Call of Duty fans may be focused on the upcoming Modern Warfare 2 at the moment, but leaks about Treyarch’s next game have also appeared online. If they turn out to be accurate, players will be looking at another entry in the Black Ops series that could potentially feature a Gulf War setting. However, another rumor suggests a significantly different setting will be used, as a reputable insider has mentioned that Treyarch’s next game takes place in the near future.
While a game set in the 1990s and a game set sometime after 2022 would be very different in terms of their technology, tone, and overall type of warfare, Treyarch has already combined two distinct eras into one game with Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. With that game’s campaign being incredibly popular because of its two timelines, as players fought through warzones in the 1980s and the year 2025, a similar tactic can and should be used with Call of Duty 2024.
The Potential Returns of Alex and David Mason
While a Gulf War-only setting for Call of Duty 2024 would likely bring a new cast of characters, as Jason Hudson would be dead and Frank Woods would be crippled during the Gulf War, it could still bring back Alex Mason. If Treyarch is willing to canonize the Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 ending where Alex Mason survives Menendez’ plan, then the Gulf War could be used to explain where Mason was.
The Black Ops 2 ending where Mason survives leaves a large gap in his history, as Frank Woods was shocked to learn that his comrade was still alive. While Mason is obviously too old to fight when he reappears in 2025, as he would be around 92 years old, he would likely have an interesting story to tell. After all, there must be a reason why he allowed Woods and his son David to believe he was dead for over 30 years, as it would make little sense for him to keep this information a secret.
Perhaps Mason was given a mission by the CIA, and its importance forced him to stay hidden and maintain the illusion that he was killed. No matter what the reason for his disappearance is, though, a game that fills in this gap in the timeline would be exciting. Mason would only be 57 during the Gulf War, so while he’d be on the older side, he could absolutely have served in this conflict. Further, flashing back to Mason’s story could make sense if it somehow ties into a new threat that his son David has to fight, with players controlling the father and son duo once again.
A Villain on Par With Raul Menendez
Raul Menendez is the reason why Call of Duty: Black Ops 2’s campaign and its two timelines work, as his backstory being tied so closely to Woods and Mason makes for a rivalry that spans decades. Not only does it give David Mason a personal grudge against Menendez, but it further motivates the player to take him down since Menendez killed or injured some beloved characters. Further, it allows Menendez to have a far deeper backstory than other Call of Duty villains, as players witness his tragic origin story firsthand.
Menendez is the reason the blood feud with Woods and the Mason family starts, as he is responsible for Woods being locked in a cargo crate alongside dozens of dead bodies. With a lack of food and water, complete darkness, and a horrendous smell to deal with for a long period of time, Woods was not the same man after he was rescued. A deep hatred of Menendez saw him lose control during a mission to take him down, tossing a grenade at the antagonist. This led to Menendez’ sister dying, putting him on the path that caused him to lead a terrorist movement in the year 2025. By tricking Woods into killing Mason, crippling Woods, and then killing Hudson in front of a young David, Menendez was a cunning foe who had a huge impact on the Black Ops timeline.
Call of Duty 2024 could deliver a strong villain like Menendez using the dual timeline tactic. Alex Mason could encounter this foe during the Gulf War, failing to eliminate them. In 2025, this villain could come back, inspired by Menendez and the Cordis Die movement. This would explain why Mason returns when he does during the good ending of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, as he could have key information to tell his son about the next threat. No Call of Duty villain comes close to Menendez, as even icons like General Shepherd and Vladimir Makarov lack the depth of Black Ops 2’s main foe. By utilizing a similar approach to storytelling in Call of Duty 2024, perhaps Treyarch can recapture the same magic of Menendez.
Greater Weapon and Map Variety in Call of Duty 2024
Outside of creating a strong villain and providing an explanation for Alex Mason’s disappearance, Call of Duty 2024 having two settings would mean more weapon and map variety. Not only could players use Gulf War weaponry like M16s and the FAMAS, but they could wield Call of Duty: Black Ops 2’s futuristic weapons again. Having a variety of guns from the early 1990s alongside the likes of the AN-94, Skorpion EVO, and KSG could lead to the most diverse roster of weapons the series has ever seen. This would be hugely beneficial for the multiplayer and Zombies modes alike.
Further, having two settings would guarantee a lot of map variety. Players could fight through futuristic maps from David Mason’s timeline or more historic locations like the Persian Gulf, allowing for a more diverse lineup of play spaces. While focusing only on the Gulf War would be interesting, this would likely mean a lot of desert-focused maps in Black Ops 5. However, by incorporating a futuristic Call of Duty setting, other types of maps could be seen. Going from a high-tech city in one map to a ghost town from the 1990s in the next would be thrilling, and it would allow Treyarch to give each map a unique style and identity.
Ultimately, there is little to suggest that Call of Duty: Black Ops 2’s concept of two timelines will be revisited. While a Gulf War-era jet is indeed seen in some leaked art from Treyarch’s next game, and a futuristic setting for Call of Duty 2024 has been rumored in the past, no official information has been provided about the game. As such, all fans can do is speculate on what it will be like. Still, Black Ops 2 is considered one of the best games in the franchise for a reason, and anything resembling that game would likely do well with fans. If both the Gulf War and near future setting rumors turn out to be accurate, a truly special game could be on the way.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is available now on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.
