With technology always evolving, few things are a constant in the video game industry. However, Call of Duty being 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 sales have proven to be just as impressive as any other entry, with brand recognition carrying the game to a record-breaking performance.
With Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War proving that limited day-one content and plentiful bugs cannot keep the series down, it makes little financial sense for Call of Duty to 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 for Call of Duty’s 2021 plan is also the least likely to happen.
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 Duty players have criticized Activision for the yearly release cycle of Call 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 the Call of Duty formula could be received well. Players could have time to recover from the trend of yearly games, ensuring that Call of Duty 2022 feels even more special than it normally would have.
Further, with Call of Duty 2022 supposedly being Call 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 from Call of Duty could see the game built up into a genuine spectacle, with the next Call of Duty release 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, each Call of Duty game 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 every Call of Duty game truly feeling like a step in a new direction. On top of this, it would give Raven Software and Activision more time to plan out Call of Duty: Warzone integration. With the battle royale game’s Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War crossover 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 Duty 2021 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 with Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War still recovering from its launch issues. Call of Duty runs 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.
Filling The Void With Fan-Requested Content
While Call of Duty skipping 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 of a new Call of Duty game in 2021 could be a blessing in disguise. Further, it might rejuvenate the community in a way that Call of Duty: Warzone did just over one year ago.
The first task would be filling in the gap for a traditional multiplayer offering, though thankfully, Call of Duty fans have made it clear what they would like to see happen next. While reputable leakers like Tom Henderson have stated that a 2021 release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2Multiplayer Remastered is 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 in Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, there would undoubtedly be interest in this remaster.
Bringing back the multiplayer of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 would instantly make 2021 eventful for Call of Duty, giving Sledgehammer the chance to keep working on its game until 2023. In place of a campaign offering, dropping Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Campaign Remastered could 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 for Call of Duty. The leaked Soap bundle for Call of Duty: Warzone only adds to the excitement, as players would get time with the iconic character prior to 2022’s Modern Warfare sequel.
On top of this, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War could 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 newest Black Ops game’s multiplayer community. Further, it would allow Treyarch to provide fans with more Call of Duty Zombies 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: Warzone could do something with the scrapped Ural Mountains map. Originally intended for a canceled Blackout mode, seeing the area ported over into Call of Duty: Warzone could 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 keep Call of Duty: Warzone fans 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 the Call of Duty series. A remastered campaign and multiplayer, new Zombies content, and Warzone updates 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.
Call of Duty 2021 is in development for unspecified platforms.