Call of Duty's Carry Forward Feature: What It Is & Why It Matters

For years, Call of Duty players have faced the same frustrating cycle: grind hard for their favorite weapons, skins, and blueprints in one game, only to have to start over when the next installment drops. But what if you could keep your progress from one game to the next? Enter “Carry Forward”, a game-changing feature that might just redefine the Call of Duty experience.

In this article, we’ll break down what Carry Forward is, why it matters, and how its return could be a major win for players.

What Is Carry Forward in Call of Duty?

Simply put, Carry Forward is a system that allows players to transfer certain weapons, skins, and other unlocks from a previous Call of Duty game into the next one.

This means that instead of losing all the guns, attachments, and cosmetics you grinded for, you can continue using them in the next title. The first official use of this feature was in Modern Warfare III (2023), where content from Modern Warfare II was carried over.

 

 

Why Is Carry Forward a Big Deal?

1. Keeps Your Hard Work Intact

Let’s be real—Call of Duty games are a grind. You spend hours unlocking attachments, skins, camos, and blueprints, only for them to be left behind when a new game drops. Carry Forward changes this by letting you keep your hard-earned content, making all that time spent actually worth it.

2. Encourages Investment in Cosmetics

If you’ve ever hesitated to buy a premium skin or operator bundle because you knew it would be useless in the next game, Carry Forward eliminates that worry. Now, you can feel good about your purchases, knowing they’ll stay with you for multiple titles.

3. Smooth Transition Between Games

Typically, when a new Call of Duty game launches, players have to start fresh, re-learning new weapons and grinding from Level 1 all over again. With Carry Forward, players can jump into the action with their preferred loadouts, making the transition seamless and fun instead of tedious.

4. More Weapon Variety at Launch

Most new CoD games start with a limited number of weapons, which can make early multiplayer matches feel repetitive. Carry Forward fixes this by allowing a larger pool of weapons from day one, creating a more diverse and engaging meta.

How Will Carry Forward Work in Future Call of Duty Games?

Although it hasn’t been officially confirmed for Black Ops 6, many players are hopeful that Treyarch will adopt the system, similar to how Modern Warfare III carried over MWII’s content.

If implemented, we can expect:

• Weapon and Operator skins transferring over
• Blueprints and camos remaining usable
• Possibly even perks, loadouts, and XP progression carrying over

While balance issues may arise (new games have their own metas), developers could adjust older weapons to fit the new gameplay mechanics.

Possible Downsides of Carry Forward

While the feature is mostly positive, there are a few challenges:

 

• Game Balance Issues: Older weapons might overshadow new ones, making them less exciting.
• File Size Concerns: Call of Duty is already notorious for massive game sizes—keeping extra content might make updates even larger.
• Limited Integration for Black Ops Titles: Since Treyarch and Infinity Ward make very different Call of Duty games, some mechanics may not translate smoothly from one title to the next.

 

Despite these potential drawbacks, the benefits far outweigh the negatives, making Carry Forward a highly requested feature for future games.

Final Thoughts: A Win for Players

The return of Carry Forward could mark a major shift in how Call of Duty operates, giving players more continuity, freedom, and value for their time and money. Whether you’re grinding for camos, collecting blueprints, or investing in premium bundles, this feature ensures your efforts don’t go to waste.

If implemented in Black Ops 6 and beyond, Carry Forward could become one of the most player-friendly changes in CoD history.