Call Of Duty Celebrates Pride Month With LGBTQ+ Warzone
There's a rainbow flag fluttering out there in the scorched ruins of Verdansk, as Call of Duty celebrates Pride Month with the rest of the big gaming franchises. While some organisations are accused of cashing in on the pink pound by slapping a rainbow flag on its logo, that hasn't stopped Raven Software from giving Call of Duty: Warzone a small LGBTQ+ makeover.
Over the years, the CoD franchise hasn't exactly become known for its diversity or LGBTQ+ credentials. However, with Warzone boasting a player count of 100 million (and rising), it's the perfect battlefield for Activision and Raven Software to do their bit for the community. Sadly, there isn't a rainbow flag operator skin, so you can really let your pride show.
How is Call of Duty: Warzone celebrating Pride Month?
While most of the buzz has been taken up by the Warzone Season 4 update, Raven Software slipped a Pride Month tribute in alongside the new weapons, POIs, and operators. Posting on Twitter, Raven Software outlined the special LGBTQ+ Calling Cards to celebrate Pride Month.
The thread appeared on Raven's Twitter account on June 15 and explained the eight flags that are being added as tributes to Pride Month 2021. "Happy Pride month!" said Raven. "As a part of our celebration, we are adding 8 new Pride flags for free for all #Warzone players!"
Showing its pride, Raven concluded, "Diversity and inclusion are important to us and we are excited to expand our in-game representation of LGBTQIA+ identities". There was the usual wave of negativity, with some going as far as saying they'd leave CoD for Battlefield because of the Pride flags.
On the other end of the spectrum, there was plenty of support for the movement, with fans writing the likes of, "Imagine being triggered by a company trying to be inclusive and inviting to all customers…". Another concluded, "To all those threatening to leave the game because you have to live with these in your inventory, please be as tough as you say you are and leave".
How can you celebrate Pride Month with Call of Duty: Warzone?
Looking at how big Warzone's player base is, it's only natural that the sprawling community is filled with all kinds of different orientations. Like previous Calling Cards, the latest eight will be added to your inventory automatically and will be free.
There's a wide array of flags on offer, with the Progress Pride flag sitting alongside Intersex, Gender Fluid, and Pansexual. The full list of flags are as follows:
- Genderqueer by Marilyn Roxie
- Agender by Salem
- Aromantic by Cameron
- Intersex by Morgan Carpenter
- Genderfluid by JJ Poole
- Pansexual by Jasper
- Gay Man by Gayflagblog
- Progress Pride by Daniel Quasar
Players might remember how Pride Month 2020 saw Warzone add six calling cards to the game to honour sexualities including Transgender and Asexual. Despite criticisms that Activision is another company jumping on the Pride Month bandwagon, it's an important step for those who want to feel included in the sometimes controversial Call of Duty community. Go out and wear your colours with pride.
