Call of Duty fans are up in arms after Activision announced a first look at its upcoming Black Ops 7 Half Baked Tracer Pack featuring Dave Chappelle.
Details on the latest cosmetic bundle for the newest entry in the ongoing FPS franchise were revealed in a Season 3 blog post today. Its ties to the shooter’s annual weed-inspired 4/20 content drop have done little to ward off criticisms from those unhappy with its inclusion and the timing of its announcement.
Call of Duty has remained infamous for its use of out-there crossover outfits and goofy skins for years, but talk around how Operator cosmetics have been handled throughout the franchise really heated up as post-launch support for Black Ops 6 arrived throughout 2025. As a result of fan feedback and as part of a commitment to stick to gritty realism, Activision confirmed last August that skins from previous entries would no longer carry forward to new ones.
“Black Ops 7 needs to feel authentic to Call of Duty and its setting,” it said at the time. “That is why Black Ops 6 Operator and Weapon content will not carry forward to Black Ops 7.”
Although Activision almost immediately dipped its toes back into the water with a Fallout collaboration with Black Ops 7 Season 1, the Half Baked Tracer Pack takes a more comedic approach with content based on Chappelle’s ‘90s stoner comedy of the same name. Included in the bundle is a new Operator with two Thurgood-inspired skins, three themed weapon blueprints, an emote, finishing move, and more pot cosmetics. For many, it’s a step too far, as players have been especially quick to express their disappointment on social media.
“I don’t think a singular person on this earth was praying that the comedian Dave Chappelle would be added to Black Ops 7,” one X/Twitter user replied.
“Ok so when is carry forward coming back now that we’re doing silly skins again,” another added.
why on earth are we getting a Dave Chappelle bundle??? How does this fit the Black Ops Universe as you put it….@CallofDuty @CallofDutyCM @TreyarchCM @MaTtKs
You cancel carry forward and then give us this crap ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! pic.twitter.com/cAaU1rOX89
— COD Warfare (@CODWarfareForum) March 31, 2026
What happened to “fitting the black ops identity” 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/jIyy2n21FY
— Robert Rivera (@LilScarface609) March 31, 2026
The issue for some lies with the appearance of a comedic bundle less than one year after Activision expressed a desire to lean more into the grounded visuals that originally made Call of Duty popular. A message posted by the series’ official account March 6, which stated fans would only see new collaboration bundles if “they are the right fit,” has only added insult to injury.
Meanwhile, Chappelle has remained a controversial figure for years as viewers have called out transphobic comments he’s made during specials like The Closer and The Dreamer. His joining Call of Duty would no doubt face criticism on any day, but the fact that the announcement of his inclusion arrives on International Transgender Day of Visibility has only added to the confusion and disappointment.
“Announcing a dave chappelle collab bundle, despite saying that you wouldn’t make specifically that, on trans day of visibility of all days, sure is a choice,” one player said.
“Why Dave Chapelle? And to announce it on Trans Visibility Day of all days? Even as a BO7 defender, I can’t defend this,” another commented.
https://t.co/Lw7n0DDtBN pic.twitter.com/PIoJzCbiYt
— z4c7 (@zackpr05) March 31, 2026
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 launched for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S November 14, 2025. Season 3, which has a release date of April 2, will include the Half Baked Tracer Pack, as well as a new battle pass, featuring content for both the base game and its Warzone offshoot. For more, you can check out what the game’s director had to say regarding rumors of skill-based damage.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
