ACHES and Crimsix debate toxic fanbases in Call of Duty
Call of Duty veteran pro players Patrick ‘ACHES’ Price and Ian ‘Crimsix’ Porter locked horns on November 19, debating issues around the fanbase and how the community treats different teams.
Both ACHES and Crimsix have spent the majority of their playing careers at the top level, even dominating together under the legendary CompLexity/Evil Geniuses roster of Black Ops II and Ghosts.
But, the pair have been on separate rosters in the years since – with a fierce rivalry brewing between them. As Crimsix made up one-fourth of the OpTic dynasty, ACHES stood in his way at many major events.
Crimsix has now left OpTic, joining the Team Envy-owned Dallas Empire for the Call of Duty League. While ACHES captain’s LA OpTic’s rival, Los Angeles Guerillas.
Crimsix left OpTic and has joined the Dallas Empire for the 2020 season.On November 19, Porter hit back at a fan who suggested that OpTic was responsible for his “personality”, arguing that the fan was display signs of cultish behavior.
ACHES was quick to respond, saying he “lost full” when seeing the post, arguing that Crimsix had never objected when the popularity of the organization “worked in his favor”.
Everytime I see these tweets I lose full. You didn’t mind this for 5 years when it worked in your favor. Don’t bitch about it now. This has been a thing the whole time.
— PATTYP (@ACHES) November 19, 2019
Although Crimsix did not respond to the LA Guerillas captain directly, he continued on the same train of thought, suggesting the CoD fanbase need to change.
“I’m all for fans supporting whatever team you like,” he began. “But just because you support one, that doesn’t mean bash anyone/everyone else. The COD community needs to change. Let’s make the scene even better.”
When commenters highlighted the fierce rivalries that play out in traditional sports, Crimsix argued that esports “[does] not have the same luxuries as traditional sports” and so comparisons were “not fair.”
Esports, for the time being, do not have the same luxuries as traditional sports. I don’t think comparisons between the two are fair. But that’s just me. 🤷♂️
— FaZe Crimsix (@Crimsix) November 19, 2019
Current OpTic player, Kenny ‘Kenny’ Williams, highlighted what he saw as a slight hypocrisy in Crim’s point. Alluding to a series of YouTube titles from the player such as “WHAT IS THIS FAKE OPTIC TEAM EVEN DOING?!?”
The two-time world champion simply joked that he was “trying to get views on his dead channel.”
Get those views lol I have no problem with your titles. Just Feel like this tweet would’ve been more appropriate before the team swap.
— 🇵🇭OpTic Kenny (@Kuavo) November 19, 2019
Some fans argued a similar point to Kenny’s – that Crimsix’s recent uploads have been fuel to the fire on an already existing rivalry between him and his former teammates, namely Brandon ‘Dashy’ Otell and Thomas ‘TJHaLy’ Haly.
On the other hand, these types of rivalries have always existed and flourished in Call of Duty esports, and will likely be crucial to driving further fan engagement as the inaugural season of the Call of Duty League begins.