Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has confirmed a playstyle that many Call of Duty players find frustrating: camping. In a video shared to his YouTube channel on October 21, Haaland admitted to fellow streamer Harrison "Aitch" Armstrong that he tends to play defensively.
"You know what, and this is a bit embarrassing to say, but I've been a camper my whole life," Haaland stated. "I'm that guy that you hate. [I'll] probably get some hate now, but it is what it is."
Camping, the tactic of remaining in one strategic location to ambush opponents, has long been a divisive strategy in the Call of Duty franchise. Critics argue that it runs counter to the series' fast-paced action, often prioritizing passive observation over skillful gunplay and leading to less engaging matches. Historically, weapons like the DSR 50 in Call of Duty: Black Ops or the M40A3 in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare have been associated with this playstyle.
While Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is set to officially launch on October 23 for Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, players who preordered the Standard or Vault Editions have had access since October 16. Reports on social media, including the game's official subreddit, suggest that many players have encountered lobbies filled with campers since the beta period, adding to the community's frustration.
The video featuring Haaland and Aitch offers a glimpse into their gameplay, described as entertaining with instances of screaming, camping, and screen peeking.