Black Ops 6's Bold Skins Prioritize Player Fun, Developers Say

Treyarch defends the game's outlandish cosmetics as a creative extension of its Zombies mode while maintaining realism in its campaign.

Black Ops 6, released in October 2024, features increasingly unconventional operator skins, including celebrity crossovers and fantastical designs like dragons and shark-like characters.
Treyarch's associate creative director, Miles Leslie, stated that the priority for these cosmetics is maximizing player enjoyment, even if it means breaking from the game's traditional military aesthetic.
The Black Ops series' association with its surreal Zombies mode has influenced its willingness to embrace outlandish themes in multiplayer cosmetics.
Treyarch emphasized that while multiplayer skins allow for creative freedom, the campaign remains grounded with era-specific and story-driven character designs.
Upcoming collaborations, such as a Squid Game tie-in, suggest that the trend of unconventional cosmetics will continue in future updates.