The Call of Duty franchise crosses a new red line. A leak from the ModernWarzone Twitter account reveals an upcoming weapon skin for Black Ops 6 that allows you to transform an assault rifle into a bong.
Soon you’ll be able to smoke a bong (your gun) in Call of Duty 😚💨🍃 pic.twitter.com/JuL016OqDJ
— ModernWarzone (@ModernWarzone) December 5, 2024
This controversial decision by the studio has raised strong criticism, particularly on promoting drug use in a game accessible to adolescents.
A cosmetic that is causing debate in the community
The skin in question is not about subtlety. The weapon, decorated with fluorescent patterns and skull-shaped ornaments, features a special animation allowing it to be transformed into a device for consuming illicit substances.
“Players will be able to turn their guns into a bong and smoke it in. #CallofDuty » ? pic.twitter.com/xGI4pgRhjQ
— Prometheus.dev (@TarekH88) December 7, 2024
A small fire-breathing lizard even serves as a lighter, pushing the absurdity of this addition even further. Enough to trivialize the use of drugs in a mainstream video game.
Activision’s Questionable Priorities
The controversy does not stop at the simple presence of this cosmetic. On X, many players denounce the hypocrisy of Activision which prefers to invest in controversial content rather than improving the gaming experience.
Indeed, the community has been suffering for months from the massive presence of cheaterswithout an effective solution being provided.
A moderation system that raises questions
The arrival of this skin also highlights the inconsistencies in Activision’s moderation system. Players are surprised to see the studio banning users for small language discrepancies in voice chat, while introducing elements referring to drug use.
The presence of this type of content also raises questions about the respect of the game’s classification. Although Call of Duty is reserved for those over 18, reality shows that a significant proportion of players are minors. The introduction of elements referring to drug consumption could therefore have harmful consequences on this young audience.
This new cosmetic is part of a broader trend on the part of Activision: the proliferation of extravagant and controversial skins to generate buzz and additional revenue. A strategy that seems to work commercially, but which gradually erodes the credibility of the publisher among the most loyal players.
- A new weapon skin that transforms into a bong is controversial in Call of Duty Black Ops 6
- The community criticizes Activision’s priorities for neglecting the fight against cheating
- Players denounce the hypocrisy of the game’s moderation system
