While the massive initial hype ofCall of Duty: Black Ops 6has started to wear off, there are still some aspects of the title’s post-launch content that are drawing a lot of attention. The content of the title’s in-game seasons is becoming quite predictable in terms of the cosmetics and new maps that they offer, but the events of the game are still acting as a kind of saving grace that shakes-up the title’s core experience.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6recently introduced one of its most expansive crossovers ever with its recentSquid Gameevent, which brought a huge amount of fresh content to the Treyarch-led title. TheSquid Gameevent has won many fans over thanks to the engaging limited-time modes it has introduced across core multiplayer, Zombies, andWarzone, but there is one unsung part of the event that gives it a nice boost of style. TheSquid Gameevent forBO6uses the Netflix show’s music in-game to great effect, and other events across gaming should really lean into this aspect of crossovers to reap similar benefits.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’s Squid Game Crossover Shows the Power of Music
TheSquid Gameevent forCall of Duty: Black Ops 6started on January 3, with the crossover being timed to mark the hotly-anticipated release of the successful Netflix show’s second season. While the event did stir some controversy for its introduction of a Premium Event Pass to unlock better rewards tied to an in-game purchase, the overallcontent of theSquid Gamecrossover has breathed new life intoBlack Ops 6.
Alongside the wide range of paid-for and freelyavailable rewards tied to theSquid Gameevent, players gained access to new limited-time modes like Piggy Bank TDM, Roulette, Dead Light, Green Light, and a dedicated mode forWarzone.
The original music forSquid Gamehas become an iconic and instantly recognizable part of the franchise, andBlack Ops 6’s event does not shy away from using the show’s main theme for modes like Red Light, Green Light, adding a more personal and detailed flare to the crossover. Hearing the music prior to a match beginning and after it has ended adds an extra bit of immersion to the life-or-death games players are partaking in, while its catchiness could leaveSquid Gamefans with a smile on their faces. Having a track from the show takes other additions - like the special top players background themed around the show’s rest area - to new heights, and it’s something that certainly deserves praise. While this is a detail that can easily be lost in the chaotic gameplay of theSquid Gameevent, the boost that it has provided to the crossover should be replicated with anyfuture crossovers forCall of Dutyand beyond.
Black Ops 6’s Squid Game Event Has Style as Well as Substance
Like many live service franchises,Call of Dutyoften introduces collaborative events with other IPs, and past crossovers now seem slightly more disappointing in how they lack the musical precedent that theSquid Gameevent has set. An increased focus on music could easily be carried forward, however, with a potential example being how aHalocrossover would hopefully integrate the franchise’s iconic main theme for its own limited-time modes.
Even outside ofCall of Duty, many franchises overlook the power of music in crossover events, with a tunneled focus instead being placed on how fresh gameplay ideas can be implemented that match the themes of a given IP.Black Ops 6’sSquid Gameeventhas proven that unique and constructive gameplay additions can be added alongside an eye for detail in the way of music, and hopefully future crossovers are given this added touch of personalization to make collaborations feel better crafted and more faithful.
