A rumor from a very prominent leaker suggests that Call of Duty 2020 will be a Black Ops reboot that focuses on grittier gameplay and a story that will be based on real world conflicts like the Cold War and Vietnam War. Fans of the franchise have recently become enamored with Call of Duty: Warzone, the free-to-play battle royale spin-off of Modern Warfare that offers gigantic multiplayer battles and some unique gameplay modes as well.
Consumers were largely receptive of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare's reboot of one of the most popular iterations of the series, with many commenting on how the gameplay remained solid but the narrative became much more compelling. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare controversy was persistent across the game's development and launch cycle, however, with some critics taking issue with the game's depictions of violence - especially when it came to playable child soldiers or the deadly bio-chemical weapon white phosphorous being included as a killstreak bonus.
According to The Gaming Revolution, a popular YouTube creator with a track record of trustworthy leaks regarding Call of Duty, the next instalment will be a reboot of another of the series' most iconic labels. Call of Duty 2020 will reportedly feature a gritty reboot of the Black Ops franchise right down to a narrative that will be centered in historical conflicts like the Cold and Vietnam wars. The leaker also posited that developer Treyarch would be returning to take the helm of the Call of Duty: Black Ops reboot, which would make sense since Infinity Ward handled Modern Warfare's 2019 reboot.
If the information turns out to be accurate, it's hard to argue with Activision's reasoning for returning to the reboot well. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare did exceptionally well and reinvigorated the franchise, stirring the pot to generate attention for itself without turning away new fans. A lot of the attention paid to Modern Warfare in the build-up to its release - how developer Infinity Ward wouldn't shy away from realistic depictions of war, for instance - could easily be repeated with a Call of Duty: Black Ops reboot that is similarly bold in its representation of violence and loss.
Of course, these rumors don't actually confirm whether or not a Call of Duty: Black Ops reboot is actually happening this year. Even leakers with a strong history of accurate information can get it wrong, and plans change. However, Call of Duty 2020 looks, for now, to be heading back to reboot territory for another fan favorite.
Call of Duty 2020 has not been confirmed at this time.
Source: The Gaming Revolution (via VGC)