It’s no secret that theCall of Dutyfranchise has a special place in my heart. As an overweight, nerdy kid moving to a new school, it was a much-needed gateway to dodge bullying and forge friendships with people far higher up the social ladder, giving me a way to outshine them at something and a path to fit in. That alone would be enough to give me a fondness for the series, but withCall of DutyZombiesbeing my favorite co-op gaming experience of all time, I’m even more deeply attached to the franchise. I’ll never forget the Reznov twist ofBlack Ops 1or my first Blackout win, and even though a lot of my high school friends have moved on fromCoD, I’ve still tried to keep up with it - even if the magic has started to fade.
However, as loyal as I am to the franchise, I share the same complaints as other longtime players. Skill-based matchmaking? Frustrating. Cross-gen releases? Disappointing. TheWarzone-ification of every mode? Tiring. These issues, and others like cheating, an overabundance of wacky cosmetics, and so on, have been discussed time and time again. However, there’s another aspect of modernCall of Dutythat - while fully understandable given the general state of the industry - has me feeling burnt out: battle passes and the in-game shop. In fact, I’m so tired of this progression format that I’d like to see loot boxes return (though drop the pitchforks, because there are some caveats attached).
ThoughBlack Ops 6does a fine job of giving players cosmetics to acquire through Prestige mode, once they hit Prestige Master, unlocks slow to a snail’s pace. The occasional free battle pass or event skin is well and good, but nothing comes close to rewards like a RaulMenendez-themed Operatoror a zombified Weaver. And before long, those high-quality Prestige skins get old, too. Needing to sink hours into the game every Season to complete the battle pass due to FOMO limits time that can be spent with other games, and while a FOMO-free system likeMarvel Rivalswould be a terrific fix for that issue, it’s nowhere to be seen at the moment. Additionally, though I’ll pull the trigger on the occasional pricey shop skin if itsCoDZombies vibes are too cool to pass up, for the most part I can’t justify regularly spending money on CoD Points. With all this in mind, I’m actually starting to miss the loot box era.
Prestige Master Levels beyond the initial rank, which gives a glowing Marshall skin, only provide emblems based on classic Prestiges. While these are a neat novelty,Prestige Masterprogression is far more bland than moving through the main Prestige levels, with the max rank of Level 1000 being the next time players get something significant.
Call of Duty’s Loot Boxes Were a Diamond in the Rough That Should Be Polished
To be clear,Call of Duty’s loot box approach was immensely problematic. Borderline gambling and undoubtedlypay-to-win, Reserves and Supply Drops offered exclusive access to game-changing post-launch guns, some of which were the strongest in the game. I still remember the grind for the R.I.P. variant of the AK12 inAdvanced Warfareas well as the BAL-27 Obsidian Steed - and my relief when I got each. Getting guns like the MX Garand out ofBO3Supply Drops was a similarly frustrating process, as players could get lucky on the first pull or open dozens without getting a newly added gun.
However, I don’t think Supply Drops - AKAloot boxes- are inherently evil. For instance,Black Ops 4’s reserve system eventually became quite fair, as players could grind cases to eventually trade them in for their desired DLC gun or blueprint. Not only was there a chance to get a cool item for “free,” but players could work to get the thing they wanted and skip by the RNG. Looking to another game,Overwatch 2recently nailed what a modern loot box should look like. Players cannot purchase loot boxes, as they are only unlocked through gameplay. The boxes contain a wide range of old skins and paid shop items, while opening 20 total boxes leads to a guaranteed Legendary skin - some of the most desired character looks in the game. They may drop a bit too scarcely, but the mechanics ofOverwatch 2’s loot boxes are solid and somethingCall of Dutycould mimic.
To be clear, I never want the loot box system from games likeBlack Ops 3to make a comeback, but I’d absolutely encourage something likeOverwatch 2’s loot boxesorBlack Ops 4’s reserves. This could come in addition to the current battle pass and shop format that so many live-service games rely on for longevity and funding. That way, players can outright buy the things they want while still having a small chance to get them for free. Additionally, they’d have something to chase after hitting max rank, even if they can’t afford shop skins or have no interest in grinding through a battle pass.Call of Dutyreserves/Supply Drops could be an excellent “bonus” to grind for, not being purchasable, but instead a more exciting reward obtained from completing daily challenges. NewCoDloot boxes could be stacked with:
I may be burned out onthe currentCall of Dutystyle, but another form of free reward being added to the mix may be just what I need to keep me invested. And funnily enough, after seeingOverwatch 2master the art of loot boxes, I think the best possible content to fill this void is the very thing that sparked outrage a decade ago.
