Black Ops 7 pre-orders hit RECORD LOWS... so Activision decided to BREAK THE F***ING LAW

Summary

The video critiques Activision/Blizzard's practices, highlighting poor pre-order performance of Black Ops 7 compared to Battlefield 6 and the dominance of overpriced sports titles like NBA 2K26. The speaker exposes manipulative 'dark patterns,' such as confusing pre-order buttons and disc issues with MW3, forcing frustrating customer support interactions. They also warn of security risks in Cold War lobbies, including hacking and doxxing, reflecting a pattern of negligence and intentional friction to drive new game sales. Emphasizing consumer protection and accountability, the speaker encourages viewers to stay informed, be critical of industry practices, and use tools like VPNs for safety while playing older or vulnerable titles.

Takeaways

• 🎮 Black Ops 7 pre-orders are underperforming on both PlayStation and Steam compared to Battlefield 6 and other top-selling games.
• 💰 Steam revenue rankings show Black Ops 7 far behind Battlefield 2042, indicating poor financial performance despite being a major franchise release.
• ⚠️ Activision allegedly uses manipulative 'dark patterns' in their UI design, encouraging accidental purchases of Black Ops 7.
• 🛠 Technical issues with previous Call of Duty titles, like MW3 and Cold War, create frustration and push players toward buying new games.
• 🕵️ Security concerns persist in older Call of Duty games, including hacked lobbies and potential doxxing incidents, especially on PC.
• 📉 Console pre-orders show modest improvement for Black Ops 7, but are still weak overall, with sports titles like NBA 2K26 dominating the charts.
• 📝 Independent content creators, like the video speaker, claim financial sacrifice to maintain impartiality and honest reporting about the gaming industry.
• 💻 PC gamers have more options and appear less likely to fall for manipulative tactics compared to console players.
• ⏳ Activision’s poor customer support and intentional hurdles, like disc issues, make it unnecessarily difficult for players to access their purchased games.
• 🔒 The video emphasizes using VPNs like Cyber Ghost for online safety, protecting data, and accessing geo-restricted content.
• ⚡ There is a recurring pattern of malicious and manipulative behavior by Activision across multiple games and years, not isolated incidents.
• 📢 The speaker encourages viewers to be critical of gaming companies and actively spread awareness of these issues for consumer protection.

Q & A

What is the general tone of the speaker regarding the current state of gaming?

The speaker acknowledges that gaming as a whole is somewhat healing and progressing positively, but still points out ongoing issues, particularly with corporate practices like those of Activision.

How did Black Ops 7 pre-orders perform on console platforms compared to Battlefield 6?

On PlayStation, Black Ops 7 pre-orders were behind Battlefield 6, with only the Vault Edition reaching spot six, while Battlefield 6's Phantom Edition remained ahead.

How did Black Ops 7 perform on Steam in terms of revenue?

Black Ops 7 ranked 79th in revenue on Steam, significantly underperforming compared to Battlefield 2042, which was selling for $3 but generating more total revenue.

What does the speaker identify as 'dark patterns' in Activision's game design?

Dark patterns refer to manipulative design choices intended to trick players into spending more money or time, such as placing the Black Ops 7 pre-order button right next to the Quick Join button on PlayStation.

What issues have players experienced with MW3 discs?

Players report that MW3 discs often fail to work due to updates in COD HQ, forcing them to contact support or purchase a digital version, which the speaker suggests may be intentional.

What security risks are highlighted in Call of Duty: Cold War?

Hacked lobbies have allowed malicious users to dox players and manipulate games, with Activision failing to adequately ban offenders or update security patches, putting player safety at risk.

Why has Call of Duty War II on PC Game Pass not returned?

It has not returned due to remote code execution (RCE) exploits that compromised player safety when using the official Xbox app on PC.

How does the speaker describe their own role and independence in reporting gaming issues?

The speaker emphasizes that they remain an independent source of information, not influenced by sponsorships or corporate incentives, and prioritizes honest opinions over financial gain.

What is the speaker's stance on Activision's corporate behavior?

The speaker believes Activision engages in repeated, manipulative, and malicious practices, including exploiting users, mishandling security, and using dark patterns to increase sales.

What solutions or protective measures does the speaker suggest for players?

Players are encouraged to be aware of dark patterns, report issues, leave critical feedback, and use tools like Cyber Ghost VPN to protect personal data and maintain privacy online.

How does the speaker compare console and PC audiences in terms of susceptibility to manipulative practices?

The speaker suggests that PC players have more options and are less likely to fall for manipulative practices, while console players appear more susceptible to pre-order and marketing tactics.

What effect do pre-order incentives like beta access have on Black Ops 7 sales according to the speaker?

The speaker argues that pre-order incentives, such as early beta access, are insufficient to boost sales significantly because consumers already anticipate the game's quality based on past releases.