In a recent interview, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Associate Creative Director Miles Leslie addressed the ongoing debate surrounding the game's cosmetic choices. He confirmed that the development team will continue prioritizing imaginative and entertaining skins, even if they deviate from traditional military realism.
Many Call of Duty titles initially feature realistic military gear but later introduce more elaborate skins and weapon blueprints through updates. This trend can be observed in games like Call of Duty: Vanguard, Modern Warfare 2, and Warzone. The expansion of Call of Duty's in-game shop further amplified this practice, which originated with fantastical cosmetics in Supply Drops. While weapon blueprints occasionally draw criticism for their departure from realism, operator skins are the primary focus of the debate.
Leslie emphasized that while the Black Ops 6 campaign focuses on era-specific character designs, the multiplayer mode offers greater creative freedom with cosmetics. He acknowledged player concerns but reassured fans that Treyarch remains committed to preserving the core Black Ops gameplay DNA. Leslie also hinted at the potential for new looks and lore for characters like Rogue Black Ops and Crimson One through post-launch content.
Despite some fans expressing dissatisfaction with the non-realistic cosmetics, Leslie highlighted that the Black Ops series has always incorporated outlandish elements, particularly in its narrative and Zombies mode. Unlike the Modern Warfare series, which emphasizes realistic military themes, Black Ops has historically featured time travel, alternate timelines, and hallucinations. The game's cosmetics are contextualized within the campaign's narrative, providing a framework for their inclusion in the multiplayer experience.
Although some players have requested an option to disable the fantastical skins, this wasn't discussed in the interview. While some find these skins distracting, others may embrace them for precisely that reason. With Treyarch continuing to update Black Ops 6 with new content, the existing cosmetics will remain, and new ones will undoubtedly be added.
