Call of Duty Mobile Embraces Anime Culture with Bento Box Crate

The gaming landscape in 2026 continues to be a vibrant tapestry where popular culture and interactive entertainment frequently intersect. One of the most delightful trends in recent years has been the infusion of anime aesthetics into mainstream gaming titles. Activision's Call of Duty Mobile made a significant splash in this arena with its first-ever anime-themed cosmetic set, a move that sent waves of excitement through its dedicated player base. This wasn't just another skin drop; it was a cultural crossover that signaled the game's willingness to evolve and embrace diverse artistic styles beyond its traditional gritty, military-inspired visuals. The introduction of the Bento Box Crate marked a pivotal moment, proving that even a franchise known for its realistic warfare could find a harmonious and celebrated place for vibrant, stylized anime art.

The centerpiece of this crossover was the Bento Box Crate, a limited-time offering available for 20 days. This crate system allowed players to purchase crates—either individually for 20 CP or in bundles of 10 for 180 CP—until they unlocked all the exclusive items inside. While the crate contained various Uncommon and Rare items, the true stars were the Epic-tier weapon blueprints, which completely reimagined three popular firearms through an anime lens. This release followed a broader industry pattern, similar to when Fortnite introduced its first anime character, Lexa, showing a clear demand for this art style in major mobile titles.

🎨 Epic Anime Weapon Blueprints

The Bento Box Crate featured three distinct Epic weapon skins, each with a unique anime-inspired design and codename. These weren't just simple recolors; they were full blueprint overhauls.

• LK24 - Nosebleeds: An assault rifle blueprint with a dynamic, action-packed aesthetic.

• Cordite - Cherry Blossom: An SMG blueprint adorned with delicate pink cherry blossom motifs.

• DL Q33 - Sweet Sniper: A sniper rifle blueprint that combined lethal precision with a surprisingly sweet visual theme.

A key feature that delighted the tactical community was that these Epic blueprints did not lock players into predefined attachments. Gamers could freely customize the weapon class—changing barrels, stocks, optics, and ammunition—without losing the gorgeous anime skin. This preserved the strategic depth of weaponmithing while allowing for full cosmetic expression. Furthermore, these weapon variants were integrated into the Battle Royale loot pool, making them not just collector's items but functional tools in the game's largest mode.

🔫 Detailed Weapon Class Customization

Each blueprint came with a suggested, optimized loadout, showcasing how the skins could be paired with high-performance attachments. For players looking to maximize these weapons, the recommended configurations were as follows:

Weapon	Key Attachments (Blueprint Default)
LK24 - Nosebleeds	Barrel: OWC Marksman, Optic: Tactical Scope, Stock: MIP Strike Stock, Underbarrel: Tactical Foregrip A
Cordite - Cherry Blossom	Stock: MIP Strike Stock, Underbarrel: Merc Foregrip, Ammunition: 48 Round Extended Mag, Rear Grip: Stipple Grip Tape
DL Q33 - Sweet Sniper	Barrel: MIP Light, Stock: MIP Strike Stock, Laser: OWC Tactical, Ammunition: Extended Mag A

The community reception was overwhelmingly positive. Fans of the genre praised the skins for looking like they were "right out of an Anime TV show," with many calling the designs amazing. This release also sparked hopeful speculation among players. They saw the Bento Box Crate not as a one-off experiment, but as the potential beginning of more major pop-culture crossovers within Call of Duty Mobile. While Activision historically hasn't been known for frequent external franchise collaborations, this successful foray into anime suggested a new, more flexible direction for the game's content strategy.

The timing was also strategic. Activision had recently buffed the performance of these three weapons (LK24, Cordite, DL Q33) prior to a major season update. This created a powerful synergy: players were not only getting visually stunning skins but also cosmetics for weapons that were in a strong, competitive state. This pattern hinted that future weapon balance changes might often be accompanied by new cosmetic variants, released through systems like Crates or Lucky Draws.

Beyond the weapons, the crate also included the Epic Charm - Chibi Trooper, a collectible accessory that could be attached to any weapon, further amplifying the anime vibe on a player's entire loadout. Looking back from 2026, the Bento Box Crate is remembered as a landmark update. It demonstrated Activision's commitment to providing fresh, engaging content that resonated with global gaming trends. It proved that the Call of Duty Mobile universe could expand its visual identity without compromising its core gameplay. For the community, it was a special treat that fueled hope for more artistic collaborations, setting a precedent for the diverse and visually rich cosmetic ecosystem the game enjoys today. The success of this anime crossover undoubtedly paved the way for the more varied and frequent thematic content drops that players now regularly anticipate.