Several NBA players have sparked a flurry of excitement in the gaming community, claiming to have received a first glimpse of this year’s Call of Duty title. The demonstration occurred amidst the NBA’s Summer League in Las Vegas, with various images shared on social media adding to the anticipation.
Several athletes are seen in photos, seemingly profoundly engrossed with the PS5’s controller, leading to speculation that they were allowed to play the new game. However, the well-known Call of Duty Twitter account, CharlieINTEL, countered the narrative, suggesting that the players were merely shown a demo.
NEW: Activision is showing Call of Duty 2023 to NBA players at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas this weekend.
Few have posted they have seen the new Call of Duty game. pic.twitter.com/cJZ9gn5Tg6
— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) July 9, 2023
The NBA stars’ rendezvous with the upcoming Call of Duty title is among the first public encounters with the game. New banners flaunting the fresh franchise logo appeared in the background of these social media posts. This logo has been circulating on the brand’s official channels, hinting at its featured presence on the 2023 game’s cover.
This year’s Call of Duty is reportedly being spearheaded by Sledgehammer Games, with Infinity Ward’s supervision. According to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, Activision intends for the new title to resonate as a standalone full-priced release and an extension of the highly successful Modern Warfare 2. There’s also talk of integrating maps and modes from Modern Warfare 2, though Schreier warns that these plans might be subject to changes before the game’s scheduled release.
While the Call of Duty franchise has been a favorite amongst NBA players over the years, this sneak peek hints at the ever-increasing overlap between professional sports and gaming. This intersection not only signifies the growing prominence of esports but also showcases how popular franchises like Call of Duty are leveraging their vast fanbases to create a buzz around their upcoming titles.
