Another year, another Call of Duty. 2022’s game is Modern Warfare II. The second Modern Warfare 2, that is. The sequel to the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare reboot. Which was followed by the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 remaster. Anyone else get the feeling that Call of Duty is truly out of ideas?
As if the numerous reboots, remasters and re-releases weren’t enough, recent leaks suggest classic maps will once again return in Modern Warfare II. Which is fine… I guess.
Activision has scarcely strayed from the tried and true formula that was perfected between CoD 4 and Black Ops II. That’s because fans loved those games. And going back to the golden era has proved fruitful time and time again.
The surprise combo of Warzone and a global pandemic undoubtedly reignited fan interest in the series. But Activision hasn’t done much to sustain that interest. After returning to Black Ops and WWII and getting mixed results, it’s now Modern Warfare‘s turn again.
Activision clearly has very high hopes for the game. It isn’t something new, though. And that’s the problem.
Over-reliance on old favourites – Call of Duty needs new ideas
It’s no secret that Call of Duty rehashes old content every year. Fan-favourite maps have been re-released multiple times over. But a growing portion of the fanbase are tired of paying for content they’ve already played.
Activision are calling Modern Warfare II a “generational leap forward” that will kick off “a new era”. It’s a questionable way to describe a game that’s mostly just more of the same.
Sure – for many players that may be OK. Plenty of people will have fun with it, too. Dipping into familiar maps is always enjoyable – at first. But the shine quickly wears off when players realise they’ve been there and done that.
I must confess, Warzone has been a blast with friends until recently. I’d be remiss to say I’m not looking forward to seeing what Modern Warfare II means for Warzone 2.0. But even with Warzone, Activision has had to go to extraordinary lengths to keep things fresh (and a random Godzilla vs. King Kong tie-in isn’t exactly my idea of innovation).
Off the back of Call of Duty: Vanguard‘s disappointing commercial performance, Activision appears to have finally put the brakes on the series. 2023 will be the first off-year for the franchise since 2004.
So, I think it’s about time Activision and co mixed things up. Of course, Call of Duty is still insanely successful. But perhaps it could attract former fans back (and make new ones) if it offered something fresh and exciting. And next year’s gap provides the perfect opportunity.
Call of Duty 2024 MUST try something different
Let’s face it. CoD sticks to what it knows and thrives on nostalgia. You could point to its foray into the future as an exception. But those games are widely considered among the series’ worst.
Alas, early leaks indicate yet another Black Ops game for 2024. This one sounds like it’ll be a sequel to 2020’s Black Ops Cold War, which had a stellar campaign – but a VERY average multiplayer.
Now, I have to ask. Does anyone actually want another Black Ops game? After a two-year wait, yet another rehash simply won’t cut it.
What next?
So, what can be done to reinvigorate the series? My first suggestion would be to ditch the those familiar sub-series names. Are Black Ops and Modern Warfare really needed at this point? And if the series continues to use these eras, help games stand apart from each other by giving them their own unique titles.
Sticking with those names immediately restricts a game to existing tropes and similar stories. If it’s part of a long-running sub-series, the need (or desire) to innovate diminishes. Why bother trying something different when you can re-use what worked before?
The focus should instead be on making quality, original campaigns with unique characters and distinct settings. The rest of the game can then be built from those solid foundations. It doesn’t matter whether it fits neatly into a pre-defined sub-series.
There’s also a lot to be said for experimenting with different historical settings. World War I was a fantastic choice for Battlefield in 2016, after all. Similarly, grounded and believable futuristic settings could also work well if the temptation to lean into sci-fi territory can be resisted.
Whatever Activision decide to do with the series next, many fans have had enough of reboots, remakes and remasters. What Call of Duty needs is reinvention. And hopefully that’s what its long-needed break will allow.
Do you think Call of Duty is out of ideas? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles…
