Shroud: Call of Duty is not made for competitive play

    Michael 'shroud' Grzesiek has issued a sharp critique of the Call of Duty esports scene, questioning its depth and long-term appeal.

    Call of Duty Modern Warfare III Call of Duty Modern Warfare III

    Speaking during a live stream on 20 August 2025, the content creator and former professional Counter-Strike player suggested that Call of Duty should be one of the biggest esports titles in the world, but argued that the current competitive landscape is holding it back.

    According to Shroud, the Call of Duty League (CDL) and its supporting Challengers circuit have become overly reliant on tried-and-tested mechanics.

    This dependence, he said, creates matches that feel predictable and indistinct, with little separating one game from the next.

    He added that the repetitive nature of competitive play means viewers struggle to identify clear strengths and weaknesses in individual players.

    Instead, matches often appear uniform, even at the highest level of competition. This, Shroud argued, diminishes the excitement and storytelling potential that esports fans thrive on.

    Furthermore, Shroud believes the game's top talent has reached such a refined skill ceiling that differences between elite players are virtually impossible to distinguish.

    "Call of Duty on paper, should be one of the biggest esports in the world. The main reason it's not, is because the game lacks depth. You just hold Mouse 1 and dropshot sometimes," said the streamer.

    "You can't tell the difference between player A and player B, and if you can't tell the difference, your game doesn't have enough depth to be a competitive esport."