Modern Warfare 4 Will Ditch Outlandish Skins: Expect No More ‘Clowny’ Characters

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 (not to be confused with 2007’s Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare) is set to launch later this year. While the series is known for its serious military themes, its multiplayer modes have increasingly become a playground for crossover skins and quirky additions. However, the developers have made it clear that they won’t be including any “clowny” skins in this upcoming installment, and they’ve encouraged players to “keep the receipts” in case they change their stance after the game’s release.

Modern Warfare 4 was officially revealed last week, with Infinity Ward emphasizing a desire for this year’s title to be more “grounded” and closely tied to the game’s narrative. Despite this, both fans and critics remain skeptical, especially given the trend of “Fortnite-ification” in shooters, which has led to bizarre crossover skins featuring characters like Beavis and Butthead. The team has addressed these concerns on social media, assuring players that Modern Warfare 4 will not feature any of these elements at launch or in future seasons, explicitly stating that there will be no skins for Lady Gaga, Omni-Man, Teletubbies, or SpongeBob.

We got the feedback. No BS. This is all about staying true to Modern Warfare. No clowny skins for launch and seasons beyond.

— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) May 31, 2026

No Lady Gaga. No Omni-Man. No Teletubbies. No SpongeBob. Keep the receipts.

— CallofDutyCM (@CallofDutyCM) May 30, 2026

It’s important to note that the franchise has previously attempted to phase out crossover skins by not allowing them to carry over from Black Ops 6 to last year’s Black Ops 7, citing player feedback as a significant reason. However, Black Ops 7 still featured a variety of crossover skins, including those from RoboCop and Fallout. This raises the question of whether the term “clowny” is a strategic way to avoid a blanket ban on crossover skins, potentially leaving room for more “grounded” characters that might fit better within the game’s aesthetic. Additionally, these types of cosmetics will still be available in the free-to-play shooter Call of Duty: Warzone, indicating that this isn’t a complete overhaul if it does happen. I’m all for developers trying to steer their games away from crossover chaos, so I hope this isn’t just pre-launch posturing. They’ve asked us to “keep the receipts,” so we’ll be ready to follow up if the Teletubbies make an appearance in Modern Warfare 4.