Following the release of Call of Duty: Vanguard, the Call of Duty: Warzone marketplace has been updated to include some special bundles for the newly added Operators. For the most part, these bundles include exactly what players would expect. Outfits appropriate to the World War 2 era are included, with some flashy weapon blueprints and over-the-top finishing moves available as well.
However, while a vast majority of the new Call of Duty: Warzone items are by the books, two particular bundles should catch the eye of longtime Call of Duty fans. In particular, Skull Collector and Measure For Measure feature items that come equipped with the Call of Duty: Ghosts skull logo. While these are obviously just some harmless nods to the 2013 game, they are also a reminder of how much could be accomplished with a sequel.
Call of Duty: Warzone’s CoD Ghosts Bundles
It is worth noting that the bundles in question are not entirely themed around Call of Duty: Ghosts. They do not come with charms of Riley or blueprints designed to resemble the game’s beloved Honey Badger Assault Rifle. Instead, the iconic Call of Duty: Ghosts skull features in two different skins. While this is a subtle nod to the 2013 game, it is also unmistakable, as any other skull design could have been used for the skins in question.
The first bundle is called Measure for Measure, with the pack actually being a nod to the Marvel character The Punisher. The Operator Wade is given a makeover to look more like Frank Castle, with a black leather jacket worn alongside some ammo patches. While there is a skull charm and some skull-themed accessories like sprays and emblems, the real star of the show is the jacket itself. On the back of the clothing piece, a white skull is included that is clearly meant to resemble The Punisher’s own. However, with the crossover being unofficial, a different skull design is used for the design - which is where the Call of Duty: Ghosts logo comes into play.
The other skin Skull Collector Pro Pack, and given that the bundle comes with free COD Points, many fans are likely to purchase and use this skin. This skin makes the Call of Duty: Ghosts connection clearer, too. In that campaign, the Ghosts special ops team wore masks that had the skull logo. That same type of mask is present on the Roland skin, with the only difference being that it is orange instead of white. As such, players will likely think back to the 2013 game when wearing the outfit - and the cosmetic could remind players why a sequel would be worthwhile.
Why Call of Duty: Ghosts 2 Would Be A Good Thing
While Call of Duty: Ghosts was not perfect, and many fans were quick to complain about several aspects of the game, a sequel could keep what worked and fix what did not. One of the main reasons a Call of Duty: Ghosts sequel is needed is the campaign’s cliffhanger. While questionable writing and acting may have stopped the story mode from reaching the heights of the first two Black Ops titles or the original Modern Warfare trilogy, those that did enjoy the story have been waiting to see closure for Logan and Rorke for eight years now. After all, it is hard not to be let down by an ending that promises there is more story to come, but never delivers.
Aside from a campaign that picks up where the original Call of Duty: Ghosts leaves off, it would be great to see Extinction return. Before the lackluster attempts at recreating Treyarch’s Zombies mode that were seen in games like Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, there was Extinction, a unique mode that saw players facing off against Cryptids. Players went through a series of highly replayable missions that saw them take on the various aliens, with special boss fights and unique classes to keep gameplay fresh. While most prefer the round-based style seen in most Zombies experiences, the missions and the aliens within them made for a unique experience.
A new version of Extinction could help the Call of Duty franchise avoid Zombies fatigue, giving fans a break from the mode in favor of a very different co-op approach. As always, though, getting the multiplayer right would be crucial. Fortunately, the newer titles have shown that the mistakes of Call of Duty: Ghosts could be easily corrected. The bland color palette could look a lot better thanks to the IW8 engine, as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare’s realistic look worked perfectly. More importantly, the overly large maps of Call of Duty: Ghosts would be a non-issue if Call of Duty: Vanguard’s combat pacing was used. Despised locations like Stonehaven could return, becoming fan favorites thanks to combat pacing adding in more players to populate the bigger maps.
Why Call of Duty: Ghosts 2 Is Unlikely
However, while a direct follow-up to Call of Duty: Ghosts would satisfy campaign fans and fix the original’s multiplayer issues, it is hard to imagine it ever becoming a reality. Aside from the 2013 title not being very well received, Infinity Ward has its hands full. Call of Duty 2022 is all but confirmed to be Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, a follow-up to the 2019 reboot. It can be assumed that Infinity Ward’s 2025 title will close of the new Modern Warfare trilogy, too, so even if the studio wanted to make Call of Duty: Ghosts, 2028 would be the earliest it could happen.
Given that the original game came out so long ago, and the next one releasing years down the line would make the gap between them even larger, those that played Call of Duty: Ghosts and wanted more will likely have forgotten a lot about it. Many others will have never played the first game at all by the time a sequel could come, making it seem like a pipe dream. While a sequel could technically be handed off to Sledgehammer Games or Treyarch, the former seems more interested in a Call of Duty: Vanguard follow-up, while the latter will likely continue the long-running Black Ops subseries.
Unfortunately, these special Call of Duty: Warzone cosmetics will likely be the closest that players ever get to the long-requested sequel. With the original game being divisive, and getting older and older with every passing year, it will likely remain the black sheep of the series. Though it is nice to stay optimistic, especially with the latest marketplace bundles paying homage to the game, gamers may want to let go of their hopes for more Extinction or some campaign answers. While the new cosmetics should absolutely lead to a Call of Duty: Ghosts revival, they are very unlikely to do so.
Call of Duty: Warzone is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
