The Call of Duty franchise has become fairly predictable over the past decade, with new games being released on an annual basis. Video game leaks, at least for the Call of Duty franchise, are also equally as predictable, with new leaks seemingly every year for the upcoming installments.
Currently known to the gaming community as Black Ops 5, the new installment in Treyarch’s titular series will reportedly be called Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. As the title suggests, the game will reportedly be set during the Cold War, which lasted from just after the Second World War to the early ’90s.
Contrary to the nature of the leak, it isn’t at all surprising that the game will be set during the Cold War; the original Black Ops was also set during this time. Earlier reports have suggested that the game will be set during this time period as well.
While this information has been found from a number of sources, nothing has been confirmed from Activision in any official capacity. It’s expected that they will confirm the official title soon, as E3 season is coming up and other studios are set to give individual showcases of their own titles.
Despite the title’s lack of official confirmation, Eurogamer has reportedly affirmed that the title will be Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, and that it will be released before the holiday season, sometime in October or November.
🚨 BREAKING 🚨
Call of Duty 2020 game is called Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Eurogamer's own sources have confirmed.
Treyarch's Black Ops series is returning to its roots with a historical setting.#BlackOpsColdWar #BlackOps pic.twitter.com/hZ6inHBsOs
— Black Ops 6 News (@BlackOps6News) May 20, 2020
Supposedly, Black Ops Cold War will be a return to a more traditional era of Black Ops and Call of Duty in general, eschewing futuristic technology and made-up conflicts for a more historical setting.
According to leaks, the game will also try to mirror the Cold War, more specifically the Vietnam War era, more closely than the original Black Ops did.
Black Ops Cold War’s release date is coming as a bit of a surprise, however. Black Ops’ newest installment is coming a year earlier, breaking the normal cycle of time in which Treyarch’s series releases its usual game.
Supposedly, Activision scrapped Sledgehammer’s project in favor of Black Ops Cold War, likely due to the success of Modern Warfare and Warzone. Modern Warfare was a return to form for Infinity Ward as well and saw record-breaking sales.
In fact, Modern Warfare was Activision-Blizzard’s best digital opening ever, so it’s no surprise that the publisher is trying to capitalize on nostalgia and old-school sentiment.
