Call of Duty has been releasing annual installments almost since its inception, only skipping a year in 2004 between the debut entry and Call of Duty 2. Activision recently announced the latest in the iconic series, Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War.
The name is quite a mouthful, just like the recent flurry of information which has been unleashed on the public. Despite the reveal, plenty of question marks still surround the project. Treyarch and Raven Software have a solid track record, however, so one can rest assured knowing this year’s entry will live up to the series’ high standard.
10 What We Already Know: Next-Gen Upgrades
Some games coming out on both current and next generation consoles are running bundles and upgrade packs at extra cost, confusing some consumers. Black Ops: Cold War has a special edition for seventy dollars which comes with the upgrade for future consoles. While those who purchase the base game for current hardware can still play it using backward compatibility, it will not feature the special enhancements to resolution and frame rate.
9 Burning Question: Synergy With Warzone
The franchise further raised its profile by releasing Warzone, a free-to-play battle royale running on Modern Warfare’s engine. The trailer was revealed through the game mode, but no word on whether the new game will have any sort of synergy with Warzone. Maybe the map will drastically change when Black Ops: Cold War comes out to match the setting.
8 What We Already Know: Cross-Gen Play
Modern Warfare features extensive cross-play between the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Fortunately, Black Ops: Cold War looks to continue this trend and go one step further. Anybody who purchases it on any platform will be able to play multiplayer with any player who owns the game, regardless of the hardware. While some may bemoan not taking full advantage of the next generation, a bigger, more connected community is always a plus.
7 Burning Question: Split-Screen?
For a series focused on online multiplayer, Call of Duty generally accommodates people who prefer playing on a couch with a buddy, whether that be cooperative modes like Spec-Ops or simply the ability to go online in split-screen.
It has yet to be seen if the upcoming game will also feature any couch modes. At the very least, fans would like to play online multiplayer while also playing split-screen.
6 Important Detail: Release Date
Fans itching to get their hands on the new game still have to wait a couple of months, but at least they know exactly how long they have to wait. Call of Duty Back Ops: Cold War will launch on November 13th, 2020. Gamers do not know if this includes the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions, however. Estimates have the console coming out during the same month, so a simultaneous release on all platforms is possible.
5 Burning Question: Next-Gen Exclusive Features
As of now, the only advantage one has by purchasing next-generation versions of the game are graphical enhancements like resolution and frame rate. Prospective players wonder if other features will be locked behind the new consoles. While gamers should not be left behind, it would be nice for the game to include a mode only possible on new consoles.
4 Important Detail: Multiple Endings And Side Quests
The series is typically known for linear campaigns giving little agency to the player. Treyarch is looking to shake things up for this entry by including side quests and multiple endings to the campaign.
In this way it feels like a successor to Black Ops II, which features a similar structure of optional missions and moments within levels that affect the characters and cutscenes.
3 Burning Question: Can We Use Our Created Character In Multiplayer?
As a first for the series, Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War’s campaign will allow the player to create their protagonist. This is always an interesting move for a first-person shooter, so we can expect plenty of in-engine cutscenes from the third-person perspective or at least plenty of mirrors. Fans also wonder if players will be able to take this avatar online and use it in the competitive modes. As much of a no-brainer as this sounds, it might not be included for fear of biting into aesthetic microtransaction sales.
2 What We Already Know: It Is A Direct Sequel
Modern Warfare found massive success by reimagining perhaps the franchise’s most celebrated sub-series, making many think the new Black Ops would also be a reboot. However, Black Ops: Cold War is going to be a direct sequel to the first Black Ops from 2010. It is confusing because of the existence of Black Ops II, but the early ’80s setting and subtitle leads one to believe the story will relate to the decades-long conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union, something largely forgotten in the second and third Black Ops.
1 Burning Question: New Multiplayer Modes?
The single-player campaign is only a fraction of the series’ appeal. Most fans ignore the story entirely and are only interested in multiplayer. For those players, they still have few details to feast upon about the competitive offerings. Zombies will make a return, but no word on what modes are returning from prior games or if the studio will add any new games to the suite.
