Call of Duty players worried 'Sonic the Hedgehog’ maps could tank the franchise
Call of Duty fans are worried that the small maps encouraging Sonic-like giddyness will end the franchise.
10th Sep 2024 16:50
Image via Activision | Paramount
Call of Duty players worried 'Sonic the Hedgehog’ maps could tank the franchise
Call of Duty fans are worried that the small maps encouraging Sonic-like giddyness will end the franchise.
10th Sep 2024 16:50
Image via Activision | Paramount
When it comes to multiplayer maps in the Call of Duty series, it's usually Treyarch that carries the trophy for the best creations - stamping its signature three-lane philosophy onto every landscape, regardless of its size.
Raid, Standoff, Summit, and numerous others all stand tall at the pinnacle of most map tier lists. But, Black Ops 6's pool doesn't appear to be overflowing with these types of iconic designs, and fans are blaming... Sonic the Hedgehog?
Black Ops 6 players hate the new 'Sonic the Hedgehog' philosophy
Dubbed the "Coca-Cola versus Pepsi taste test fallacy," the theory is that Activision has been getting positive feedback from fans who play on small maps like Shipment and Shoot House, which is why they continue to appear in newer games such as MW3.
Despite Treyarch's fabled reputation, Black Ops 6 has now been littered with small maps, and fans now think that the developers have fallen victim to the taste test. Many think that while Pepsi might be nicer for a single sip, a full can of Coke is superior.
This goes for CoD's map pool, where some small maps can taste sweet but load the recipe with them, and then you've overdone it. Combined with ominmovement, one Redditor calls Black Ops 6 the "Sonic the Hedgehog" philosophy, and the "gogogogogo" attitude is harming the overall balance of the series.
"There are many things about this game I enjoy but I can assure you, if this game doubles down on the Sonic the Hedgehog movement speed, gogogogogo philosophy, it will not have any longevity and the multiplayer will see an extremely steep drop off in numbers within 2 months of release. Black Ops 6 is dangerously close to becoming the “New Coke” of the CoD franchise," they said.
Call of Duty have made the Coca Cola mistake.
byu/Legacy_of_H inblackops6
Others agreed with this theory, debunking the popularity of the smaller maps. "I don't think they realize a ton of people play those super small maps just to unlock attachments faster, if it didn't take an age to unlock a lot of attachments for different guns I think their statistics they're getting would be a lot different," claimed someone else.
Another player pointed out that the player retention stats usually do increase for small map moshpit playlists, given the attachment and XP grind, which has become a key measurement that Activision has often listed as motivation behind their designs.
Thankfully, these Sonic grab-the-rings-and-run maps that we saw in the Beta are just a snippet of what we can expect in Black Ops 6. The devs have confirmed that there will be many more designs similar to Scud, Skyline, and Rewind that offer a larger space to play.
About The Author
Jack Marsh
Jack is an Esports Journalist at GGRecon. Graduating from the University of Chester, with a BA Honours degree in Journalism, Jack is an avid esports enthusiast and specialises in Rocket League, Call of Duty, VALORANT, and trending gaming news.
