Predator in Black Ops 6? Crossover Dreams vs. Carry Forward Reality

Last Updated: November 6, 2025

The ultimate hunter is a specter haunting the wishlists of the Call of Duty community. For years, rumors and hopes have swirled around the potential return of the Predator, the iconic sci-fi warrior, to the franchise. With the Gulf War setting of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, the fantasy of stalking through dense jungles as the cloaked Yautja feels more fitting than ever. This potential blockbuster crossover, a callback to a fan-favorite moment over a decade ago, generates immense excitement.

However, that excitement is now clashing with the franchise's new, stark reality. Call of Duty's content ecosystem is undergoing a seismic shift. The "Carry Forward" system, which allowed players to bring their collections from one game to the next, is being discontinued for Black Ops 6. This forces a difficult question upon the community: even if a dream crossover like Predator were to happen, is it worth the investment for a single year?

A Ghost From a Past War

To understand the hype, we must look back to 2014's Call of Duty: Ghosts. In the 'Devastation' DLC pack, players on the map 'Ruins' could complete a Field Order and be transformed, briefly, into the Predator. It was an unexpected and brilliantly executed cameo. For a few thrilling moments, you could activate thermal vision, leap through the trees, and terrorize opponents with the iconic shoulder-mounted Plasmacaster.

It wasn't a purchasable skin but a gameplay reward—a genuine surprise that left a lasting impression. That temporary power-up became a legendary piece of Call of Duty history, and the fondness for that event is the primary driver for the excitement today. It represents a long-held fan wish to see the character return in a more permanent and substantial capacity. Black Ops 6, with its advanced graphics and robust customization, is poised to deliver the definitive version of the Yautja warrior, but the context of its release has changed everything.

The Carry Forward Shutdown

For the past year, the Call of Duty ecosystem operated on a new precedent. The "Carry Forward" initiative allowed players to transfer the vast majority of their purchased content—Operators, weapon blueprints, and cosmetics—from Modern Warfare 2 (2022) into Modern Warfare 3 (2023). This fostered a sense of persistent value and encouraged investment in the in-game store.

With Black Ops 6, that system is coming to an end. Activision and Treyarch have confirmed the game will be a "fresh start" for everyone. Content from Modern Warfare 2 and Modern Warfare 3 will not transfer into Black Ops 6. More importantly, it is understood that content unlocked or purchased in Black Ops 6 will remain locked to that title and its integrated version of Warzone, and will not carry forward into future installments.

This decision resets the entire value proposition of in-game purchases. The days of building a permanent, cross-title collection of operators and gear are over, at least for now.

Re-evaluating a Premium Hunt

If a Predator bundle were to drop in Black Ops 6, it would undoubtedly be a premium offering. Following the model of recent high-profile collaborations like The Boys or Dune, players could expect a meticulously detailed Operator skin, Yautja-inspired weapon blueprints, a brutal finishing move, and other thematic cosmetics.

Under the old Carry Forward system, this would be a must-buy for many. But with the new annual reset, it becomes a much more calculated purchase. Is it worth paying a premium price for a character that will be unceremoniously left behind when the 2025 Call of Duty title launches? This is the core of the community's debate. The initial thrill of a potential announcement is immediately tempered by a pragmatic assessment of its limited long-term worth. Licensed characters, which already operate under time-sensitive contracts, are now in the same boat as all other in-game content: temporary.

A Community's Hope vs. A Developer's Roadmap

The fan reaction to this new reality is a telling mix of understanding and disappointment. On one hand, players are excited for the clean slate that Black Ops 6 promises, with Treyarch building a new experience from the ground up. On the other, the community has grown accustomed to their collections having a lifespan beyond a single game cycle.

This puts the future of major crossovers in a precarious position. The Predator's potential return is no longer just a cool content drop; it's a test case for how Activision will manage player expectations and spending habits in this new era. The success of such a bundle would signal that the community is willing to pay for high-quality, single-title content. A failure could force a re-evaluation of how these blockbuster collaborations are priced and marketed.

While the hunt in Black Ops 6 promises to be a nostalgic and technically impressive thrill, any trophy acquired will likely be left to gather dust when the next war begins. A potential Predator crossover perfectly encapsulates the community's current dilemma: a desire for epic, memorable content clashing with the fleeting nature of the modern live-service machine.