When Getting Healthy Collides With Double XP
There are some gaming rituals you do not think much about until they are gone. For the writer of this story, a yearly tradition was simple. New Call of Duty drops, you skip the campaign, squad up with friends in multiplayer, and stock up on energy drinks for that sweet double XP boost.
For over a decade, Call of Duty and Monster Energy have been quietly linked in a lot of players minds. Buy a can, peel the tab, scan a code, level up a little faster. Nothing life changing, but a fun side quest attached to the launch hype.
This year though, there was a twist. The writer decided to get healthier in 2025 and switched over to zero sugar drinks. That meant rediscovering the Monster Zero Ultra line, which surprisingly did not taste like cough syrup. A new favorite emerged. Ultra Watermelon zero sugar Monster became the go to energy drink.
So the plan was easy. Head to the corner store, grab an Ultra Watermelon, snag some Call of Duty Black Ops 7 double XP, and settle in for a good grind session.
Except the can was missing something important. No QR code. No Black Ops 7 logo. No double XP.
The Mystery Of The Missing QR Codes
At first it seemed like a stocking issue. Maybe the promotion had not reached this store yet. The writer started spinning cans around in the fridge, checking every flavor of Monster Zero Ultra they could find.
Nothing.
Regular full sugar Monster one shelf up was covered in Black Ops 7 branding and QR codes. The zero sugar cans right below looked like they had never heard of Call of Duty in their lives.
Feeling tricked and more than a little annoyed, the writer left the corner store and tried their luck at another place down the street. Different store, same story. Zero sugar cans mostly unmarked. Regular cans loaded with double XP.
There were exactly two exceptions. Both were zero sugar but not exactly ideal.
- Monster Zero Ultra, the classic white can often called White Monster
- Monster Zero Sugar, basically diet classic green Monster and almost sold out
Those two flavors did have the Black Ops 7 promo on them. For anyone who likes them, that is a win. But the problem was simple. The writer hates how they taste. The whole point of switching to Ultra Watermelon was finding a zero sugar drink that did not feel like punishment.
So now the choice was awkward. Go back to full sugar and break the health streak, force down a flavor you cannot stand just for some XP, or give up the ritual entirely.
Why The White Can Gets Special Treatment
The article does not have an official answer from Monster, but it offers a pretty solid guess for why the white flavor is included while most other zero sugar flavors are left out.
White Monster is basically the flagship of the Zero Ultra line. It is everywhere, instantly recognizable, and the default choice for a lot of people who drink sugar free energy. On top of that, it has picked up a very specific cultural moment online.
On TikTok, especially in goth and alt communities, White Monster has become something of an aesthetic accessory. The so called white Monster girl trend turned that plain white can into a visual vibe. People pose with it, design outfits around it, and turn it into part of their persona.
One TikTok creator even made a full suit of armor and an oversized sword using flattened White Monster cans, and you can spot the orange Black Ops 7 logos in the metal. That is a level of dedication that fits right into Call of Duty marketing. If your can is that recognizable, it makes sense to plaster it with promo badges.
Meanwhile, more niche zero sugar flavors like Ultra Watermelon seem to be left out, at least in the stores the writer checked. If you want double XP while sticking to zero sugar, you are basically funneled toward the most mainstream diet flavors.
Letting Go Of A Small But Familiar Ritual
In the end, the writer decides to skip the promo altogether. No white Monster, no diet green Monster, no chugging something they hate just to squeeze out a little double XP. They would rather keep their healthier habits and drink what they actually enjoy.
There is a funny contrast at the core of this story. On one side, Call of Duty is still doing what it always does during launch season. Meta breakdowns, best loadouts, zombies easter eggs, mastery camo grinds, and of course, partner promos like Monster double XP.
On the other side, you have real life changes that do not always line up with old gaming routines. Swapping to zero sugar sounds small, but it is enough to break a ritual that has quietly helped mark the arrival of a new CoD every year.
There is also a hint of how marketing shapes player behavior without us really noticing. Tying in game rewards to specific flavors nudges fans toward certain products. If the promo mostly sits on full sugar cans and one or two diet options, that sends a pretty clear signal about what the brand wants you to buy.
For the writer though, the trade off is not worth it this year. No returning to full sugar just to level a bit faster and no pouring an unwanted can down the drain for the QR code. The grind for XP will happen the old fashioned way by actually playing the game.
Sometimes growing up as a gamer does not mean giving up games. It just means letting some of the smaller rituals go and accepting that you can enjoy Call of Duty without a Monster in your hand and a double XP badge on your screen.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/i-switched-to-zero-sugar-energy-drinks-in-2025-and-now-tracking-down-call-of-duty-double-xp-is-more-annoying-and-less-tasty/
