Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has been releasing an onslaught of teaser ads leading up to the game's launch. From previews of Zombies to a series of clips starring The Replacer, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has been working overtime to ignite excitement from prospective players. The highly anticipated Gulf War setting promises plenty of espionage and conspiracy, but the return of The Replacer has been a welcome sight leading up to the release.
There has been a large variety of teasers featuring The Replacer, but one of the most recent hopefully holds more in store for players than just a small reference. Black Ops 6's Replacer teasers have offered some of the game's strongest marketing, as each one showcases the beloved character in a variety of roles. From the Pope to a firefighter, The Replacer is everywhere. However, one specific piece of marketing referencing the iconic Joker is hopefully hinting at something even bigger for Black Ops 6.
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Black Ops 6's Joker Reference Hopefully Means a Crossover Awaits
The Joker in Black Ops 6 Could Be a Perfect Match
The teaser, simply titled "Clown", showcases The Replacer in a green room. He takes a tube of lipstick and draws a red circle on the mirror, giving him the appearance of a clown. This is directly inspired by a scene in Joker: Folie a Deux. Although this could easily just be a fun reference to a recently released movie, there may be more than meets the eye behind this ad. Through the years, Call of Duty has embraced plenty of crossovers to keep its multiplayer fresh, and including The Joker feels like a given. A bundle that offers skins and guns inspired by Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of the classic villain would be a fitting addition.
The Replacer is portrayed by acting veteran Peter Stormare, who is no stranger to video games. He is featured in Until Dawn, The Elder Scrolls Online, Destiny 2, and more.
Clowning Around in Black Ops 6
Despite the poor reception of Joker: Folie a Deux from many audiences and critics, the physical appearance of Phoenix's Joker is one of the strongest points of Todd Phillips' adaptation. The mix of the red suit contrasting with the slicked hair and clown makeup has become iconic, even if the film series hasn't lived up to expectations. Running around in a Black Ops 6 multiplayer match as Arthur Fleck is a visual that just feels right, and it would be surprising if a collaboration wasn't at least being considered somewhere down the road.
Despite the more serious tone of the franchise, Call of Duty often uses crossovers to bring some levity to the game. Black Ops 6 already has outrageous collaborations planned, like the Little Caesars Operator and rewards. Pop culture heavy-hitters like Ghostface and Cheech & Chong have graced the world of Call of Duty, so a skin and guns based on Phoenix's Joker are definitely not outside the realm of possibility.
Black Ops 6 Embracing One of Pop Culture's Most Loved Villains
There have been many instances of fan-made concepts that demonstrate what a possible Joker skin in Call of Duty could look like, showing the demand for such a bundle. Even if Phoenix's version of the Joker isn't used for a crossover, any Joker skin in Black Ops 6 would likely be a huge hit among players. The character has always been a popular face, thanks to his iconic rivalry with Batman, so any crossover involving the villain would likely be a simple, but effective, way to get players excited.
As of now, there has yet to be any official confirmation of a Joker crossover in Black Ops 6, but this could hopefully become reality down the line. It's likely that this specific ad starring The Replacer is just a further embrace of the character's cheeky humor, but only time will tell if this reference means something more for Black Ops 6 players.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 91%
- Released
- October 25, 2024
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Suggestive Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Treyarch, Raven Software
- Publisher(s)
- Activision
- Engine
- IW 9.0
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Yes - PlayStation, Xbox, PC
WHERE TO PLAY
Forced to go rogue. Hunted from within. This is Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Developed by Treyarch and Raven, Black Ops 6 is a spy action thriller set in the early 90s, a period of transition and upheaval in global politics, characterized by the end of the Cold War and the rise of the United States as a single superpower. With a mind-bending narrative, and unbound by the rules of engagement, this is signature Black Ops.
The Black Ops 6 Campaign provides dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay that includes a variety of play spaces with blockbuster set pieces and action-packed moments, high-stakes heists, and cloak-and-dagger spy activity.
In a best-in-class Multiplayer experience, players will test their skills across 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6.
Black Ops 6 also marks the epic return of Round-Based Zombies, the fan-favorite mode where players will take down hordes of the undead in two brand-new maps at launch. Post-launch, players can look forward to even more exciting maps and groundbreaking experiences dropping into both Multiplayer and Zombies.
- Franchise
- Call of Duty
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- Genre(s)
- FPS
