Due to the failures of recent titles merging into one launcher, Call of Duty has faced significant skepticism.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has officially launched, and this new release is quite special: it’s available on Game Pass right at launch, and the Vault Edition doesn’t have early access, which is a significant departure from previous entries. There are various reasons behind these changes, but today, I want to discuss why crossplay is becoming increasingly important for this series.
Undoubtedly, Black Ops 6 supports crossplay, and this is not the first time the series has done so. However, as the series evolves, Call of Duty’s crossplay has become more unified and equal, allowing players across platforms to enjoy nearly the same benefits. This signals a trend in Call of Duty’s development.
It’s well-known that Microsoft has completed its acquisition of Activision Blizzard and has included Call of Duty in Game Pass. Black Ops 6 is the first Call of Duty title to join Game Pass. This change allows more players to access this AAA title at a lower price, which is undoubtedly positive. However, due to the failures of recent titles, merging into one launcher, and binding with Warzone, among other requirements, Call of Duty has faced significant skepticism. If you check the Steam store, you’ll find that recent games have a maximum positive rating of around 60%, which is challenging to recover from, even with a subscription model.
Meanwhile, competitors haven’t given Call of Duty much breathing room. Although the Battlefield series is also struggling, new brands like Delta Force and Once Human are emerging. Despite differences in gameplay, they still attract first-person shooter enthusiasts. The pre-order and online numbers for Black Ops 6 clearly reflect issues. Thus, in a scenario where the player base on a single platform is limited or stagnant, crossplay becomes crucial.
It significantly alleviates matchmaking difficulties during certain times (e.g., on Xbox) and lowers the barriers for players to connect with friends who might use different devices. Most importantly, it brings players together, increasing daily active users—essential for a game’s ongoing success. When players are consolidated, the same number of users can generate more interactions, enhancing the game’s discussion, which is why many online games merge servers after a decline in player numbers.
However, crossplay is not without its drawbacks. First, different platforms have varying mechanisms and player environments, leading to issues like high ping and latency, especially during peak network times. You can use a game booster to see ping and resolve latency issues, which is currently a mainstream solution.
Additionally, there’s the issue of control differences. It’s undeniable that in first-person shooters, the mouse and keyboard offer an advantage over controllers. Thus, many console players opt to disable crossplay, making it challenging to balance. Similarly, there’s a disparity in hardware performance, with high-performance PCs offering frame rate and visual advantages in competitive matches, where consoles struggle to maintain balance. These are issues Activision needs to address.
Overall, crossplay is an inevitable trend for the Call of Duty series, but there are still many aspects to improve. With its inclusion in Game Pass, further reforms to crossplay mechanisms are anticipated.
