“Big Brand” Skin Collabs for Black Ops 7 Cancelled After Backlash
It appears that Activision and Treyarch Studios were serious when they stated that they wanted skins for Black Ops 7 to feel “authentic,” as it has been revealed that they have already canceled some of their upcoming collaborations.
Don’t rule them out just yet, though, as the game will likely still feature some, as long as they “fit” the universe.
Treyarch Plans on Keeping the Call of Duty Experience Authentic
Speaking in a recent interview with CharlieIntel, Treyarch’s Senior Director of Production, Yale Miller, confirmed that the studio had already cancelled some of its lined-up collabs after some recent discussions.
“There are opportunities that we have had lined up that, after some of our conversations, we straight up turned down. Big, big brands, big things, and we’re like, ‘No, we’re not gonna do that because it just doesn’t fit,” Miller said. “All intentions [are] to stick to stuff that we can hand on our heart, say, ‘Yeah, that feels Black Ops…That’s really our goal. And I think that’s a good clarification versus grounded.”
This is fantastic news for players, as Call of Duty over the last few years has been getting rather ridiculous with some of the collaboration skins. The latest being the TV show Beavis and Butt-Head, which, for many, was finally pushing the collab skins a bit too far. I’d argue that the line was crossed a long time ago, but it’s good to see that Activision and its studios are finally starting to listen to the recent feedback around them.
Of course, it doesn’t help that Battlefield 6 is likely putting some pressure on them with their “authentic” skins and players reacting positively to them. Speaking of which, this is something we discussed in an opinion piece that we think gamers should give a read.
Let’s hope this new focus on “authentic” skins in Black Ops 7 is a sign of things to come, not just a one-off change. It’s a promising move that shows they’re listening to player feedback and prioritizing the game’s core feel. After all, a Call of Duty game about covert operations and gritty espionage doesn’t quite work when you’re fighting someone dressed up as a cartoon character.
Of course, with Black Ops 7 sales apparently trailing Battlefield 6, this might be what prompted Activision to finally listen to the community in the first place. But a win is a win, right?
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 arrives on November 14, 2025, with a multiplayer beta scheduled to kick off in early October.
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