Black Ops 7 team addresses backlash over in-game skins

As excitement builds for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, developers have acknowledged ongoing community concerns surrounding cosmetic skins — especially those seen as clashing with the franchise’s gritty, realistic tone.

In a recent interview with IGN, Miles Leslie, Associate Creative Director at Treyarch, responded to criticism about the more “wacky” or out-of-place character skins that have appeared in recent titles. These include crossover bundles from other franchises, which have sparked debate among fans for disrupting the visual consistency of the game.

Leslie made it clear that the development team is actively listening to player feedback and working to strike a balance. “We always try to make sure that we are trying to touch the widest audience,” he said. “There are fans that really love it… [and] there are fans who those may not be their favorite. We’re going to try to calibrate that as we move forward.”

He emphasized that community input plays a key role in shaping the game’s direction: “We take that feedback seriously. We are trying to make sure that all fans feel represented in the game, and figuring out that tight balance is something we’re paying attention to.”

The issue has been a talking point for some time, particularly as crossover skins in Black Ops 6 drew mixed reactions. While some praised the additions, others felt the more cartoonish designs were better suited for stylized games like Fortnite than for Call of Duty’s grounded military aesthetic.

Black Ops 7 is set to launch on November 14, 2025. So far, Treyarch has revealed several key updates, including changes to Tac-Sprint, expanded Mastery camo options, and 16 core 6v6 multiplayer maps at launch.