The Decline of COD’s Community Spirit
For the first time since 2019, Call of Duty finds itself on the defensive. Pre-order numbers are lagging behind, trailers are being mass downvoted, and frustration across the community is boiling over. While Activision has confirmed that the controversial “carry forward” skin system will not be returning in Black Ops 7 after fan backlash, players argue that a far deeper problem remains unaddressed: the franchise’s loss of community-driven gameplay.
For many veterans, the heart of Call of Duty was never just the guns, maps, or killstreaks—it was the social glue that made each match memorable. From Call of Duty 4 through Black Ops 2, players stayed in persistent lobbies, learned rival playstyles, and built friendships over late-night sessions. That sense of identity and rivalry created the golden age of COD.
The Rise of Skill-Based Matchmaking
Everything shifted with the 2019 reboot of Modern Warfare. Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM) became the core of multiplayer, tracking every movement, kill, and death to adjust difficulty in real-time. Lobby disbanding removed the social continuity, while players felt punished for doing well as each match grew sweatier.
While SBMM kept new players alive longer, it alienated the long-term community—the very people who built COD into the powerhouse it became. Players no longer had room to breathe, adapt, or enjoy the casual rivalry that once defined the franchise.
Burnout Sets In
The impact has been clear across recent releases. Modern Warfare II (2022) saw a massive player drop-off. Modern Warfare III struggled to hold interest, with many dismissing it as overpriced DLC. Black Ops 6, despite introducing omni-movement mechanics, only worsened the issue—weaponizing player performance into hyper-competitive matches that felt more like tournaments than casual play. By early 2024, Black Ops 6 had one of the largest drop-offs in franchise history.
Black Ops 7: Too Little, Too Late?
Set a decade after Black Ops 2, Treyarch hoped nostalgia would carry Black Ops 7. Instead, trailers have been disliked into the ground and community posts ratioed. Despite promises of respecting the series’ legacy, players argue that nothing meaningful has been done to address the problems of matchmaking, lobby disbanding, and community connection.
The frustration is at a tipping point. Fans feel ignored, told for years that their burnout was invalid, and the backlash has been stronger than ever. For the first time in years, Activision has been forced to respond—but removing carry-forward skins is seen as a small concession, not a solution.
The Battlefield Factor
Adding pressure is Battlefield’s resurgence under Vince Zampella, one of the original creators of Call of Duty. Battlefield 6’s open beta has been praised for looser matchmaking, smoother gameplay, and a return to sandbox-style combat where all playstyles have value. Ironically, the man who helped build COD’s golden age may now be the one leading its strongest rival.
Can Call of Duty Recover?
Call of Duty is far from dead, but the cracks are showing. The franchise that once killed Medal of Honor now risks repeating history. Unless Activision seriously reconsiders how matchmaking and community systems function, Black Ops 7 could mark the start of a long-term decline.
For now, the player base has momentum, and Activision has been forced to listen. But unless meaningful changes are made—persistent lobbies, less aggressive SBMM, and a focus on community—the war for Call of Duty’s future is far from over.
