Developer Infinity Ward has confirmed that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will bring back beloved characters Simon “Ghost” Riley and John "Soap" MacTavish. The two Special Forces soldiers both played memorable roles in the original Modern Warfare titles. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare featured Ghost and Soap as multiplayer characters, but now the beloved warriors will once again play a role in the franchise's story.

Infinity Ward's original Modern Warfare trilogy brought the Call of Duty franchise out of World War II and into a brand-new era of combat. The games depict a bloody civil war in Russia that leads to a full-scale World War, with players taking control of American and British soldiers throughout a variety of battles. This Modern Warfare trilogy contains both memorable protagonists, like Captain John Price, alongside supporting characters like Kyle "Gaz" Garrick. Acting as a reboot of Infinity Ward' old trilogy, 2019's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare brought Gaz and Price back in central roles. Now CoD: Modern Warfare 2 will release in October, and the upcoming sequel is set to bring back even more fan-favorite figures.

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A recent Call of Duty blog post reveals that John "Soap" MacTavish and Simon "Ghost" Riley will reappear in the story of Modern Warfare 2. While Soap was a playable protagonist in the original trilogy, and Ghost was an iconic supporting character, the two were absent from 2019's Modern Warfare campaign. However, new artwork reveals that the two will join Task Force 141 alongside Captain John Price, Kyle “Gaz” Garrick and newcomer Alejandro Vargas. The reveal of the exciting artwork took place along the Port of Long Beach, with cargo ships piecing Ghost's iconic skull mask together.

Alongside the return of Ghost and Soap, leaks suggest that Modern Warfare 2 will contain even more love letters to the original trilogy. A leak says classic maps are returning from Infinity Ward's older games, with these iconic areas becoming playable in the upcoming Call of Duty: Warzone 2. The second iteration of the battle royale shooter will apparently contain remastered maps from the original MW2. The leaks claim that Highrise, Quarry, Terminal, and Afghan will all exist as separate zones within Warzone 2, though these leaks are mere rumors for now.

While little is known about the plot of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, the title will bring several iconic characters back onto the battlefield. The fearless Soap MacTavish was a major player in the original Modern Warfare trilogy, making his return unsurprising, but Simon "Ghost" Riley is a beloved cult figure who was killed in the original Modern Warfare 2. With the game set for release in October, only time will tell whether Ghost can escape death this time around.

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will release on October 28, 2022.

Sources: Call of Duty Blog, Infinity Ward/Twitter

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