2019 saw the release ofCall of Duty: Modern Warfare, a soft reboot of the Activision sub-series that propelledCall of Dutyinto video game ubiquity. Now in 2020, Activision is supposedly giving the same treatment to another popular, best-selling sub-series. The next annual entry in the franchise will reportedly see a soft reboot of theCall of Duty: Black Opsseries.
The last entry in theCall of Duty: Black Opssub-series wasBlack Ops 4, a fully multiplayer-only game based in the futuristic universe introduced in the secondBlack Opsgame. Since then, the extended universe has shied away from the base story instituted in the original game. With the franchise rumored to be rebooting theBlack Opssub-series, here’s what to expect.
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A Grounded Cold War Campaign
Theinitial rumor states theBlack Opsrebootwill be taking players back to the Cold War (similar to the originalBlack Ops) with a focus on Vietnam through multiple perspectives. Understandably it makes sense for theBlack Opsreboot to return to a similar time period, considering where the phrase “black ops” originates from. Much of the originalBlack Ops' story was inspired by the CIA’s declassified documents from the “family jewels” record collection, and these records likely inspired moments like the Bay of Pigs depiction and the Fidel Castro assassination attempt inCall of Duty: Black Ops.
It absolutely makes sense for aBlack Opsreboot to fall under a similar time frame as the initial game ig theBlack Opsgames find themselves in a similar situation withCall of Duty: WW2, starting fresh in a familiar setting. Last year’sModern Warfarereboot was in a unique position for a reboot because it’s based on present-day. Today’s society in general, not just military technology, has changed drastically in the 13 years since the originalModern Warfare. Obviously the historical and political landscape of the 1960s will remain stagnant, so attempting to tell a unique story involves a lot of adaptation from history in service to keeping the campaign grounded and realistic.
The rumors also suggest we’ll be seeing returning characters like Alex Mason and Sergeant Frank Woods in theBlack Opsreboot,but portrayed by new actors likeModern Warfare’s reboot. Instead of focusing solely on the “black ops” aspect of the story, the game will hone in on Vietnam and real-life events from the Cold War and stray away from the heavy fiction in the originalBlack Ops. 2010’sBlack Opscampaign was a fiction based heavily on the brain-washing/sleeper cell fictions from Cold War era tales, likely taking lots of creative freedoms compared to actual Cold War era history. It would be interesting to see aBlack Opsbased on the real events of the Cold War, rather than anotherCall of Dutybased on fictional Cold War paranoia.
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Pre-Modern Multiplayer
For folks excited for the multiplayer in a potentialBlack Opsreboot, it stands to reason not to expect a lot of the mechanics fromBlack Ops 3or4to be present in this reboot.Loadouts and character progression will likely mimicCall of Duty: WW2multiplayer, with less of a focus on unrealistic Cold War technology like explosive RC-XDs or sentry guns. Iconic period weapons from the 60s and 70s will likely be present, along with truly grounded movement so no boosted wall-running or dashing.
Fans should also expect a battle royale in some form, especially due toCall of Duty: Black Ops 4’sBlackoutbecoming one of thebest battle royale gamesof all time. A Vietnam/Cold War setting would lend itself well to a battle royale structure, especially envisioning what a Vietnam battle royale map would like. The Vietnam War itself was known for its frantic and intense warfare, and that unpredictability is part of what makes a battle royale games so enjoyable and popular.
A greater possibility would be a more condensed battle royale that includes several different maps similar toPUBG. Rumors have suggestedCall of Dutywill continue its foray in battle royales in 2021, but a newBlack Opswill almost certainly have a battle royale mode as well. Other than Vietnam, we could have battle royale games take place in an Iran-Iraq War setting or even in Cold War era Russia. That opens up the mode to a large variety of potential weapons, vehicles, etc. At this point, withCall of Duty:Warzone’s popularity skyrocketing, it wouldn’t make sense for a reboot not to have a battle royale mode planned in some form.
Assuming it get the same treatment asModern Warfare, it’ll be interesting to see what a rebootedCall of Duty: Black Opslooks like in 2020.
