Tom is a UK-based word spewer with a taste for everything weird and wonderful about games kick-started by a transformative play-through of Metal Gear Solid many moons ago. Adores Hollow Knight, probably a bit too much.
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After months of rumors and leaks, Activision has confirmed that the next entry in the storied Call of Duty franchise will arrive later this year.
During its Q1 2020 earnings call, the publisher confirmed as much revealing that in-house studios Treyarch and Raven Software are leading the project.
”As we look ahead, Activision will continue to build on its direct digital relationship with this expanding community as it delivers the next premium installment for Call of Duty, which comes from a wholly owned Call of Duty studios, Treyarch and Raven Software. We’re excited for its planned release later this year.”
Activision Blizzard president Rob Kostich added that the game was in a playable state, revealing the game would include both a single-player campaign and an online multiplayer component:
”Now as you heard on the call before, Treyarch and Raven are coming up with the next premium game. And obviously, very excited on what they’re working on, and we do think fans are going to absolutely love it.
The game looks incredible right now. And internally, people having a ton of fun, playing across its campaign mode, as well as the online mode that the developers are very well known for. And so all I can say in terms of timing is I suspect you’ll be hearing more about this fairly soon.”
The official Treyarch Twitter handle backed this up with a tweet shortly afterward, expressing excitement at the prospect of showcasing the new Call of Duty:
It’s official. Looking forward to showing you what we’ve been cooking up with @RavenSoftware!
— Treyarch Studios (@Treyarch) August 4, 2020
Until today, neither Activision nor the developers involved have officially confirmed the existence of Call of Duty 2020, as it’s been referred to by the press and fans, but a string of hints granted the game the status as the worst kept secret in the industry.
Last month, a listing for a mysterious game called The Red Door appeared on the Microsoft Store alongside a cryptic description, which reads:
”There is more than one truth. If you go looking for answers, be ready to question everything and accept that nothing will ever be the same. The Red Door awaits, do you dare step through it?”
The consensus is that The Red Door is an internal code-name for this Call of Duty, referencing The Rolling Stone song Paint It Black, which featured in a 2015 trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops III. Call of Duty 2020 is widely expected to dip back into the Black Ops series as a soft reboot.
Less than two weeks ago, a Doritos promotion seemingly revealed the game’s title as Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War alongside a logo. The promotion allows players to unlock a double XP buff with every bag of chips purchased with a start date listed as October 5th, 2020, implying the game will launch around its traditional early-Autumn slot.
With the cat now officially out of the bag, we can expect the marketing push to start in earnest anytime soon. Indeed, never has Activision left it so late in the year to promote, let alone announce, a Call of Duty title. Tomorrow’s third-party game-focused PlayStation State of Play broadcast may prove the perfect stage to unveil Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War.
