When it comes to Deep Rock Galactic, there are several elements of the game that deserve praise. Ghost Ship Games and Coffee Stain Studios have done an excellent job of supporting and expanding the title, adding new missions, weapons, and cosmetics to the in-depth game. The Space Rig hub area is particularly strong, while the new Seasonal approach ensures that gamers always have something to work toward when mining for resources on Hoxxes.
Another excellent aspect of Deep Rock Galactic is its Promotion system, which is the equivalent of Call of Duty’s Prestiges. However, there a few things that make Promotions feel particularly special. Not only do they fit well into the game’s mining company themes, but the presentation and unlocks tied to Promotions bring them to the next level. Call of Duty could benefit from a similar approach, adding more fanfare and placing more importance on its Prestiges.
What Call of Duty’s Prestiges Could Learn From Deep Rock Galactic’s Promotions
On paper, Prestiging in Call of Duty is very similar to Promoting a dwarf in Deep Rock Galactic. Both systems see players resetting their levels, unlocking a new emblem or profile border before continuing to level up their accounts. However, Deep Rock Galactic’s Promotions are made to feel far more significant due to a few key changes.
First, players do not just Promote their dwarves after hitting the level cap. Once they hit this cap, they are given a special mission to complete in order to earn themselves the right to be Promoted. The Call of Duty series could easily add a few pre-Prestige challenges to make the grind more meaningful, with players needing to earn the right to Prestige by doing a bit more than just earning XP. In Call of Duty, these challenges could get harder the further players get into their Prestige journey.
Another great aspect of Deep Rock Galactic Promotions is fanfare. Not only do players need to go to a special terminal to reset their levels, but once they do, they get a special message from Mission Control congratulating them on their success. They also see a unique Promotion screen, with a big deal being made out of their accomplishment. While players used to choose to Prestige in Call of Duty, they no longer do so, with players simply entering the next Prestige once they reach a certain level. The lack of weight behind Prestiging in newer games is disappointing, and like Deep Rock Galactic, more fanfare should be present. From a special Prestige screen to a congratulatory message from a character like Captain Price, there is a lot of potential to make Prestiges feel more impactful.
While all Promotions after the first are simply ways to unlock new profile borders, the first one essentially unlocks the rest of the game. Deep Rock Galactic players get access to Deep Dives, which are longer and harder missions. They also get access to the Forge, which allows them to unlock new cosmetics and unique upgrades for their arsenal of weapons. Call of Duty could take notes from this as well, with Prestiging unlocking access to new content.
While the Prestige Shop was a welcome addition in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, more could be done with the system going forward. Like in Deep Rock Galactic, players could unlock a Forge once they Prestige for the first time, letting them craft unique weapon blueprints and Operator skins. Players could unlock some kind of currency for this Forge every Prestige, giving them a chance to make more rare cosmetics every time they go through the ranks. Certain modes, like League Play, could be tied to Prestiging, with players needing to put some time into the game before they can play competitively. While all Promotions feel special in Deep Rock Galactic, the first is particularly meaningful, and Call of Duty should look to it as a way to make Prestiging more exciting.
Deep Rock Galactic is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.