and those willing to accept the wild crossover content. A player said, “Weird, the people that cried about the skins aren’t saying anything” which is… surprising, yes, but it is also slightly ironic timing.
The mobile versus console debate has been pushed to the front again due to this crossover. Comments such as “All the real players are on console and PC not mobile” show that the old-school gamers still perceive mobile gaming as inferior, while in fact, Call of Duty Mobile has always been the leading player in the engagement and content competition. The game has been very actively exploring and working on new and attractive ideas that might even involve characters from Street Fighter being introduced into a gunfight and the players will be attracted again.
It is really amazing how Call of Duty Mobile has been treated like a laboratory for such improbable concepts that the main titles do not expect the gamers to accept. They are coming up with and collaborating on themes that would still be regarded as roasting if they were to land in the Modern Warfare or Black Ops. It is as if mobile has become this new creative playground governed by different rules, and honestly, it is good for them.
The timing is also pretty intriguing since it coincides with the recent debates about Call of Duty’s identity and the gradual disengagement of the franchise from its origins. Meantime, the official Call of Duty account has been pretty honest lately about the necessity for the franchise to remain in line with what has been its defining factor all this time. The mobile version operating with opposite conditions and having fun with it thus appears to be an interesting case. It can be said that two different approaches co-existing at the same time are fascinating, particularly when one reflects on it.
When we talk about the potential benefits that will result from the collaboration, we can probably expect seeing character skins, blueprints of the weapons, and some special moves or finishers that will not be direct references but will be inspired by the fighting game. Surely there will be some Hadouken-inspired gestures or something like that. And, of course, there will be a battle pass packed with Street Fighter-like stuff that will be very expensive but, ironically, people will buy it anyway because it’s Street Fighter in Call of Duty.
This whole case just epitomizes how gaming crossovers have evolved from mere cameo roles to being the main theme for an entire season. It’s no longer a matter of just putting a logo on something – the developers are actually designing entire gameplay experiences around these partnerships. And, regardless of whether you support or oppose it, you have to acknowledge that it indeed creates an interesting situation.
To conclude, Call of Duty Mobile is constantly affirming its position as the most unorthodox game that is still able to play with the main ones that would never dare.
