No matter what type of gamer you are, we all enjoy new features and updates. Activision is known for continually adding upgrades, in-game additions, and optimizations. At the recent COD NEXT event, Call of Duty’s developers unveiled a new feature that is sure to excite the community. However, while this addition may be welcomed by many, it has the potential to escalate toxicity to unprecedented levels, both within Call of Duty Black Ops 6 and beyond.
What Is This New Controversial Call of Duty Feature?
During the event, Treyarch unveiled a new mechanic in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 known as the meat shield. This feature enables players to grab an enemy from behind and use them as a shield. While the concept of using a body as a shield isn’t new having been seen in the single-player mode of Black Ops Cold War it’s an intriguing way to engage with enemies in close-range combat.
The meat shield feature itself isn’t problematic. As an FPS player who recently enjoyed the unique mechanics in games like Spectre Divide and Deadlock, I appreciate when a new element is introduced to Call of Duty multiplayer. However, my concern arises from Treyarch’s recent post regarding this feature.
Treyarch has confirmed that players will be able to use proximity chat while holding an enemy as a meat shield. This means you’ll be able to taunt or communicate with a player who is helpless and unable to respond. Despite Treyarch’s suggestion to “Be Nice” in their announcement, it’s doubtful that this will prevent the feature from becoming a breeding ground for toxic behavior.
The Already Toxic COD Chats Are About to Get Even Worse
Since the early days of Call of Duty Multiplayer, the in-game chats have been notorious for their toxicity. Unfortunately, this issue has only worsened over time, and its impact extends beyond the game itself.
Proximity chat abusers from Call of Duty are quick to invade any game attempting to address toxicity issues. Whether it’s Valorant or Apex Legends, you’ll often hear them boast, “You couldn’t survive a COD lobby.” While this may seem like a badge of honor, in reality, such toxicity only diminishes a game’s enjoyment and creates a challenging mental hurdle for players.
In a Valorant post about hate speech and community health, many Call of Duty players echoed this sentiment. While these individuals often go unnoticed, they are the same ones who spread negativity and disrupt other gaming communities as well.
That’s exactly what I fear will happen once the Black Ops 6 body shield mechanic goes live. But it could get even worse. In COD Warzone, players are known for quickly finishing off their enemies after an engagement. With this new mechanic, they’ll have ample opportunity to showcase their worst behavior, using the body shield feature to grief and harass others. This raises a crucial question:
How Can Activision Address the Growing Toxicity in Call of Duty?
Addressing toxicity in games is complex, but developers can make strides by enforcing strict penalties for offenders. Unfortunately, this approach has been lacking in Call of Duty. Across both Warzone and Multiplayer, players often push the boundaries of decency, and Activision has struggled to tackle this persistent issue. Even when efforts are made, the community frequently criticizes them, arguing that such measures are excessive or impractical.
Games like Apex Legends have fostered a strong sense of exclusivity and positive culture within their esports and community environments. Similarly, Fortnite has implemented voice reporting features that make it challenging for abusers to misuse their microphones without facing consequences.
Valorant, on the other hand, focuses heavily on addressing negativity and offensive behavior. They’ve even introduced hardware-level bans when necessary to maintain a positive game environment. This approach helps create a more welcoming environment, leading to players feeling more comfortable in these games compared to Call of Duty.
In this case, it might be best for the developers to disable proximity chat while using someone as a body shield. Adding this feature to a game already known for its toxic culture seems unnecessary and could further degrade the player experience. Games should be enjoyable, not stressful.
What do you think about this new Call of Duty Black Ops 6 feature? Do you agree that Activision should take steps to curb toxicity, or do you think this is just part of the game’s nature? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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