INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Monster Energy and Call of Duty brought the world of video gaming to life at Cosm Los Angeles on Friday night, transforming the immersive entertainment venue into a massive gaming arena to celebrate the launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4.
The event brought together celebrities, professional athletes, gaming personalities and fans for an evening of live gameplay, interactive experiences and exclusive reveals inside Cosm's 87-foot-diameter, 12K-plus LED dome at Hollywood Park.
The celebration highlighted the growing intersection of sports, gaming and entertainment, with LAFC star Denis Bouanga and UFC fighters Johnny Walker and Jalin Turner among the athletes participating in the festivities.
Actors O'Shea Jackson Jr., Trevor Jackson and Khleo Thomas, rapper Symba and social media personality Lin Lamar, known as Pinkchyu, were also among the guests. Thomas made an entrance in a Polaris Slingshot.
The venue's massive Shared Reality display provided a backdrop for gameplay and demonstrations designed to make fans feel as though they were inside the popular video game franchise.
Guests were greeted by displays inspired by Modern Warfare 4, including the Monster Energy Operator Skin and a collection of Polaris vehicles. Among them was the DAGOR, a military-inspired vehicle featured in the game.
Fans lined up around the block to attend the event, which featured a live edition of the popular gaming show "The Flank," hosted by ZooMaa and Ben Nissim. The program included an interview with Infinity Ward developer Jacky Reynolds and the unveiling of the Call of Duty League Launch Invitational groups.
Infinity Ward game designer Roman Spazafumo also led a gameplay showcase highlighting Modern Warfare 4's DMZ mode, giving attendees a closer look at one of the game's featured experiences.
The evening included a series of two-versus-two competitions featuring professional athletes, entertainers and gaming creators. Bouanga and Walker joined personalities including Jericho, Jaybroski and Tyler Rizzi in the matchups, while fans had opportunities to compete in king-of-the-hill rounds.
Monster Energy's professional skateboarders also traded their boards for gaming controllers, with Ishod Wair, Filipe Mota and Elliot Sloan participating in a Modern Warfare 4 competition.
"With Call of Duty, we're always looking for ways to push the experience beyond the screen," said Jordi Gayola, Monster Energy's chief marketing officer of the Americas. "Bringing this launch to Cosm gave us an incredible opportunity to put fans, athletes and creators right in the middle of the action. It's about bringing our worlds together and creating the kind of unforgettable experience that only Monster Energy can deliver."
The event also demonstrated Cosm's ability to serve as a destination for experiences beyond traditional sports viewing. The venue, located next to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, uses its massive dome to surround audiences with immersive visuals, creating an environment that can accommodate live sports, entertainment and gaming events.
In addition to the gaming competitions, attendees received exclusive merchandise and participated in interactive activations throughout the venue.
The Modern Warfare 4 theme extended to the food and beverage offerings, with Korean-inspired dishes including kimchi mandu, Korean corn cheese nachos and gochujang-glazed wings. Complimentary Monster Energy drinks were available throughout the evening.
The celebration was part of Monster Energy's broader promotional partnership with Call of Duty, which runs through March 31, 2027.
Under the promotion, fans can earn 15 minutes of Double XP for each qualifying can of Monster Energy Original Green, Zero Sugar or Zero Ultra. Additional rewards include an exclusive Large Decal, two weapon blueprints and two Operator Skins unlocked through the first five qualifying cans.
The partnership also includes four Monster Energy and Polaris vehicle sweepstakes at participating 7-Eleven, Hy-Vee, QuikTrip and RTG stores. Fans can enter through retailer-specific QR codes available at participating locations.
For Monster Energy, the event represented another effort to connect its presence in professional sports, action sports and gaming with live entertainment experiences.
For Cosm, it provided another example of how immersive technology can bring audiences together for events that traditionally have been experienced through television screens or gaming consoles.
More information about the partnership and promotional rewards is available at callofduty.monsterenergy.com.