Activision recently shared a ton of information about Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 including the various gameplay modes, maps, and operators that the game will feature. This included an operator named Volta Rossi that is being used to inject gender ideology into the game.

A screenshot from Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (2024), Treyarch and Raven Software

In a blog post, Activision shared that Rossi is part of Crimson One, which is a CIA operation that was initiated “to hunt down the Rogue squad. The team is officially sanctioned by the CIA and has access to all intel and tools to get the job done. It is made up of elite Black Ops soldiers to get the job done and led by the imposing Jackson Caine.

“With the CIA infiltrated, Crimson One represents the CIA operation initiated to hunt down and silence Adler, Woods, and their team, permanently,” the company added.

A screenshof of all the operators of Crimson One in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (2024), Activision

From there, it provided brief intel reports on all the operators. In the character’s description the company described Rossi using “their” and “them” pronouns rather than “he” or “she” a clear indication that the character is suffering from any number of disorders and likely not fit to be a black ops specialist.

Nevertheless, the background description states, “A street-smart rogue with a blue-blood pedigree, Volta Rossi is an enigma who left the comfort of aristocracy to forge a new name as a HUMINT specialist. Their ties to the Luttazzi family give them unique insight into Avalon.”


A collage of images of Volta Rossi from Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (2024), Activision

It is no surprise that a character such as Rossi was injected into Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Back in May, former World of Warcraft Team Lead Mark Kern aka Grummz reported that the company was installing DEI officers on every single development team to ensure the agenda was being propagated throughout the company and in its products.

He wrote on X, “DEI Officers are installed on every dev team to ensure THE MESSAGE.”

Of all the AAA Studios out there, my dev friends and contacts who have come forth tell me that Ubisoft and Activision are the very worst,” he added.

Shortly after that report, in June, Activision gave away a free “Pride” gift pack that included “transgender” themed bullets and guns.

On the company’s official website it declared, “Call of Duty is for everyone, and we’re proud to celebrate Pride Month by offering seven different Weapon Camo variants, each representing the colors of the different LGBTQ+ flags. Available as a free Gift Pack, find them in the Store in a single bundle.”

It also shared various screenshots of the weapons, which you can see below.

Screenshot of Pride Gift Pack for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023), Sledgehammer Games

X user BobNetworkUK noted that the camos allows players to obtain transgender-themed bullets as well.

BobNetworkUK on X

X user Gustavo Cardenas corroborated that there are indeed transgender themed bullets on one of the firearms.

gustavo511452 on X

According to X user DDplay_TabMovie one of the weapons that allows players to use transgender themed bullets is the M4 blueprint that players can acquire if they purchased Modern Warfare III.

DDPlay_TABMovie on X

On top of this, the company’s President Bob Kostich has an entire statement declaring allegiance to the ideology on the company’s Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion website.

He wrote, “For us to operate at the top of our game in both areas, it is imperative that we champion diversity, equity and inclusion environment where everyone can show up as the best version of themselves motivated and comfortable to push our thinking in all new ways.”

“As we look at our player community we properly reflect the diversity of our players in our teams, and in our thinking, in order to exceed their needs and expectations as they connect in our incredible games,” he added.

Kostich also stated, “This culture journey is one that never ends; we will strive to improve every day. This is an essential global team effort that we will continue to refine together.”

An image of Rob Kostich’s statement on Activision’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion website

In the company’s 2023-2024 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report, Kostich declared, “Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DE&I) is a critical component of our future success. Our journey toward fostering DE&I began years ago, fueled by the passion and stories shared by our employees. To fulfill our vision of becoming the most inclusive blockbuster games company, we have embedded DE&I in every aspect of our operations.”

Kostich added, “We strive to create an environment where our talented employees can thrive and do the best work of their lives, and by integrating DE&I into our game development process, we can evolve our games to better resonate with abroader audience and to better foster community around the world. Every initiative we undertake is driven by the belief that we are building a better future – for our people and our players.”

He continued, “Embracing diverse perspectives is not only the right thing to do, but it also enables us to make informed decisions that shape the future of gaming and entertainment. It is an exciting time to now be a part of Xbox, who shares our perspective and commitment. While we acknowledge that there is still work to be done, we always embrace the challenge of continuous improvement. ‘Champion DE&I’ became one of our core values because of the unwavering passion and dedication of our exceptional employees, and it will remain a core focus of ours to help fuel our future growth.”

Screenshot from Activision’s 2023-2024 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report

The report also stated that the company is implementing DE&I into its game design. One slide reads, “Through collaboration between the DE&I team and business units across Activision, we focus on game accessibility, diverse media representation, and fostering connection through our gaming communities.”

Specifically, it details the company’s focus on Inclusive Game Design and what its Inclusive Game Design Council does, “Our Inclusive Game Design Council, with external experts, educates and supports developers in creating inclusive games. This year, we collaborated with UCLA Center for Scholars and Storytellers for workshops on Gender Identity, Roles, Stereotypes, and Cultural Appropriation in Video Games. These empower our teams to create inclusive characters, storylines, and games. We are piloting the Inclusive Game Design Ambassadors program to support employee initiatives for inclusive best practices.”

Screenshot from Activision’s 2023-2024 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report

The document also highlights how the company is promoting disordered sexual behaviors through its representation pillar.

It states, “It is important that our games authentically showcase different cultures, identities, and lived experiences. One example we’re excited about is Catbat, Activision’s first non-binary character. Catbat made their debut in the multiplayer game, Crash Team Rumble. An escaped prisoner of antagonist Dr. Neo Cortex, and as a lover of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Catbat is also the series’ first character voiced by a gender-fluid actor who uses all pronouns.”

Kaytlen Mennell, who works in Human Resources at Infinity Ward, added, “Activision’s scope around operations means infusing DE&I in design, putting a lot of effort and resources into ensuring authenticity in our games through the collaboration of artists, animators, and developers.”

Screenshot from Activision’s 2023-2024 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report

What do you make of Activision introducing this character in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6?