Call of Duty in Steep Decline, Claims Esports Star

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is facing a significant player exodus, raising concerns about the game's future. High-profile streamers and competitive players are expressing alarm at the dwindling player base and declining engagement.

Veteran Call of Duty pro, OpTic Scump, a prominent figure in the franchise, claims the series is in its worst state ever. He attributes this largely to the premature release of the ranked mode, exacerbated by a malfunctioning anti-cheat system resulting in rampant cheating.

The situation is further highlighted by streamer FaZe Swagg, who dramatically switched to Marvel Rivals mid-stream due to persistent connectivity issues and overwhelming numbers of hackers, even displaying a live counter tracking these encounters.

Adding to the woes is the significant nerfing of the zombies mode, impacting the acquisition of desirable cosmetic items, and a perceived oversaturation of cosmetic offerings. Critics argue the game prioritizes monetization over meaningful gameplay improvements, a stark contrast to the franchise's historically massive budgets. This combination of issues threatens to erode player patience and push the game towards a critical juncture.