it-is-in-no-way-clear-what-name-of-obligation-2023-might-be

Name of Obligation followers of the world acquired a small shock to the system earlier this yr when Bloomberg reported that, regardless of a 17-year streak of releasing new CoD video games, Activision could be skipping 2023. Rather than a conventional launch, the report claimed on the time, efforts could be solely targeted on continued updates for this yr’s game, Fashionable Warfare 2, and the upcoming free-to-play Warzone 2.0.

Activision did not outright deny the report earlier this yr, however stated at this time in its Q3 monetary report that there’ll, actually, be a brand new “premium” Name of Obligation subsequent yr. What that precisely means, nevertheless, stays lower than clear.

The announcement got here from a piece celebrating Fashionable Warfare 2’s massive launch and looking out ahead to 2023. “Activision is trying ahead to constructing on its present momentum in 2023, with plans for subsequent yr together with essentially the most sturdy Name of Obligation reside operations to this point, the following full premium launch within the blockbuster annual collection, and much more partaking free-to-play experiences throughout platforms,” the report reads.

Creator of the unique report, Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, responded to the announcement on Twitter, saying that the “full premium launch” Activision is touting will not be the usual Name of Obligation game gamers are used to, however a paid enlargement to Fashionable Warfare 2 developed by Sledgehammer Video games. “It is presupposed to have plenty of content material! Perhaps that is why they name it a ‘full’ launch. However it’s extra MWII,” Schreier stated.

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Activision’s sparse particulars and Schreier’s claims complicate issues. Schreier says CoD 2023 is “extra MW2” and makes use of the phrase “enlargement” to explain it, however he additionally says it has “plenty of content material” and doubtless consists of new singleplayer and multiplayer options. Contemplating Activision is outwardly assured in framing this as the following massive CoD game, possibly this Sledgehammer venture is extra like a Fashionable Warfare 2 sequel than an add-on.

The confusion might maybe be attributed to the imprecise and ranging definitions of what a “full premium” Name of Obligation is. Given the collection’ historical past of rotating themes and settings, it would be uncommon to get a follow-up to Fashionable Warfare 2 (led by a unique studio) so shortly. If that’s certainly the plan, it is comprehensible how this appears like a much less professional “full” CoD game than, for instance, Treyarch’s subsequent game.

As we speak’s monetary report is Activision’s first official point out of a standalone 2023 CoD game—when the Bloomberg report claiming Treyarch’s subsequent CoD game had been delayed a yr first hit in February, the writer’s response wasn’t precisely contradictory. 

“We now have an thrilling slate of premium and free-to-play Name of Obligation experiences for this yr, subsequent yr and past,” Activision stated on the time. “Stories of something in any other case are incorrect. We sit up for sharing extra particulars when the time is correct.”

Now that Fashionable Warfare 2 is out, the time is outwardly right. We’re seemingly months away from the day Activision is able to formally announce no matter CoD 2023 truly is (and which group is making it), so till then, it is all rumors and reviews. We have reached out to Activision for clarification on the character of subsequent yr’s CoD and can update the story if it arrives.