DS
DESIGN SCOUTCODM CREATIVES · SG / MY / PH
CLASSIFIED // INTERNAL
BRIEF · 2026-W38
Week of September 14, 2026

↻ NEW SINCE LAST WEEK

SIGNAL CODM can leverage the current trend of stylized realism and advanced rendering in key art and UI/HUD design to create impactful visuals that blend gritty military themes with fantastical elements.
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COMPETITOR DROP CALENDAR

Plan counter-programming around these. Tip: add the generated scout.ics to your calendar to get these as events.

Free Fire MLBB PUBG Mobile CODM (us)
NOW PUBG MobileEthereal Crate release with premium AKM finish. ✓ VERIFIED
NOW Free FireNaruto Shippuden Collaboration concludes. ✓ VERIFIED
NOW PUBG MobileNaruto Shippuden Collaboration concludes. ✓ VERIFIED
NOW PUBG MobileSpider-Man: Brand New Day Collaboration concludes. ✓ VERIFIED
🔥

STEAL THIS WEEK

UI/HUD

Hexagonal and Angular Elements

A prevalent trend in game UI/HUD design, particularly for tactical and sci-fi games. Hexagons and sharp angles offer a modern, technical feel.

STEAL THISIntegrate sharp, hexagonal frames for critical UI elements like the mini-map, ammo counters, and player status indicators within the CODM HUD, aligning with brand shapes and enhancing tactical feel.
↻ CARRIED Behance
Key Art

Stylized Realism & Advanced Techniques

A blend of realistic visuals with advanced rendering techniques creates visually striking and diverse game worlds, seen in key art and banners.

STEAL THISCreate 'destruction montage' key art for the Godzilla x Kong theme, featuring a soldier on debris with colossal kaiju in the background, emphasizing weathered textures, dramatic lighting, and sharp angles for overwhelming scale.
↻ CARRIED Dribbble
Motion Design

AI-Assisted Production & Real-Time 3D

AI accelerates workflows for tasks like rotoscoping and background generation, while real-time 3D engines enable faster iteration and final-quality output for motion graphics.

STEAL THISUtilize AI tools to generate realistic environmental destruction sequences for trailers, focusing on crumbling buildings and debris fields with gritty textures, then seamlessly integrate these with in-game footage.
↻ CARRIED YouTube
UI/HUD

Clean, Functional, and Tactical UI

Designs prioritize clarity and ease of use, featuring minimalist elements, clear iconography, and intuitive layouts, especially in competitive shooters.

STEAL THISDesign sharp, angular, and highly legible minimalist icons for the CODM HUD, avoiding overly complex or rounded designs to maintain a clear and functional tactical aesthetic.
↻ CARRIED Awwwards
Key Art & Banners

Retro Aesthetics with Modern Twists

A resurgence of pixel art and low-poly styles updated with contemporary design sensibilities is influencing banner and key art design.

STEAL THISDesign promotional banners using bold, angled geometric shapes and layering gritty textures with sharp typography over dynamic in-game footage, utilizing CODM's black and yellow palette with stark white text for high contrast.
↻ CARRIED Behance
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COMPETITOR WATCH

FREE FIRE

Garena SEA
Naruto Shippuden Collaboration concluding, featuring anime-specific visuals and thematic iconography. ✓ VERIFIED @freefire
Ongoing 'Entre Pesadillas' event, suggesting darker, suspenseful, and gothic Halloween-themed visuals. ~ EST

MOBILE LEGENDS

Moonton
10th Anniversary Celebration anticipated with grand, festive visuals, golden accents, and a sense of achievement. ~ EST
New skins for various heroes and launch of Ranked Season 42, showcasing MLBB's focus on detailed, fantastical character designs and impactful effects. ~ EST

PUBG MOBILE

Tencent Games
Naruto Shippuden Collaboration concluding, bringing anime-styled skins and effects. ✓ VERIFIED @PUBGMOBILE
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Collaboration concluding, featuring Spider-Man themed items and comic/movie aesthetic visuals. ✓ VERIFIED @PUBGMOBILE
Ethereal Crate release featuring premium outfits and AKM finish, suggesting a slightly futuristic or elegant visual theme. ✓ VERIFIED @PUBGMOBILE
Demon Slayer Collaboration expected around mid-September, introducing samurai aesthetics and character designs. ~ EST
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OUR GAPS & OPENINGS

GAP

Authentic Military Realism vs. Anime Crossover

While competitors heavily lean into anime and fantasy collaborations, CODM has an opportunity to reinforce its core identity by focusing on gritty military realism and tactical themes, even within fantastical events.

GAP

Unique Tactical UI/HUD Design

Competitors like MLBB offer vibrant, often fantasy-themed UIs. CODM can carve a niche by developing a UI/HUD that is distinctly clean, functional, and tactically inspired, using its brand shapes like hexagons.

GAP

Innovative Motion Graphics Production

The emergence of AI-assisted design and real-time 3D presents an untapped opportunity for CODM to create cutting-edge trailers and in-game motion graphics that visually distinguish it from competitors.

GAP

Mobile-First Immersive Features

While AR/VR are growing trends, CODM can explore subtle, mobile-first implementations like interactive skins or AR filters to enhance player engagement without full VR/AR integration.

⚠ This section reports observable content patterns + opportunities only. Hard engagement %/reach figures are deliberately omitted — they aren't reliably fetchable from public sources. Pull real numbers from your own analytics before any brief decision.

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BANNER CONCEPTS — START HERE

CODM can distinguish itself by blending its core military realism with current design trends in stylized realism, tactical UI, and advanced motion graphics, particularly during its 'Godzilla x Kong' and 'Eternal Prison' events.

01

Kaiju Warfare: Gritty Realism Edition

  • Emphasize destructive, imposing, and terrifying renditions of kaiju, focusing on weathered textures, dramatic high-contrast lighting, and desaturated environmental tones.
  • Design 'Titan Hunter' themed character skins and 'kaiju kill' weapon aesthetics that reflect rugged, tactical gear and battle-scarred functionality.
  • Why: Grounds the fantastical 'Godzilla x Kong' theme within CODM's established military realism, creating a unique and impactful visual experience that differentiates from competitors' more cartoony interpretations.
02

Tactical Interface: Angular & Data-Driven

  • Integrate hexagonal and sharp angular elements into UI/HUD design for elements like the mini-map, ammo counters, and status indicators.
  • Incorporate subtle, stylized, military-grade data readouts within the HUD, and design minimalist, sharp, angular icons for maximum legibility.
  • Why: Aligns with CODM's brand shapes and tactical tone, offering a clean, functional, and modern UI that stands out against the more vibrant or fantastical UIs of competitors.