Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is facing a significant downturn, according to prominent streamers and competitive players. The game's declining player base has prompted some YouTubers to cease content creation, while established esports figures express serious concerns.
Call of Duty legend, OpTic Scump, claims the franchise is in its worst state ever. He attributes this largely to the premature launch of ranked mode, coupled with a severely ineffective anti-cheat system resulting in rampant cheating.
Further highlighting the game's struggles, streamer FaZe Swagg dramatically switched from Call of Duty to Marvel Rivals during a live broadcast, frustrated by persistent connectivity problems and a high encounter rate of cheaters (tracked live on his stream).
Adding to the player discontent is the significant nerfing of the zombies mode, impacting the acquisition of desirable cosmetic items, and a perceived oversaturation of cosmetic offerings. The criticism centers on the abundance of monetization options contrasted with a lack of substantial gameplay improvements. While the franchise's substantial budget is a factor, the dwindling player patience suggests the situation is approaching a critical juncture.