While the Call of Duty series is full of iconic multiplayer maps, none can compare to the always-hectic Nuketown. Remastered more than any other map in the franchise, Nuketown has appeared in every Black Ops game. Each time the map shows up, it has a different aesthetic, ranging from the museum theme of Black Ops 2 to the Russian look of Black Ops 4.
Despite all the changes made to Nuketown’s appearance over the years, the iconic Call of Duty map always plays the exact same - with the exception of the wall run platform in Black Ops 3. With Treyarch’s next Call of Duty game, the developer should attempt to shake up Nuketown’s gameplay instead of just focusing on how it looks. While the map may be timeless to some, others have grown tired of playing on it, as a lack of meaningful change has made it stale. With a new era for Black Ops seemingly being right around the corner, big changes for Nuketown should be seen as well.
How Treyarch Can Make Nuketown Feel Fresh Again
Perhaps the easiest way to make another version of Nuketown feel different would be to change up the map layout. After all, players have been fighting around the same two houses for over a decade despite a larger cul-de-sac being present outside the playable area. Expanding the entire map to allow players to explore the other houses in the neighborhood could be exciting, as it would lead to a tiny map becoming more medium-sized. Another option would see the focus shifting to two new houses, with the old Nuketown seen out of bounds.
Another neat way to shake things up with Nuketown would be a take on Champion Hill from Call of Duty: Vanguard. The mode serves as a tournament-like approach to Gunfight, letting players battle it out in a massive arena divided into several sections. Nuketown could be a particularly cool setting for such a mode, with players fighting in four different parts of the cul-de-sac - including the original Nuketown map. Eliminated players could view the action from helicopters flying overhead or cameras in a far-off base where the nuke testing is watched, giving a new Champion Hill a lot more personality.
By making several maps out of Nuketown, or just expanding it into a bigger 6v6 map, Treyarch could give players the best of both worlds. If the original Nuketown is part of a larger play space or one of several, Treyarch could section it off for another 6v6 map, calling it Nuketown Classic. This way, players who still enjoy the map could continue to access the XP-heavy Nuketown 24/7 playlist, but gamers who have been wanting something new could have a far different version of Nuketown to play on.
Nuketown has always excelled when it comes to its Easter eggs, and that should not be lost in an updated version of the map. From zombified mannequins to retro Activision games to the hidden RC-XD track, the best secrets in Treyarch’s multiplayer have always been tied to Nuketown. What makes the prospect of a new layout for Nuketown so exciting is that the developer would have a different and potentially larger canvas to play with when crafting Easter eggs, allowing it to shake things up even further. From larger RC-XD tracks to small quests that have players visiting every house in the neighborhood, the sky is the limit.
Obviously, there is every chance that Treyarch continues the current trend with its Nuketown remasters, keeping the layout the same and just changing the map’s visual design. While this is a safe move, as the map is a classic for a reason, it would be nice to see Treyarch follow in Infinity Ward’s footsteps. With Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2019, Shipment was given a new layout, maintaining the overall look and feel of the original but with a new style of gameplay. Nuketown could benefit from a similar approach, with Treyarch making its most popular Call of Duty map feel new for the first time in years.