Call of Duty hits reset: No more wild skins in Black Ops 7

Skins from Black Ops 6 will no longer carry forward into Black Ops 7

Activision and Treyarch have announced a major shift in direction for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, just under 12 weeks before launch. In a surprise move, none of the outlandish cosmetics or crossover skins from Black Ops 6 will transfer to the sequel, despite earlier promises. The decision is part of a broader effort to return to a more “authentic” Call of Duty experience.

In a community update posted August 26, Treyarch addressed growing concerns from fans who feel the franchise has lost its identity. “We’ve heard the feedback,” the studio said. “Some of you feel we’ve drifted away from what made Call of Duty unique: immersive, intense, and grounded. That feedback hits home.”

Previously, content from Black Ops 6—including crossovers with characters like Beavis and Butt-Head—was expected to carry over into Black Ops 7. But many players worried this would immediately turn the next game into a Fortnite-style mess. Treyarch confirmed that all Operators, skins, and weapons from Black Ops 6 will no longer carry forward. However, Double XP tokens and GobbleGums will still transfer, respecting player progression.

The devs emphasized that Black Ops 7 cosmetics will be “crafted to fit the Black Ops identity,” and that community feedback has already shaped many of their decisions. Cosmetics in Warzone, however, remain unaffected—your strange operators can still jump into battle royale.

The sudden shift may be influenced by the recent success of Battlefield 6’s open beta. EA’s upcoming shooter has impressed players with its grounded, gritty approach—something CoD fans have been craving. When asked about adding wild crossover skins, Battlefield devs made it clear: “It has to be grounded.”

In contrast, Black Ops 7's earlier reveal raised eyebrows for its over-the-top visuals. IGN pressed creative director Miles Leslie on the issue, but his vague response didn’t sit well with fans.

With Battlefield 6 looming, Call of Duty seems to be scrambling to reclaim its core identity. Whether this course correction is enough remains to be seen—but for now, the pink bunny skins are staying behind.