The debate over whether Call of Duty has grown complacent is nothing new, but the conversation hit a peak again with the upcoming launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Developers at Treyarch have been accused of recycling ideas and delivering little innovation, especially in comparison to EA’s highly anticipated Battlefield 6. 
Industry figures like Splitgate 2’s Ian Proulx and former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra have voiced fatigue with the series, calling it predictable and repetitive.
Responding to the criticism in an interview ahead of Black Ops 7’s reveal at Gamescom 2025, associate creative director Miles Leslie defended the team’s vision. He dismissed the “lazy” label as outside noise: “When we start, it’s not about what people will say. We have a vision, we chase it, and if we’re happy during playtests, we know fans will be too.”
Leslie acknowledged playing Battlefield 6 himself, describing it as fun and a welcome addition to the FPS market. But he stressed that Treyarch’s focus is squarely on delivering the experience they’ve envisioned. “We’re fans of lots of games,” he said. “Let’s all have fun.”
The friction lies between two perspectives: fans and critics who feel yearly releases dilute creativity, and those who accept Call of Duty’s formula as reliable entertainment. While some argue the franchise has been “milked” like Guitar Hero or Tony Hawk until audiences gave up, others see space for both CoD and Battlefield to thrive side by side. The casual audience remains massive, ensuring that even recycled ideas continue to find commercial success. Still, calls for longer development cycles and deeper innovation aren’t going away.
Whether Black Ops 7 silences doubters or not, the conversation reflects the wider struggle of blockbuster franchises – balancing tradition with risk, loyalty with evolution. And with Battlefield 6 gunning for attention, the next few months may prove pivotal in reshaping the FPS landscape.