Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold Waris slowly beginning to grow on players, as steps have been taken to improve the game since launch. Patches have added requested features and removed the many bugs that first plagued the game, while post-launch Seasons have done a lot to solve its content problem. While there is still work to be done, the game can be deemed a success, especially when its status as one ofthe best-selling games of all timeis considered.
On top of this,Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold Warfeatured a well-received campaign full of new and old characters. Its unique status as a prequel and a sequel allowed it to work its way into the established timeline nicely, and many praised the more unique missions and features of the story mode. However, despite so much going for it, the likelihood of a properCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold War 2is low — with something else done within theBlack Opsuniverse instead.
RELATED:Call of Duty: Warzone Season 3 Reloaded Update Size Revealed
Why A Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War 2 Is Unlikely
The first and most important thing to note about a potentialCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold War 2is that it would be hard to fit intotheBlack Opstimeline. WhileCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’s 1984 setting did not get in the way of any major events from the previous games, a sequel likely would. After all, the non-futuristic portion ofCall of Duty: Black Ops 2takes place in the year 1986, placing it only two years after the events ofCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. Prior to the secondBlack Ops, Alex Mason is supposed to be retired, presumably stepping away from action after the Perseus mission. If a direct sequel were to take place afterCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, it would need to be set completely in 1985, and it could not involve the original protagonist.
Another issue with a direct sequel is the fact that the story is already being wrapped up. ThroughCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’s multiplayer Seasons, players are getting new stories that cover the hunt for Perseus. During this hunt,Adler has been captured, something that will presumably lead to Stitch brainwashing and killing him. Despite this, the later Seasons will likely see Stitch and Perseus taken down for good, giving fans closure on the game’s narrative. With the villains defeated and Adler dead, there is little reason for a proper sequel to take place, as all the loose threads will be tied up.
Beyond this, aCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold Warsequel would not be able to feature the same protagonist, making a direct follow-up even less likely. Bell’s entire story is told in the campaign, with players learning of his brainwashing and his previous role as a partner of Perseus. Inthe canonical ending of the game, Bell is dead, with Adler killing the player’s silent character so that they have no chance to turn on the CIA. On top of this, a sequel would have a tough job of dealing with the Lazar and Park choice, as only one of the characters could survive. While Park’s role in multiplayer implies it was her, campaign fans have a full say over which character lives or dies.
With nearly all the new characters dead or written out of the universe followingCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, releasing a direct follow-up would make little sense. The game would also have trouble fitting into the current timeline, and while it is possible, the developers would be restricted as to what story they could tell. That said, there are still some gaps intheBlack Opsstorylinethat can be explored, ensuring that fans do not have to worry about the subseries going away. Of all the options available to Treyarch, Raven, and Activision, though, aCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold War 2is the least logical of the bunch.
RELATED:Call of Duty Games That Need Sequels
What The Next Call of Duty: Black Ops Game Could Be About
There is no shortage of options for a newCall of Duty: Black Opsgame, as the series covers an absurd span of 100 years. While there is plenty of lore built up, there are still some gaps, with one specific area being the Vietnam War. A VietnamCall of Dutygame has been rumored for some time, and it was actuallySledgehammer Games' first projectbefore it was canceled. While Vietnam has featured in theBlack Opsuniverse before, with the original campaign having a few Vietnam missions andCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold Warhaving one, a deeper focus on the era would be excellent. The game would have a perfect protagonist in Frank Woods, and delivering a serious take that shows the horrors of the war in full detail would be a welcome change of pace forCall of Duty.
Another option would finally seeCall of Duty: Black Ops 1’s cliffhangeraddressed, with players finally learning if Alex Mason did indeed kill President JFK. While it is implied that he did, no game has acknowledged this act, so seeing it properly looked at would be a welcome change of pace. While a game like this would undoubtedly be controversial, it could be an entirely new style forCall of Duty, with players controlling a brainwashed Mason and his best friend Frank Woods at different points in the narrative. While the ending would see Mason surviving and being reconditioned, the journey could be worthwhile.
A few more controversial options would seeCall of Duty: Black Opsgoing forward or backwards in time. While the Cold War is integral to the series, many forget that the story is deeply connected to2008’sCall of Duty: World at Warand the Russian soldier Viktor Reznov. Reznov is a complex character within theBlack Opsuniverse, and seeing his origins via the Invasion of Poland or the Winter War could be interesting. On the flip side,Call of Dutycould return to the future, with Treyarch delivering a follow-up to the misunderstoodCall of Duty: Black Ops 3or the weirdCall of Duty: Black Ops 4. A direct sequel toCall of Duty: Black Ops 2is possible as well, as players can see David Mason’s adventures beyond 2025.
One last option worth discussing is areboot likeCall of Duty: Modern Warfare. While hitting the reset button would be hard to do given the deep history ofBlack Ops, a fresh start could allow the new voice actors for Woods and Mason to come into their own. A modern re-telling of the original stories could be seen, with smart-but-meaningful changes to the overall narrative. LikeCall of Duty: Modern Warfare2019, a new tone could be established, with Treyarch taking a more gritty and realistic approach to 20th century warfare. While the brand recognition ofCall of Duty: Black Opsmakes a proper end for the series unlikely, there is a chance that a fresh start eventually happens.
Regardless of where the next game goes,Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold Warfansshould not be expecting a numbered sequel to the 2020 game. Though it is possible, there are many reasons to doubt such a follow-up. While some characters may return, an entirely different story from theBlack Opsuniverse will likely be told.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold Waris available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
MORE:What Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’s Outbreak Easter Egg Needs To Get Right
