In a surprising twist, the Call of Duty franchise is welcoming the iconic character from the Tomb Raider series, Lara Croft, as its latest playable avatar. This move falls in line with the ongoing trend of incorporating well-known pop culture figures into the game, indicating a shift from the franchise's traditional war-themed narrative. Lara Croft will be a part of the Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare II rosters.

This announcement follows the recent inclusion of real-life celebrities like Nicki Minaj, Snoop Dogg, and Kevin Durant, and various characters from the Prime Video series, The Boys. The addition of Lara Croft, the well-known fictional archaeologist, to the roster is indicative of the franchise's strategic move towards 'Fortnite-ification'. This approach seems to be designed to appeal to a wider audience by integrating familiar faces from the world of entertainment.

The strategy is not without its merits. By offering players the chance to take on the roles of their favorite celebrities or fictional characters, the franchise is potentially boosting its appeal. This could result in a greater number of players, more in-game purchases, and increased overall engagement.

However, Activision, the publisher of the Call of Duty franchise, has not yet provided specifics on how players can recruit Lara Croft. It is likely that players will need to purchase a particular bundle to gain access to the famed treasure hunter.

The introduction of Lara Croft to Call of Duty represents a significant shift in the franchise's approach. This move seems to be a part of a larger trend of incorporating pop culture figures into video games. As the Call of Duty franchise continues to diversify its playable characters, it will be intriguing to see who they introduce next. Will they stick with real-world celebrities, or will they continue to explore the realm of fictional characters? Only time will tell.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on this latest development in the world of Call of Duty. Are you excited about the inclusion of Lara Croft in the game? Feel free to leave a comment below.