The Call of Duty franchise has always strived to keep the player experience fresh and engaging by adding new mechanics and features. However, not all of these innovations have been successful. Some of these changes not only failed to resonate with the community but also seriously harmed the core gameplay. In this article, we will analytically review 20 of the worst features in Call of Duty that have been introduced throughout the series’ history and sparked significant criticism.
Table of contents
- 20 of the Worst Features in Call of Duty
- 20. Black Ops Cold War Scorestreak System
- 19. The Gunsmith
- 18. Tac Sprint
- 17. Modern Warfare 2019 Mini-map
- 16. Fire Shotguns
- 15. Modern Warfare 2022 Perk System
- 14. Battle Passes
- 13. Stim Shot Equipment
- 12. Divisions (CoD: WWII)
- 11. 2v2 Gulag
- 10. Mounting
- 9. One Man Army (OMA) Perk
- 8. Weapon Tuning
- 7. Death Streaks
- 6. Headquarters (CoD: WWII)
- 5. Crazy Skins
- 4. Disbanding Lobbies
- 3. Target Finder Sights
- 2. Doors
- 1. SBMM (Skill-Based Matchmaking)
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
20 of the Worst Features in Call of Duty
Here is the list of 20 controversial additions in the history of the Call of Duty series, ranked from twentieth to first.
20. Black Ops Cold War Scorestreak System
The Scorestreak system in Black Ops Cold War was met with initial approval, but its mechanics were quickly criticized. In this system, Streaks did not reset upon death and were very expensive. This design made it possible to earn high-end Streaks without requiring high skill or long survival. Furthermore, all Streaks had a Cooldown after use. This mechanic was particularly restrictive for players who used cheaper Streaks, like the Spy Plane, repeatedly, thus disrupting the game’s rhythm.
19. The Gunsmith
Although the Gunsmith (introduced in MW 2019) offered an unprecedented level of Gun customization, it also brought negative consequences. The existence of thousands of possible combinations made the testing and balancing process nearly impossible for developers. This led to the creation of “Broken” (unbalanced) builds throughout various seasons. The Gunsmith also rendered the classic Pick 10 system obsolete and made the weapon leveling process extremely Grindy.
18. Tac Sprint
The Tac Sprint (Tactical Sprint) ability significantly altered the game’s movement speed. This mechanic was criticized for creating inconsistency in the game’s Pace. The presence of different running speeds (regular and tactical) and the influence of Perks on its duration made predicting enemy movements difficult and moved the gunplay away from its consistent and reliable foundation.
17. Modern Warfare 2019 Mini-map
One of the most controversial decisions in MW 2019 was the removal of red dots (indicating an enemy firing an un-silenced Gun) from the Mini-map. This change drastically reduced players’ situational Awareness and promoted a Camping playstyle, as players could no longer easily identify the location of active enemies. This decision also led to the creation of the weak “Personal Radar” Killstreak, which essentially simulated the function of the classic Mini-map.
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16. Fire Shotguns
The use of Incendiary Shells for Shotguns, which first appeared in CoD: WWII and continued in later titles, is heavily criticized. This ammunition applies a Burn effect after being hit, dealing damage over time even if the initial shot isn’t lethal. This mechanic significantly reduces the risk of using a Shotgun, turning it into a Low-Skill and annoying option.
15. Modern Warfare 2022 Perk System
The Perk system in MW 2022 was completely redesigned. In this system, players began the match with only two Perks, and two other Perks would activate as the match progressed. This design robbed players of the ability to strategically plan their Classes, as they lacked access to their full Perk combination for a large portion of the match.
14. Battle Passes
Although Battle Passes replaced Supply Drops and paid Map Packs, they have faced their own set of criticisms. This system imposes a Grindy (requiring repetitive effort) feeling on the game. Furthermore, in many seasons, the new Guns introduced in the Battle Pass are initially Overpowered (OP) to entice players to pay for the Premium Tier to unlock them faster.
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13. Stim Shot Equipment
The introduction of the Stim Shot as an Equipment piece changed engagement strategy. This ability, which instantly begins health regeneration, allows players to return to the fight quickly after a gunfight. Critics argue that the Stim Shot reduces the risk associated with Bad Positioning and makes strategy and calculation in gunfights less important.
12. Divisions (CoD: WWII)
At launch, the Divisions system in CoD: WWII replaced the traditional three-Perk system. In this system, player abilities were tied to their chosen Division (like Infantry or Airborne), and the player could only select one “Basic Training” (equivalent to one Perk). This system severely limited player control over their Class and was fortunately rectified later in the game’s lifecycle with a major Overhaul.
