Call of Duty games haven't featured an emblem editor since 2018, and for good reason. Hand one of the most toxic online communities free rein to design whatever they want, and you end up with some of the most offensive, oftentimes racist playercards. Considering how unwelcoming public lobbies are already, it's no wonder that Activision finally sunset the feature in Modern Warfare (2019).

However, since Black Ops and Black Ops 2 are practically 1:1 ports on PlayStation, they come fresh out of the digital box with emblem editors fully intact—no restrictions whatsoever. It's going about as well as you would expect.

Graphic imagery, details of racism.

Almost immediately, players got to work on designing Charlie Kirk emblems that recreate the 2025 campus assassination. There are countless images making the rounds on X, often depicting him with blood gushing from the neck. Considering how much Charlie Kirk was memed in the aftermath, it's hardly surprising. Unfortunately, neither is the sheer amount of blatantly racist images depicting black stick figures being tormented by the KKK, playing on incredibly harmful stereotypes.

It's Not Too Late To Remove It, But I'm Not Sure Activision Will

"Nature is healing," said one player, attaching a video of KKK members warming their hands at a burning cross, with a swastika beneath a tagline we won't repeat here. Others have been sharing emblems of KKK members hiding in bushes, dangling watermelon and chicken on fishing rods. Worryingly, the comments are filled with other players asking to be added as friends so they can duplicate these emblems, spreading them further.

Emblem moderation is notoriously lax, relying on player reports.

The idea of being able to fully customize your playercard and profile in whatever way you see fit sounds exciting on paper, and there are some genuinely creative designs out there, but like so many things, the internet ruined it. And even today, in 2026, the emblem editor isn't safe from the worst corners of the Call of Duty playerbase. While some argue that it's inevitable Activision will remove the feature this time next week to address the sheer amount of racist, homophobic, and generally bigoted emblems flooding lobbies, I'm not so sure.

These are basic ports of Black Ops and Black Ops 2, without any graphical updates or quality-of-life features. You're essentially buying the PS3 versions again. And even though the games are backwards compatible on Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One, the emblem editor remains, offensive creations and all. PlayStation is now following suit, souring what should be a momentous return to two of the series' best entries.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Like Follow Followed FPS Systems Released November 9, 2010 ESRB M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language Developer(s) Treyarch Publisher(s) Activision Engine iw Multiplayer Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer, Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op Franchise Call of Duty
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