The video game landscape is always shifting, with studios often closing and projects getting axed frequently. However, one constant we can count on is the release of a new Call of Duty each year, a tradition that’s held strong since 2005.
While we’re still waiting on official news about the 2025 installment of Call of Duty, rumors and leaks are creating quite the buzz. A significant piece of speculation suggests that this upcoming game will directly follow the narrative of 2012’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, potentially taking us along on another mission with David Mason. Though revisiting this plot line after such a long absence might seem unusual, it holds promising possibilities. One key feature from Black Ops 2 that the future game should capitalize on is its distinctive setting.
Back before Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare introduced us to exoskeleton suits and long before Infinite Warfare’s space escapades, Black Ops 2 gently ventured into science fiction. The narrative split its time between well-loved characters like Alex Mason and Frank Woods in the 1980s, and a storyline set in 2025, where technology had taken fascinating leaps.
Despite not drawing too heavily on far-fetched sci-fi elements, Black Ops 2 balanced realism with futuristic features quite well. Prominent in its marketing, robotic drones made waves in both the storyline and multiplayer segments of the game. This semi-futuristic approach unlocked a trove of inventive weapons and Scorestreaks, such as the player-controlled Dragonfire drone, the Autonomous Ground Robot mini-tank, and the VTOL Warship, each tinged with a sci-fi flavor that was fresh to the franchise.
For the game’s 2025 version, it seems wise to revisit these semi-futuristic elements. While a full-on sci-fi dive like that in Advanced or Infinite Warfare might not be necessary, leaning back into some of Black Ops 2’s creative and tech-infused gameplay might give the series a much-needed reinvigoration. Such a setting invites imaginative weaponry and Scorestreak design and presents a narrative opportunity to dip into rarely seen plot themes, providing players a refreshing break.
It’s crucial for the next Call of Duty chapter to carve out a unique space for itself, especially since the recent Black Ops 6 set in the 1990s, and the two preceding games opted for current-day backdrops, which can start feeling overly similar. If Call of Duty 2025 avoids embracing potential sci-fi elements, it runs the risk of blending too seamlessly into its predecessors.
