A technical hiccup in Call of Duty recently resurrected the controversial Nickmercs operator skin, nearly two years after its removal.  The skin's unexpected reappearance, initially highlighted by YouTuber ItsHapa,  was reportedly visible in the in-game store of both Warzone and Black Ops 6.  This fleeting return prompted a wave of speculation among players.

Activision initially launched the Nickmercs and TimTheTatman operator skins in May 2023.  However, following controversial comments made by Nickmercs (Nicholas Kolcheff) regarding a protest involving LGBTQ+ activists, Activision swiftly removed his skin from the Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone stores. In a show of solidarity, TimTheTatman also requested the removal of his own operator bundle, a request Activision honored.

The reemergence of the banned skin, believed to be a glitch, occurred in late March 2025.  ItsHapa's gameplay footage, reportedly captured by a viewer, revealed the Nickmercs operator bundle available in the Warzone store, as documented by ComicBook.  However, the glitch seemed to be limited in scope, with only a small number of players reporting sightings of the bundle.

Furthermore, those who encountered the glitch reportedly couldn't purchase the bundle, encountering an error message when attempting to do so.  Activision has remained silent on the matter. Given the decline in reports after March 24th, it's likely the issue has been resolved.

While the skin's brief reappearance sparked curiosity, a full reinstatement by Activision seems highly improbable.  Such a reversal would be an unprecedented move for the Microsoft-owned company.  It's important to note that the operator bundle was never fully deleted from the game files; it was simply removed from the digital storefronts.  Consequently, players who acquired the skin before its removal can still use it in online matches.