The Call of Duty series seems to be heading back to the future with a Black Ops 2 sequel set in the early 2030s. Leaked information about next year’s unannounced Call of Duty game has surfaced after details from a focus group meeting were shared on social media. Some of these details were confirmed by Insider Gaming, although Activision has chosen not to comment when approached by IGN.
While Black Ops 6, scheduled for 2024, takes place in the 90s during the Gulf War, the 2025 Black Ops game is rumored to fast forward to the 2030s, continuing from where Black Ops 2 left off in 2012. The storyline is said to follow David Mason from Black Ops 2 as the protagonist, incorporating mechanics such as the new body shield and Omnimovement from Black Ops 6 with some enhancements like the ability to use human shields with grenades attached to them to throw at enemies, as well as wall jumping. The Zombies mode is also rumored to introduce an eight-player mode.
In addition to the Black Ops series, Infinity Ward is reportedly working on the next Modern Warfare game, possibly Modern Warfare 4, expected to be released in 2026. With Treyarch having the longest development period for a mainline Call of Duty game for Black Ops 6, anticipation is high following the mixed reception of the Modern Warfare 3 campaign in 2023.
Modern Warfare 3, originally intended as an expansion for Modern Warfare 2, faced development challenges as the team rushed to create a full-fledged sequel in just 16 months. Sledgehammer studio head Aaron Halon has defended the game, stating that it was in development for years.
If the reports of another Black Ops game in 2025 are accurate, Activision will once again be under scrutiny regarding the value of their sequels. Black Ops 6 is set to launch on October 25 and will be available on Game Pass, marking the first Call of Duty game to do so since Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. For more information on the launch of Black Ops 6, including multiplayer maps, modes, and Operators, as well as preload and global launch times, stay tuned.
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