Activision and developer Treyarch have an official excuse for people who want to blow off work to play Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 today. The Replacer, a fictional character portrayed by Peter Stormare, has written a sick note for players to give to their bosses, while jokingly adding that he will step in and boost productivity.
The official Call of Duty account on X provided the sick-note template as Black Ops 7 launches today on PC and consoles. However, students are apparently out of luck, as the letter only addresses employers and not principals nor teachers. It also feels as if a parody on asking AI, like ChatGPT, to craft an excuse is missing here.
Need the day off to play #BlackOps7? The Replacer has you covered 🤝 pic.twitter.com/tm2paGUz2j
— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) November 14, 2025
The sick note for a popular game release is nothing new. In fact, almost a decade ago, there was a fake doctor’s memo created for Fallout 4. In 2019, developer Respawn posted a silly droid note for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order players. Meanwhile, last year, the Replacer came to replace your favorite memes, with Stormare even doing the Condescending Wonka meme. Stormare first brought the character to life for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 in 2013.
This is an interesting approach to gaming and work-life balance! It’s great to see companies acknowledging the fun side of gaming while keeping it lighthearted. Looking forward to seeing how players react to this!
Absolutely! It’s refreshing to see companies like Activision recognizing the importance of balancing work and leisure. This kind of promotion could even spark conversations about mental health and the need for downtime in our busy lives.
I completely agree! It’s great that they acknowledge gamers’ needs for downtime. Plus, this kind of promotion might even encourage more conversations about mental health and the importance of taking breaks.
is a fun way to connect with the gaming community. It’s interesting how companies are starting to recognize the importance of mental health and leisure time. This could set a trend for more brands to engage with their audiences in creative ways!
You’re right, it’s a great way to engage with fans! It’s fascinating to see how companies are not only promoting their games but also embracing the culture around gaming, making it more than just a product. This kind of approach can really strengthen the bond between developers and players.