Thanks to the latest battle royale craze, the Call of Duty franchise has had an unprecedented amount of momentum from October of 2019 up until now. Warzone has had massive popularity since its launch, and unlike previous release years, the evergreen shooter series has continually held the attention of fans as a result. Pair that with Modern Warfare’s acclaim, and the franchise is heading into the next entry’s reveal with more energy than ever before.
Of course thanks to leaks and rumors, fans already have a good idea what to expect from the next game as well. While initially there was some discussion and arguments as to what the next Call of Duty game was going to be, more and more rumors/leaks have pointed to a new entry in the Black Ops sub-series. Plenty of details like the game’s setting, the return of Zombies, and more have been spread around the internet. Now with hints that 2020’s entry will be teased at the PS5 presentation, here’s what to expect from this year’s Call of Duty.
The Fifth Black Ops Game
Mounting evidence has practically proven that the next Call of Duty game will be an entry in the Black Ops sub-series. Several rumors and leaks from earlier in the year and more recently have referred to 2020’s Call of Duty: Black Ops, or even Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. As the name suggests, the game will likely be returning to the same setting and time period as the first Black Ops entry. Considering the release will likely coincide with the tenth anniversary of the original Call of Duty: Black Ops, it’s almost certain it’ll be in the same universe. Numerous leakers and insiders, even a developer working on 2020’s Call of Duty title, have scoffed at and denied any statements that the series would return to a futuristic setting this year.
Unlike the previous Black Ops entry, 2020’s Call of Duty should have a campaign mode that’s familiar to fans of the franchise. Despite a mid-development upheaval of studios and creative leads for this 2020’s Call of Duty, the game will almost certainly be set in Cold War locales like Vietnam and Russia. Familiar characters from the Black Ops canon should make a return as well, though their role in the game may not be the same as the original game. As to whether or not this year’s Call of Duty is a soft reboot like 2019’s Modern Warfare, no leaker has specifically confirmed this detail yet so that’s up for debate.
More Traditional Multiplayer, No Battle Royale
In terms of multiplayer offerings coming from Call of Duty 2020, much of it will likely be back to basics. Expect the return of typical three-lane structured multiplayer maps as opposed to the asymmetrical formats from the last entry. Likely in response to the camping complaints that plagued Modern Warfare’s early days, returning to the standard format would make the most sense. That being said, something new that leakers have stated is coming is Modern Warfare’s redefined Ground War mode coming as well. And of course, along with that, expect the traditional fare of Team Deathmatch, Domination, Capture the Flag, etc.
In terms of coop modes, don’t expect some new variant of Modern Warfare’s Spec Ops coming to 2020’s Call of Duty. Obviously Zombies will make a return in this year’s title, though in what form remains to be seen. Along with many of the multiplayer leaks, Zombies is also rumored to return anew, as well as with several updated versions of fan-favorite maps like TranZit. Similar mechanics like the Perks and Pack-A-Punch upgrades will also reportedly return, eschewing the changes made in Black Ops 4.
Also it’s important to point out that many leaks and rumors seem to have confirmed that there will be no battle royale mode coming to Call of Duty 2020. In a lot of ways that makes sense, there’s no point in creating another battle royale mode in direct competition with Warzone, one of the most popular battle royale modes ever released. Infinity Ward has also stated that Warzone will remain “constant” throughout subsequent Call of Duty releases, leading to many theorizing that Warzone will similarly connect to each Call of Duty release as it does currently with Modern Warfare. Expect some kind of tie-in, especially with the Black Ops teases in Warzone currently.
Expect Trailer at PS5 Reveal Event
Lastly, expect to see what 2020’s Call of Duty game looks like very soon. Fans should specifically keep an eye out for the PS5’s big reveal event on Thursday, June 4, as 2020’s Call of Duty will reportedly be among the games unveiled. A notable leaker for the Call of Duty franchise has teased that Activision has a Call of Duty trailer prepared for the PS5 showcase this week. Typically Call of Duty games are revealed right around this time of the year, so it lines up almost too perfectly. Plus, Activision and Sony will likely want to extend their partnership moving into the next generation, so having their first reveal at PlayStation’s event makes a lot of sense. Considering Call of Duty 2020 will likely be a launch title for consoles this fall, expect to see a reveal very soon.
Granted Call of Duty 2020 hasn’t exactly been the best-kept secret this year, it will still be exciting to finally get that official reveal. Plenty of these leaks and rumors will likely be validated soon, so fans of Black Ops should get excited for what’s to come.
Call of Duty 2020 is reportedly in development.
