Summary
Phase 4 and 5 have been met with a fair share of criticism, but it is impossible to deny the accomplishment of Marvel Studios’ Infinity Saga. Cleverly tying together a few dozen solo projects with hugely different characters, styles, and tones is no easy task, yet a coherent story was delivered that managed to win over critics and regular moviegoers alike. And whilejumping into the multiverse like Marvelis currently doing would be a bit too bold, a mixture of spin-offs and team-up projects could suitCall of Duty.
Alex Mason, Soap MacTavish, Frank Woods,Captain Price, Ghost - these are just some of the memorable characters thatCall of Dutyhas crafted over the years. Great villains like Raul Menendez and Vladimir Makarov have challenged these heroes, andCall of Dutyhas thrown players into fictional, futuristic battlefields alongside real, historical wars. With a few decades of lore and concepts to play with - including the over-the-topCall of DutyZombies - a Call of Duty Game Universe resembling the MCU feels like an opportunity to makeCoDeven bigger than it already is.
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How an MCU Formula For Call of Duty Could Work
As mentioned above, there are several iconicCall of Dutycharacters, all of which could carry their own singleplayer story.Character-focusedCall of Dutycampaignsis something that Activision has not really experimented with before, but it is an idea that could give one character a ton of development. This style would allow Treyarch, Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer Games, and Raven Software to cover a number of time periods in a single storyline where all the games are canon, with players’ favorite characters gaining depth and becoming more than some charismatic action heroes.
The first “phase” of a Call of Duty Games Universe could begin with World War 2 andViktor Reznov, with the memorable Russian soldier’s early years and heroism chronicled. A post-credit scene could show him being thrown into Vorkuta, setting up his meeting with Alex Mason in a retelling of the originalBlack Ops. Before this occurs, an Alex Mason campaign could highlight his youth and his experience as a survivalist. Then, a newBlack Opsgame could serve as this hypothetical universe’sAvengersmoment, being a payoff for years of buildup.
After the bigBlack Opsgame, a Frank Woods spin-off campaign could be released, with fans getting the Vietnam game they always wanted. It could end with a post-credits scene showing his capture and setting up his war withRaul MenendezinCall of Duty: Black Ops 2, which could follow many of the big plot points from the 2012 original - only this time, David Mason could be set up as a key player in a freshModern Warfarestoryline. A young Captain Price could be set up in the “Black Ops” phase of the timeline, too, making the transition smoother through some carefully-placed connective tissue between the “phases.”
In addition to releasing several singleplayer campaigns alongside a big crossover title every few years (the mainlineBlack OpsandModern Warfaregames could feature the series’ multiplayer alongside several years of support),Call of DutyZombies could have its Aether story retold. Across some dedicated games, Treyarch could deliver a concise version of its story that is far easier to follow, perhaps making surprise changes here and there likeFinal Fantasy 7’s remake project. Phase one’s Zombies content could focus on Ultimis, phase two could focus on Victis, phase three could focus on Primis, and so on.
Though it is ambitious, this formula is one that could absolutely work forCall of Duty. WithMicrosoft’s Activision Blizzard dealset to go through, the concept of smaller singleplayerCall of Dutygames to fill Xbox Game Pass with could be an attractive idea. The concept of oneCall of Dutygame’s multiplayer being supported for several years is also something fans have been longing for, and leaning into spin-offs that focus on Zombies could see Activision keeping yearly releases in place while still emphasizing quality. Obviously, it is unlikely thatCall of Dutywill shift to this model and build its own platform likeAssasssin’s Creed Infinityto house all these projects, especially not anytime soon. Still, it is fun to think about the possibility of a connectedCall of Dutyuniverse that builds up to big moments and gives its characters as much depth as the MCU has with its heroes.
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