Activision has added Nicolas Cage as a playable skin in Call Of Duty: Black Ops 7, despite previously promising to reduce random crossover skins. The collaboration was announced as part of the game's mid-season update, launching June 25, and features Cage as himself rather than a character from one of his films.
Fan backlash over broken promise
For years, Call Of Duty fans have complained about the series' increasingly ridiculous crossover skins, which Activision acknowledged had 'drifted from what made Call Of Duty unique.' In response, the company promised that Black Ops 7 would feel 'authentic.' However, the Nicolas Cage skin contradicts that pledge. Initially, many assumed the crossover would tie into one of Cage's action movies like Con Air or The Rock, but the official announcement confirms it is simply Cage as himself, with no movie-themed unlocks in the season pass.
Previous crossovers under fire
Black Ops 7 has included other crossovers over the past six months, though none as jarring. Earlier this year, Fallout skins based on the Amazon TV show were added, which were more acceptable due to both franchises being owned by Microsoft. During the third season, Activision added RoboCop, actor Terry Crews, and Sir Smoka Lot from Half Baked. While RoboCop fits the action genre, the Half Baked character seemed out of place for a futuristic military game.
Black Ops 6 also faced criticism for adding stoner-themed skins like Jay and Silent Bob and Seth Rogen, which fans felt undermined the military aesthetic. Activision's definition of 'authentic' appears to exclude only cartoon characters, as Cage and Crews at least have action movie credentials, unlike musicians like Nicki Minaj or footballers like Lionel Messi.
Broader franchise struggles
The crossover problem escalated around 2023 with the release of Modern Warfare 3, a DLC expansion repackaged as a sequel, which became the most reviled entry in the franchise. Black Ops 7 itself was such a disaster that Activision vowed never to release back-to-back Black Ops or Modern Warfare sequels again. This year's Modern Warfare 4 is too far in development to change, so Activision must placate fans until real change occurs. However, adding goofy celebrity skins risks further alienating the player base.
