"How Call of Duty started vs. how it’s going" – fans roast the franchise on Reddit

Right now, most shooter fans are likely focused on Battlefield 6, but with the upcoming release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, that attention may soon shift. Signs of this are already appearing on Reddit – and Activision seems confident the franchise will come out on top.

A thread titled "How Call of Duty started vs. how it’s going" is currently going viral. At the time of writing, more than 60,000 Redditors had engaged with the post in just eleven hours, leaving over 2,500 comments. The original poster, u/Holiday-Proof9819, summed it up in a single sentence: "I think it’s fair to say that something has been lost." Alongside the comment, they shared an image that, for many, said more than words ever could.

At the top of the image is a somber scene from the original Call of Duty, showing young soldiers crossing the Volga during the Battle of Stalingrad – grim, grounded and heavy with atmosphere. Below is a screenshot from Black Ops 6 (currently listed on Amazon for around $65), featuring Seth Rogen alongside Jay & Silent Bob on the iconic Nuketown map – dressed in bright, over-the-top skins and striking comic book-style poses. The most upvoted comment, from u/braumbles, captures it with dry irony: "Chasing that Fortnite money."

Many players look back fondly on the earlier titles, with CoD2 and United Offensive often regarded as the series’ high points. There’s a strong demand for a proper remaster rather than more flashy spin-offs. Monetization has also become a major point of criticism – microtransactions, pop culture skins and Fortnite-style events have left many longtime fans feeling alienated.

It’s worth noting that Call of Duty campaigns are still crafted with a serious tone. However, the overall perception of the iconic shooter is clearly shifting. "I'm telling you after MW3, Call of Duty COMPLETELY lost it," wrote u/Adventurous_Tax_9999. To many longtime fans, the franchise has drifted away from its roots as a grounded war shooter, turning into more of a flashy entertainment product. Others view this evolution as a natural – and likely irreversible – reflection of broader changes in the gaming industry. Either way, the topic remains divisive, and the debate continues in the comments.