DS
DESIGN SCOUTCODM CREATIVES · SG / MY / PH
CLASSIFIED // INTERNAL
BRIEF · 2026-W40
Week of September 28, 2026

↻ NEW SINCE LAST WEEK

SIGNAL Competitors are converging on cosmic, futuristic, and celebratory themes for late 2026, presenting CODM an opportunity to differentiate with its established gritty realism, amplified by the Monsterverse collaboration's raw energy.
🗓️

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 Call of Duty: MobileCurrent 'Eternal Prison' season & Godzilla x Kong collaboration. ✓ VERIFIED
SEP 2026 Free FireAnticipated '24K Gold' theme and GINTAMA collaboration. ~ EST
SEP 2026 Mobile LegendsAnticipated '10th Anniversary' celebration and 'Libra' zodiac skin. ~ EST
SEP 2026 PUBG MobileAnticipated 'Midnight Hunters' mode, 'Mid-Autumn Festival' rewards, and 'Demon Slayer' collaboration. ~ EST
🔥

STEAL THIS WEEK

UI/HUD

Depth and Tactility in UI

UI elements are incorporating 3D depth with subtle shadows and textures, alongside smart, rhythmic micro-interactions. Asymmetrical layouts are breaking free from rigid grids.

STEAL THISFrame HUD elements with sharp, hexagonal borders that have a metallic, slightly beveled texture, evoking a tactical feel.
↻ CARRIED Behance
Key Art & Banners

Cinematic & Dynamic Presentations

Game key art and promotional banners are shifting towards more dynamic, cinematic presentations, often using bold typography and an emphasis on depth, with AI assisting in concept generation.

STEAL THISApply a subtle, rough texture (like distressed metal or volcanic rock) to the Refrigerator Deluxe font for themed banners, emphasizing raw power.
↻ CARRIED Dribbble
Motion Design

AI-Accelerated Craftsmanship

AI tools speed up production, allowing designers to focus on 'crafted' content and human artistry. Real-time 3D engines and nuanced micro-interactions are key.

STEAL THISUse textured gradients (e.g., subtle noise, brush strokes) within the yellow and black palette for UI elements to add a hand-crafted feel.
↻ CARRIED Behance
Competitor Themes

Cosmic & Futuristic Narratives

Upcoming major content drops in late 2026 for FF, MLBB, and PUBG lean heavily into cosmic, futuristic, and celebratory themes, often involving collaborations.

STEAL THISIncorporate pulsating yellow or red indicators for certain zones or enemy types, contained within angular UI frames.
~ EST
Branding

Angular & Hexagonal Design Language

A consistent trend towards sharp angles, hexagonal shapes, and hard edges in UI elements and graphical assets.

STEAL THISUse sharp, angled graphic elements that look like shattered concrete or energy bursts as overlays on key art and banners to add dynamism.
↻ CARRIED Dribbble
🕵️

COMPETITOR WATCH

FREE FIRE

Garena SEA
Upcoming '24K Gold' theme with gold-accented skins, 'Tower of Titans,' 'Lost City of Gold' events, and potential GINTAMA collaboration. ~ EST @freefireofficial

MOBILE LEGENDS

Moonton
September 2026 '10th Anniversary' celebration, 'Aspirants Unite Resale,' 'Libra' zodiac skin, and Argus Collector Titan skin. ~ EST @mobilelegendsgame

PUBG MOBILE

Tencent Games
September 2026 'Midnight Hunters' (Hunters vs. Vampires), 'Mid-Autumn Festival' (Hanbok/Tang suits), 'Demon Slayer' collaboration, and 'Ethereal Crate.' ~ EST @pubgmobile
🪞

OUR GAPS & OPENINGS

GAP

Monochromatic Palettes

Competitors are embracing vibrant and diverse color palettes; CODM can explore more dynamic uses of its core black, yellow, and white, perhaps with iridescent or metallic finishes.

GAP

Lack of 'Crafted' Aesthetic

While AI is prevalent, a distinct 'crafted' or hand-drawn visual style could differentiate CODM's UI and promotional art from more generic, AI-generated looks.

OPENING

Primal Energy Integration

CODM's Godzilla x Kong collaboration offers a unique opportunity to blend its gritty military realism with raw, primal energy through visual effects and environmental design.

GAP

Over-reliance on Standard Grids

While maintaining tactical clarity, exploring controlled asymmetrical or 'broken grid' layouts in UI could inject more visual interest and modernity.

⚠ 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.

🎯

BANNER CONCEPTS — START HERE

Leverage the raw, primal energy of the Godzilla x Kong collaboration and modern UI trends to create dynamic, visually engaging experiences that stand apart from competitor's cosmic and futuristic themes.

01

Titan Unleashed: Primal Force

  • Inject raw, destructive energy into key art and in-game visuals using hard angles and high-contrast lighting.
  • Apply textured, scale-like or rough-hide finishes to UI elements and skins, inspired by Godzilla and Kong.
  • Use pulsating visual effects for critical alerts and event indicators, contained within angular CODM frames.
  • Why: Aligns with CODM's core gritty aesthetic while amplifying the unique energy of the current Monsterverse collaboration, differentiating from competitor's cleaner themes.
02

Tactical Evolution: Refined Depth

  • Enhance UI/HUD with subtle 3D depth, sharp hexagonal borders, and metallic textures.
  • Experiment with 'broken grid' or asymmetrical layouts for event pages and menus, using sharp angles for structure.
  • Develop 'crafted' UI assets and promotional art by refining AI-generated concepts with CODM's distinct visual style.
  • Why: Modernizes CODM's interface with current design trends, offering a more premium and engaging user experience without compromising its tactical identity.