With technology always evolving, few things are a constant in the video game industry. However,Call of Dutybeing a dominant force when it comes to sales is one of the few things that is persistent, as the franchise continues to sell incredibly well every single year. Despite launch issues,Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’s saleshave proven to be just as impressive as any other entry, with brand recognition carrying the game to a record-breaking performance.
WithCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold Warproving that limited day-one content and plentiful bugs cannot keep the series down, it makes little financial sense forCall of Dutyto ever skip a year. Still, it is hard not to think of all the good that a year off could do. With Sledgehammer Games reportedly struggling to meet the strict deadline the series is known for, as well as a chance to give fans what they want during the off year, the best possible scenario forCall of Duty’s 2021 plan is also the least likely to happen.
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The Many Benefits Of A Year Off
First and foremost, the decision to take a year off from premium games would please the hardcore fans of the series.Call of Dutyplayers have criticized Activisionfor the yearly release cycle ofCall of Duty, pointing to the diminishing quality of the games as an example of this cycle’s inherent flaws. As such, giving gamers a break from theCall of Dutyformula could be received well. Players could have time to recover from the trend of yearly games, ensuring thatCall of Duty2022 feels even more special than it normally would have.
Further, withCall of Duty2022supposedly beingCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, the hype will already be on another level. Players have already been waiting for over a year to see Task Force 141 come together again, and with another year and a half to go, Activision could play off that excitement. Taking a full year off fromCall of Dutycould see the game built up into a genuine spectacle, with the nextCall of Dutyrelease treated like the event it deserves. Gap years could become the new trend, giving developers time to make more polished games with more content. On top of that, eachCall of Dutygame could get another full year of support, extending greatly extending its life cycle.
More development time can allow for larger jumps forward graphically and the addition of bigger features, with everyCall of Dutygame truly feeling like a step in a new direction. On top of this, it would give Raven Software and Activision more time to plan outCall of Duty: Warzoneintegration. With the battle royale game’sCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold Warcrossover being a complete mess, as it resulted in both a ruined meta and several bugs, avoiding a similar mistake would be wise. When each game is integrated, it could bring a brand-new map along with it, and systems could be put in place that help to ensure everything works as intended.
Finally, and most importantly, more development time could result in less crunch for developers. With Sledgehammer Games’Call of Duty2021 reportedly struggling, a rumor backed up by the fact that the game was actually meant to come in 2020, giving Sledgehammer all the time that it needs would be a huge improvement over the alternative. On the flip side, forcing out an unfinished game would be a bad idea, especially withCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold Warstill recovering from its launch issues.Call of Dutyruns on such a tight schedule that its studios are likely just as susceptible to burnout as fans, so giving them a chance to recover would be great. With COVID-19 also impacting development in some major ways, now seems like a better time than ever before to slow things down a bit.
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Filling The Void With Fan-Requested Content
WhileCall of Dutyskipping a year would be unprecedented, there would be a number of ways to help fill the void. In place of another premium game, Activision could look toward fan-requested remasters and content releases to keep the player base engaged. If done correctly, the lack ofa newCall of Dutygamein 2021 could be a blessing in disguise. Further, it might rejuvenate the community in a way thatCall of Duty: Warzonedid just over one year ago.
The first task would be filling in the gap for a traditional multiplayer offering, though thankfully,Call of Dutyfans have made it clear what they would like to see happen next. While reputable leakers like Tom Henderson have stated that a 2021release ofCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2Multiplayer Remasteredis unlikely, there is no denying that such a game would thrill fans. Widely regarded as one of the best multiplayer experiences in the series’ history, fans have consistently shared their nostalgia for the game’s maps and weapons. With some fans even recreating the game via mods inCall of Duty: Black Ops 3, there would undoubtedly be interest in this remaster.
Bringing back the multiplayer ofCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2would instantly make 2021 eventful forCall of Duty, giving Sledgehammer the chance to keep working on its game until 2023. In place of a campaign offering,droppingCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3Campaign Remasteredcould be a terrific solution to the problem. Not only has this remaster been heavily rumored, but releasing it in this hypothetical gap year could be a safe bet forCall of Duty. The leaked Soap bundle forCall of Duty: Warzoneonly adds to the excitement, as players would get time with the iconic character prior to 2022’sModern Warfaresequel.
On top of this,Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold Warcould get additional Seasons to provide fans with a second year full of fresh content. With the game steadily improving since release, keeping the updates coming could only be healthy for the newestBlack Opsgame’s multiplayer community. Further, it would allow Treyarch to provide fans withmoreCall of DutyZombies content, completely negating the negative effects of a gap year for the mode. With Outbreak catching on with fans and longtime players wanting new Survival content, Treyarch delivering more Zombies maps throughput 2022 could be a huge win. Both Outbreak and Survival could get fresh content for several months, and with the mode’s lack of content rectified through these extra Seasons.
Finally,Call of Duty: Warzonecould do something with the scrapped Ural Mountains map. Originally intended fora canceled Blackout mode, seeing the area ported over intoCall of Duty: Warzonecould be thrilling. Instead of needing to focus on integration and story events, Raven could double down on gameplay, making this extra map feel like a truly special addition. While there would be other ways to keepCall of Duty: Warzonefans happy until a new premium game enters the fray in 2022, this would be the most satisfying decision. If Activision shapes the off year as a positive, it could be a huge victory for fans of theCall of Dutyseries. A remastered campaign and multiplayer, new Zombies content, andWarzoneupdates could be all it takes to have this decision pay off. With several positive results sure to be seen behind-the-scenes, too, a year off is the right move — even if it is just a pipe dream.
