Activision has not officially unveiled any news about theCall of Dutyrelease planned for this year other than that it exists. However, there has been a bevy of leaks and rumors circling about what players should expect from the nextCall of Duty. One of the most consistent rumors about the game, supported by a handful of leaks, is that it will be namedCall of Duty: Vanguard, and act as a follow up to Sledgehammer Games’Call of Duty: WW2, but set in an alternate history.
However, the newest leak fromBattle.net points to it being namedCall of Duty: Slipstream, and it comes complete with a logo. Regardless of the name change, it still looks as though it will be set during World War 2, which is also supported by the confirmation by Activision that the new title is being developed by Sledgehammer Games. Of course,Call of Dutygoing to World War 2 is nothing new for the series, but going back to the setting does have some pros and cons for this year’sCall of Duty.
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Call of Duty’s Past World War 2 Entries
Call of Dutyhas a storied pastwith a massive number of previous entries, but the series kicked off with a World War 2 setting. Infinity Ward’sCall of DutyandCall of Duty 2were both set in WW2, while Treyarch’s debut inCall of Duty 3was as well. From 2003 to 2006,Call of Duty’s entire identity was as a premier first-person shooter set during WW2 entirely. ThenCall of Dutywent modern with Infinity Ward’sCall of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, before returning to WW2 with Treyarch’sCall of Duty: World at War. After the incredible success ofCall of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, however,Call of Dutydoubled down on modern and eventually futuristic settings until Sledgehammer Games releasedCall of Duty: WW2in 2017.
At the time of its release,Call of Duty: WW2was welcomed by fans as a return to the series' historically more grounded gameplay: Without the double jumping, wall-running, and specialist abilities that had become so commonplace in entries from 2014 to 2016. However, it was followed byCall of Duty: Black Ops 4which featured those same movement mechanics again before the series dropped them again with the recent releases ofCall of Duty: Modern WarfareandCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. A leaker has suggested thatCall of Duty 2021could be very similar toCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, which would make sense ifCall of Duty 2021is set during World War 2 as both games would be far away from some of the modern equipment that was so integral toCall of Duty: Modern Warfare’s design.
The Pros of Call of Duty 2021 Going to World War 2
WhetherCall of Duty 2021is calledVanguardorSlipstream, it is all but confirmed that the game will take place in World War 2. Returning to the setting will likely make a lot of fans excited, as it will be a return to the series' roots. Being able to jump back into the moments that fans know and love and use the iconic weapons of the time, like the M1 Garand and Thompson, will undoubtedly make fans excited. It also will allow the game to draw on the real history of the war and could even show players new perspectives that the games haven’t explored before.
However, ifCall of Duty 2021does take an alternate history approach, that will also help free the game up to experiment with new battles, locations, and even gear.Call of Dutycould keep things in the WW2 setting that fans already know and love, while also being able to introduce some new elements to it so that it doesn’t feel too derivative. Storming the beaches of Normandy is exciting, but after fans have done it in a handful of previousCall of Dutytitles, so it may not grip them in the same way as it has before. This would also help the game make itself stand out from the rest of the series and make sure thatCall of Duty 2021doesn’t feel too similar toCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold WarorCall of Duty: WW2.
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The Cons of Call of Duty 2021 Going to World War 2
Of course,Call of Duty: 2021returning to World War 2 could also end up hindering the game as well. The familiarity of the setting could lead to the game feeling boring and uninspired, depending on the design direction and new features. With bothCall of Duty: Modern WarfareandCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold Warhaving their own sizable playerbases,Call of Duty: 2021will have to make sure it is enticing enough to pull players away from those titles.
Another aspect thatCall of Duty 2021has to deliver well on is itsintegration withCall of Duty: Warzone. The battle royale component ofCall of Dutyis extremely popular, and afterCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’s integration, fans are looking atCall of Duty 2021to decide whether or not the problematic integration ofWarzoneis to be expected or ifBlack Ops Cold Warwas just growing pains forWarzone.
Being set in World War 2, however, could make this implementation more difficult: MovingCall of Duty: Warzoneto an entirely different time period will take a lot more resources, and even more careful balancing with the current weapons and equipment in the game.
Hopefully,Call of Duty 2021is able to satisfy fans no matter what setting it ultimately goes with. WithCall of Duty 2021having to compete withBattlefield 2042, many fans will be paying attention to draw comparisons between the two, and both games will have to be at their best to measure up to the other. Overall,Call of Duty 2021going to World War 2 could be a great thing for the game as long as the developers are able to overcome the pitfalls and make it something polished and unique enough to stand out from the series' storied history with the setting.
