Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 PS5

A new Call of Duty game is once again attempting to win over the series' hardcore audience by saying it'll keep the skins and item collaborations added post-launch "grounded and transparent".

During yesterday's reveal of Modern Warfare 4, developer Infinity Ward said everything in the title is tied to its narrative, which has been inspired by real-world events. As such, everything must "feel authentic to what Modern Warfare is, and that includes cosmetics and collabs".

It then asks the community what kind of collaborations it would like to see, having stated they must remain "grounded".

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This is similar messaging to what Treyarch said in the lead-up to last year's entry, Black Ops 7. "In Black Ops 7, bundles and items will be crafted to fit the Black Ops identity. We hear the feedback. We need to deliver a better balance toward the immersive, core Call of Duty experience," it said.

Five months after launch, as part of 4/20 celebrations, it added controversial comedian Dave Chappelle to the game.

It's a marketing beat that a few Call of Duty games have rolled out in the past couple of years, and all have failed to stick to it.

Fans of the series have made a big deal about unrealistic skins appearing in the franchise since Black Ops 6 in 2024, where the topic came to a head over a Beavis and Butthead cosmetic pack. Hardcore players voiced their frustrations over seeing Lionel Messi and Nicki Minaj running about multiplayer matches, whereas the game initially launched with more realistic military gear for its playable Operators.

Battlefield 6 even used this to its advantage as DICE executives promoted the game: "I don’t think it needs Nicki Minaj. Let’s keep it real, keep it grounded," said UX director Alan Pimm last year.

Now we have one example of a Call of Duty game promising realistic skins and then going against that, we'll have to wait and see whether Modern Warfare 4 can stick to its words. If there's an Mbappe skin running about an online match a few months after launch, you'll know it's failed to do so.

The game itself launches for PS5 on 23rd October 2026. Do you want Call of Duty titles to stick to realistic cosmetics, or do you actually prefer the more outlandish skins and collaborations? Share your preference in the comments below.

[source x.com]