Activision's recent unveiling of the Half Baked Tracer Pack for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, featuring comedian Dave Chappelle, has sparked significant backlash from the game's fanbase. The cosmetic bundle, tied to the franchise's annual 4/20 weed-themed content, was revealed in a Season 3 blog post today, but its comedic tone and timing have drawn sharp criticism.
For years, Call of Duty has been known for its eccentric crossover outfits and whimsical skins. However, discussions about Operator cosmetics intensified with the post-launch support for Black Ops 6 throughout 2025. In response to player feedback and a commitment to gritty realism, Activision announced last August that skins from previous games would not carry forward to new entries. "Black Ops 7 needs to feel authentic to Call of Duty and its setting," the company stated, explaining why Black Ops 6 content would not transition to Black Ops 7.
Despite this pledge, Activision quickly reintroduced crossover content with a Fallout collaboration in Black Ops 7 Season 1. The Half Baked Tracer Pack takes a more humorous approach, inspired by Chappelle's '90s stoner comedy of the same name. The bundle includes a new Operator with two Thurgood-inspired skins, three themed weapon blueprints, an emote, a finishing move, and additional pot-themed cosmetics. Many players feel this is a step too far, expressing their disappointment on social media platforms.
One X/Twitter user remarked, "I don’t think a singular person on this earth was praying that the comedian Dave Chappelle would be added to Black Ops 7." Another added, "Ok so when is carry forward coming back now that we're doing silly skins again?" Further criticism highlighted the inconsistency with Activision's earlier stance on realism, with posts questioning how the bundle fits the Black Ops universe.
The issue is compounded by the timing of the announcement, coming less than a year after Activision emphasized a return to grounded visuals. A March 6 post from the official Call of Duty account stated that new collaboration bundles would only be introduced if "they are the right fit," which has only fueled player frustration.
Additionally, Chappelle's involvement has stirred controversy due to his history of making transphobic comments in specials like The Closer and The Dreamer. The announcement coinciding with International Transgender Day of Visibility has added to the confusion and disappointment. One player commented, "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." Another noted, "Why Dave Chapelle? And to announce it on Trans Visibility Day of all days? Even as a BO7 defender, I can’t defend this."
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 was released on November 14, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Season 3, set to launch on April 2, will include the Half Baked Tracer Pack along with a new battle pass featuring content for both the base game and its Warzone mode. For more updates, players can explore insights from the game's director regarding rumors of skill-based damage.
