Call of Duty Banking On Squid Game 2 Crossover to Revive Black Ops 6 Feels Desperate and Uninspired

Crossover events and collaboration in Call of Duty have become a fairly common occurrence over the years. However, with the much-anticipated crossover with Squid Game 2, the wildly popular Korean TV show, Black Ops 6 is starting to look downright desperate to retain its playerbase.

Players are excited about the crossover coming on January 3rd. | Image Credit: Treyarch

Recently, the game has been suffering from various issues like persistent bugs, glitches, and rampant hackers. Rather than addressing these ongoing problems, it looks like the game is banking on the novelty of a Squid Game-themed event to reignite interest in the game. It’s a move that feels more like a distraction than a genuine attempt to solve the game’s deeper issues.

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 taking the easy way out rather than a creative risk

The crossover is exciting but it shows the desperation of the developers. | Image Credit: Treyarch

In a move that raised excitement and a lot of eyebrows, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will feature a Squid Game 2 crossover event, starting on January 3rd. However, there is a big catch- There will be no other major in-game events during this period.

The timing for the crossover is crucial, as it will fill the gap at the end of season 1 with new content. Otherwise, there would have been little else for players to sink their teeth into during this downtime.

For those hoping for fresh content, this three-week stretch offers nothing beyond the Squid Game-themed activities.

From the trailer, the crossover activities include the popular games from the show: Red Light, Green Light, and Zombie Survival Game. While this sounds appealing at first, because who wouldn’t want to participate in a Squid Game-inspired mode featuring deadly games and an ominous twist?

However, it also shows a concerning sign of how Call of Duty has come to depend on the buzz of external franchises rather than keeping players engaged with its own creative potential.

While the developers were busy working on these crossover events, players were suffering from bugs, hackers, and a general lack of polish in various aspects of the game.

Some may argue that crossovers are important and the developers addressed the issue with a statement saying they are working on fixes, but these problems have been ongoing since the game’s launch.

Squid Game is an easy sell but not a long-term fix

The game is filled with technical bugs and hackers, especially in ranked mode. | Image Credit: Treyarch

While the Squid Game crossover will undoubtedly be popular, it’s also a bit of a crutch for the franchise. In the past, the series has always excelled at creating its own distinct identity, with its memorable multiplayer modes or engaging campaigns that impressed players.

Sure, there are many common themes between the show and the franchise: the themes of survival, competition, and violence. But Call of Duty is a franchise that once set the standards in the first-person shooter genre.

So, by relying on a singular crossover event like this to survive during a period when the game is suffering from various issues, the game risks losing its identity in the midst and also the loyalty of its most passionate fans.

In the end, it is clear that the Call of Duty–Squid Game 2 crossover may draw in some curious new players to the franchise, but it’s unlikely to satisfy the long-term needs of the dedicated community.

Are you excited about this crossover on January 3rd? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.