The galaxy’s most infamous hunter is back, and this time, he’s bringing his shoulder cannon to Call of Duty once again. After more than a decade since his last appearance in Call of Duty: Ghosts (2014), the Predator is returning to Activision’s juggernaut shooter – but with a twist that has the community both excited and frustrated.
The Predator Strikes Again
The teaser image and trailer released by Activision confirm it – the Predator is stepping back into the battlefield as part of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III / Warzone Season 6, which is set to drop shortly after the extended Black Ops 7 beta wraps up on October 9.
The trailer shows a familiar silhouette stalking through the jungle, thermal vision scanning, followed by the unmistakable click and the glint of those iconic wrist blades. It’s a nostalgic punch for longtime COD fans who remember the 2014 Ghosts event, where players hunted – and were hunted by – the deadly alien in a limited-time mode.
This time around, the Predator returns as a playable Operator skin, letting players channel their inner intergalactic hunter in Warzone or multiplayer matches. The skin comes with themed finishing moves, weapon charms, and even the chilling sound effects that fans have been waiting to hear again.
But There’s a Catch
As cool as the return sounds, there’s a big caveat – the Predator won’t carry over to Black Ops 7.
When Black Ops 7 launches in November, none of the Black Ops 6 Operator skins (including Predator) will transfer to the new title. That means players who invest in the cosmetic bundle now won’t be able to use it in the upcoming mainline release. It’ll still be playable in Warzone, but not in the new multiplayer experience.
This decision follows Activision’s recent announcement that Black Ops 7 will not include the “Carry Forward” system that allowed players to bring cosmetics, weapons, and Operators between titles like Modern Warfare II and Modern Warfare III. The publisher says this move is meant to “keep the experience authentic to its era and tone,” but fans aren’t entirely convinced.
Community Reaction: A Split Down the Middle
The reveal of the Predator skin has reignited a debate that’s been simmering for months. Some players are thrilled to see a nostalgic crossover that fits perfectly with Call of Duty’s grittier aesthetic. Others, however, are frustrated that they’ll once again be spending money on content that won’t last beyond a single season.
On Reddit and X (formerly Twitter), the tone is mixed. Some fans see this as a return to form – the kind of crossover that feels earned rather than absurd. “Predator, Rambo, Spawn – all of those made sense,” one fan noted. “They fit the vibe. They’re gritty, they’re brutal, and they don’t break immersion.”
Others are less forgiving. “Would’ve been awesome to take Predator into Black Ops 7,” another player said. “Now I’m just buying another skin I’ll lose in a month.”
It’s a sentiment echoed across the community – a growing frustration with Activision’s approach to in-game purchases. Many players feel that the shift away from carry-forward progression means less long-term value for the money they spend.
The Bigger Picture: COD’s Identity Crisis
Call of Duty has been wrestling with its own identity lately. Once the go-to military shooter known for realism and intensity, the franchise has leaned heavily into pop culture collaborations over the past few years. From Beavis and Butt-Head to The Boys, Snoop Dogg, and even Nickelodeon’s TMNT, the game has blurred the line between tactical shooter and cultural mash-up.
While some enjoy the lighthearted chaos, others argue that the game has strayed too far from its roots. The term “Fortnite-ification” has become a buzzword among traditional fans who miss the grounded, military realism of older entries like Modern Warfare 2 (2009) and Black Ops 1.
The arrival of the Predator – a violent, R-rated movie icon – feels like a compromise between both worlds. It’s not cartoonish or comedic. It’s brutal, grounded, and fits within the darker tone Call of Duty once stood for.
Still, it doesn’t fully resolve the growing tension between those who love the over-the-top fun and those who crave authenticity.
Why the Predator Still Works
Despite the controversy, it’s hard to deny that Predator belongs in Call of Duty. His design – tactical armor, stealth mechanics, heat vision, and hunting prowess – mirrors the fantasy many players chase when they drop into Warzone.
There’s also a sense of nostalgia driving the excitement. The Ghosts Predator event in 2014 was one of the game’s most memorable limited-time crossovers. Players could earn the Predator killstreak, complete with cloaking and thermal vision – and for many, that was the moment Call of Duty proved it could blend cinematic flair with competitive gameplay.
This return, even if temporary, taps into that same energy. It’s a callback to when COD experiments were fresh and unexpected – before collaborations became monthly occurrences.
What Happens Next
With Season 6 launching soon, the Predator bundle will likely drop within days of the update’s release. Expect themed weapons, blueprints, and maybe even a jungle-inspired map event tied to the crossover.
The timing – right before Black Ops 7’s launch – also feels strategic. Activision knows players are buzzing about the new title, and a crossover this nostalgic helps keep attention on the current season while easing the transition.
Still, for those planning to move straight into Black Ops 7, it’s a bittersweet moment. The Predator may be one of the most exciting skins in years – but it’s also one of the most short-lived.
The Bottom Line
The Predator’s return to Call of Duty is both a blast from the past and a reminder of how much the franchise has changed. It shows Activision can still deliver fan-favorite content that feels true to the game’s DNA – yet it also highlights the frustration players feel about losing access to their purchases with every new release.
For now, fans can enjoy stalking enemies through Warzone as the galaxy’s ultimate hunter – just don’t get too attached. When Black Ops 7 drops next month, the Predator disappears once again into the jungle.