11. 2v2 Gulag
The Gulag in Warzone was an innovative mechanic for returning to the game. However, in Warzone 2.0, this system was changed to 2v2. This change eliminated the 1v1 skill aspect and tied the player’s fate to a (often random) teammate. The possibility of 2v1 encounters and lack of coordination made this version of the Gulag one of the most hated features of Warzone 2.0.
10. Mounting
The Mounting mechanic (bracing a Gun on a surface) was made universally available in MW 2019. While this feature seems logical for heavy Guns like LMGs, its availability for all Guns led to a slowing of the game’s Pace. It encouraged Camping at Choke Points, especially since many Camo challenges were tied to it.
9. One Man Army (OMA) Perk
The infamous One Man Army (OMA) Perk from the original Modern Warfare 2 is one of the most notorious features in CoD history. This Perk allowed players to change their Class mid-life without dying. The primary abuse of this Perk was using it for infinite ammunition, especially for the “Noob Tube” (grenade launcher), allowing players to spam explosives from the back of the map.
8. Weapon Tuning
The Weapon Tuning feature in MW 2022 allowed players to fine-tune their Attachments with greater detail. While it sounded appealing in theory, in practice it led to unbalanced builds, added unnecessary complexity to the Gunsmith, and was ultimately ignored by most players.
7. Death Streaks
Death Streaks (like Painkiller, Dead Man’s Hand, Martyrdom) in MW2 and MW3 gave temporary bonuses to players who died multiple times in a row. Painkiller gave the player massive health on their next spawn, and Martyrdom dropped a live grenade upon death. This system, designed to help weaker players, often led to cheap, unfair Kills and frustrated skilled players.
6. Headquarters (CoD: WWII)
The Headquarters social space in CoD: WWII was a fundamental problem at the game’s launch. Players were forced to load into this social hub before they could even queue for a Multiplayer match. This process was not only time-consuming, but for the first month, the HQ was often technically broken, leaving players alone in a massive, non-functional space.
5. Crazy Skins
In recent years, the game’s focus has shifted from a military atmosphere to fantasy, cartoonish, and unrelated crossover Skins (like the Ninja Turtles or Beavis and Butt-Head). These Skins not only destroy the game’s Immersion and visual identity but also, at times, create balancing issues due to their bright colors or designs affecting Visibility.
4. Disbanding Lobbies
The removal of Persistent Lobbies and their replacement with Disbanding Lobbies in MW 2019 was one of the biggest blows to the game’s social aspect. In the past, players would remain in a lobby and play multiple matches with the same group, allowing for Rivalries to form. Disbanding lobbies, introduced to facilitate the SBMM system, destroyed this social dynamic and increased wait times between matches.
3. Target Finder Sights
Sights like the Target Finder (first seen in Black Ops 2) and other similar thermal or enemy-identifying scopes have always been criticized. By highlighting enemies (even through Smoke), these Attachments greatly reduce the skill needed for aiming and target acquisition, and are widely regarded as Zero-Skill tools.
2. Doors
The addition of interactive Doors to maps in MW 2019 had a destructive impact on game flow. These doors created inconsistent Sightlines, slowed the Pace of the game, and became a powerful tool for Camping. Furthermore, technical glitches and unreliable Hitboxes on the doors added to the frustration.
1. SBMM (Skill-Based Matchmaking)
At the top of the list of the worst features in Call of Duty is the aggressive Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM) system, which was implemented in earnest in MW 2019. This system prioritizes placing players in lobbies based on their recent skill level rather than connection quality. The result is the complete elimination of the Casual experience; every match becomes an intense, “Sweaty” competition, effectively punishing players for performing well. This system, more than any other, has caused widespread dissatisfaction and driven away a large portion of the long-time CoD community.
Conclusion
Innovation is essential for the survival of a long-running franchise, but as this list demonstrates, not all change is positive. Many of the worst features in Call of Duty stemmed from attempts to simplify the game for new players or unnecessary changes to successful formulas. Community feedback has consistently shown that the core CoD gameplay (fast gunplay, a balanced Perk system, and well-designed maps) is what should be preserved.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
SBMM stands for Skill-Based Matchmaking. It is a system that places players in lobbies based on their recent skill level rather than their internet connection. This causes every match to be highly competitive and “sweaty.”
The main reason was the removal of red dots that appeared when enemies fired un-silenced weapons. This change made it difficult to find enemies and understand the flow of battle, and it strongly encouraged camping.
Players did not spawn with all their chosen Perks. Two Perks were active at the start, and two more activated mid-match, which undermined player strategy and class-building.
