Update from 22.01.2022, 09:45 clock “Is Call of Duty Saved?” This is the headline of YouTuber and CoD expert Cam “Haptic” Gülken just a few days after he talked about the possible end of Activision in a video. The reason for the sudden change of heart is quite simple. On January 18, 2022, Microsoft announced it would buy gaming giant Activision Blizzard for a historic $68.7 billion – and with it, all of the publisher’s games, which includes the successful Call of Duty series.

YouTuber Haptic settles accounts with Activision: after Microsoft deal, the wind is changing

What does Haptic say about the Microsoft deal: After his last video, which was marked by disappointment, YouTuber Haptic did not miss the chance to reassess the situation around Activision. In doing so, he brought especially possible changes in the management level to the fore. Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, and currently probably the most hated man in the video game industry, is unavoidable for Microsoft, according to the YouTube video from January 19.

The 26-year-old also does not rule out the possibility that Kotick had an influence on the skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) in Call of Duty, which has been criticized by many. He says it’s entirely possible that Kotick stuck with the system because it may have given Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War, Vanguard or Warzone sales their final kick. For him, the separation from Bobby Kotick, even if not yet finally confirmed, is a reason for hope for all those who love Call of Duty.

Haptic is a passionate fan of Treyarch’s Black Ops spin-offs. So the YouTuber is particularly positive about the next title from the Santa Monica-based game company. If the Microsoft takeover of Activision is officially completed by mid-2023, as is currently planned, the next Black Ops would be the first Call of Duty under the leadership of Microsoft. For Haptic, this is another reason to be happy, because Microsoft has recently distinguished itself by implementing a lot of feedback from the community.

YouTuber Haptic on the Microsoft deal around Activision: MontanaBlack leaves purchase uncommented

The only negative point for the 26-year-old YouTube star is that, like many PS5 gamers, Haptic is not entirely sure whether Call of Duty will remain on PlayStation or be released exclusively for PC and Xbox Series X in the future. Like many experts, he doesn’t think Microsoft will miss out on PS5 revenue, but he says exclusive beta phases, rewards, and other benefits on Sony’s console won’t be available in the future.

Twitch colleague MontanaBlack, meanwhile, has yet to comment on Haptic’s video. It remains to be seen whether the vociferous PS5 advocate can live with the fact that he will no longer receive bonuses on the Sony console in the future and whether he is just as positive about Activision’s future with Microsoft. Currently, MontanaBlack is embroiled in a solid NFT scandal and may not be up for commenting on the purchase. We will keep an eye on the situation for you and inform you as soon as more big names have commented on the historic gaming deal.

YouTuber settles score with Activision – knocks down open doors with MontanaBlack

First news from 20.01.2022: Buxtehude – Twitch star MontanaBlack used to be known for his Call of Duty streams. But in the meantime, the streamer has turned away from the franchise and decided against buying Vanguard. He says the game just isn’t the same anymore. A major YouTuber has now leveled a lot of criticism at Activision – which Marcel Eris, MontanaBlack’s real name, can only agree with.

YouTuber thinks Activision is finished – streamer MontanaBlack can only agree with that

What’s Haptic got against Activision? In a video from January 11, YouTuber Haptic goes into some aspects that Activision is currently doing wrong. The YouTuber has been a big Call of Duty fan himself for 15 years and has turned his hobby into a profession. HapticRush has been creating Call of Duty videos since 2017 and has now amassed over 750,000 subscribers. He is therefore a household name in the scene and is very familiar with the titles of the franchise.

A major criticism of Haptic is the hierarchy of Activision studios. For example, he said, there is a location in Santa Monica, USA, in the UK and also in Germany. According to Haptic, the US office would dictate everything and the studio in Germany could then only execute: “The German office never has the power.“

This is a big problem, according to the YouTuber. After all, the German office would know the German community and the German Creator:innen best and thus know best what goes down well or badly with the German fans and Spieler:innen. Nevertheless, the German Activision studio would not be allowed to make any decisions that would affect the German market. According to Haptic, the German office was closed in November 2021, even though the German market is the third largest Call of Duty market.

The [die Schließung des dt. Activision-Büros, Anm. d. Red.] means for me in reverse, Activision doesn’t give a shit how the communication is with Creatorn and with players in Germany.

In addition, the YouTuber is said to have never received feedback on his criticism, although it was allegedly forwarded to the US office in Santa Monica.

Harsh criticism of Activision – streamer MontanaBlack chimes in

What does MontanaBlack have to say about this? MontanaBlack also watched Haptic’s video and reacted to it in one of his Twitch streams. Right after the video, he praises the YouTuber for creating a good video. Marcel Eris criticizes Activision for not showing any signs of making Call of Duty’s online community happy as well.

Already several times the Twitch streamer criticized the developer from Santa Monica and the approach to the Call of Duty games. Thus, MontanaBlack does not play Vanguard in his streams, moreover, young players:inside in CoD annoy the streamer. At the end of the video, Marcel Eris has a suggestion for what Activision could do to make fans and content creators happy: a free remake of Black Ops 2 for the PS5, including all DLC maps. The only thing that should cost something in the process would be weapon skins and cosmetic items. “It will never happen, but we can dream“, says the streamer.

What kind of hype do you think that would have – all over YouTube, all over Twitch. And what do you think they would do with it? Maybe they wouldn’t make as much money as with the noobs who play from home and don’t even know YouTube. But they would gain points in the online community.

According to MontanaBlack, the Santa Monica-based developer studio should ask itself what it would rather do: make as much money as possible and not listen to the fans’ criticism and wishes, or listen to the community and have a good standing but generate less profit. According to Marcel Eris, it is clear what decision Activision will make: “They will always go for solution number 1.“

Source: YouTube