COD5 invading 'new theater,' next 007 COD4-powered

  • By Tom Magrino, Tor Thorsen, GameSpot
  • Posted May 8, 2008 5:32 pm PT

Publisher confirms follow-up to Infinity Ward's modern-warfare shooter will have new setting on Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, Wii, and DS; COD4 engine to power next James Bond game, due this fall.

Earlier today, Activision made known its dominance in the gaming industry, triumphantly proclaiming it had secured the top publisher slot in the US in terms of console and handheld software dollars. One of the crucial titles driving Activision's $2.9 billion windfall of annual revenue during its 2008 fiscal year was Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, the first contemporary installment in Infinity Ward's long-running first-person shooter series.

It goes without saying that Activision plans a new installment in the Call of Duty franchise during its 2009 fiscal year, which ends March 31, 2009. The publisher has released a new installment in the series every fourth quarter since the series launched in 2003. In today's earnings follow-up with analysts and investors, the publisher dished more details on the fifth Call of Duty game, first revealed in December.

"We'll launch on all four platforms we've participated on in fiscal [year] 2008," Activision Publishing CEO Mike Griffith referring to Call of Duty 4, which sold over 7 million units worldwide on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, and Nintendo DS in 2007. Griffiths then reconfirmed that "we'll [also] launch on the PS2 and the Wii," marking the series' return to the PS2 and Wii after a two-year hiatus.

In addition to announcing new platforms, Activision also revealed that Call of Duty 5 would again shift the setting of the series. "We'll bring the intensity of the recent Call of Duty: Modern Warfare title to a new military theater to engage our significantly larger user base which nearly doubled last year as new users came into the franchise," said Griffiths. (Emphasis added.) Recent unconfirmed rumors had the series returning to World War II, the conflict in which all games prior to COD4 were set in. The publisher did not say if series creator Infinity Ward or Treyarch (Call of Duty 3, Spider-Man 3) was developing the project.

Speaking of Call of Duty 4, Activision also revealed today that the shooter's powerful game engine will power the new James Bond game. The yet untitled project, which is being developed by Treyarch, is set for release this fall around the same time as the next 007 film, The Quantum of Solace. Its use of the COD4 engine almost assures the game is in development for the PlayStation 3 and 360, and leaves the possibility of a PC version open.

589 Comments

  • Myzz617

    Posted May 9, 2008 6:59 pm PT

    I am sure WWII is done for. They have like what three installments on that scernario. Gulf or something like future weapons assult style like GRAW would be the way to go. Vehicles and the whole nince something like socom but FPS Im telling you. I can digg Warhawk i just need those updates just to play again. COD4 needs them damn map packs and it is my best FPS esp on PS3 thus far. RFOM if okk and the second looks worth buying but the FPS games are getting out of hand numerously on PS3 like this was a PC.

    The gulf war is the way to go above all IMO

    Personally i would like to see a Future fictional war game.

  • Proust

    Posted May 9, 2008 6:47 pm PT

    Please, no more modern setting. If I wanted to play American Army I would play American Army.

  • lamprey263

    Posted May 9, 2008 6:38 pm PT

    Infinity Ward is not doing this because they're already in development of Call of Duty 6. Activision's strategy for games like Guitar Hero and Call of Duty will be to have a new game out by the holiday shopping season of every year. That's the way it's been since the first Call of Duty. Though, having one developer making each game every year isn't a smart strategy, so they've been giving the task of making the games to Infinity Ward and Treyarch. Each game takes two years to make. When I.W.'s CoD was released in 2003, Treyarch (back then Gray Matter Interactive), was already working on the United Offensive expansion pack for release in 2004, and when that was released, I.W. was already working on CoD2 for release in 2005, and by the time that was released Treyarch was already working on CoD3 for release in 2006... and so on. They switch off. Anyhow, if Treyarch wasn't going to make CoD5, Activision would either have to rush Infinity Ward, thus making the game inferior from its potential, or they can just wait every 2 years between releasing CoD games. I don't know about the rest of you, but taking Treyarch off the task is only going to make us wait long periods of time between each game. Even if the game is utter crap, you're still going to have to wait until late 2009 for the next Infinity Ward CoD game. I'd much rather not complain and just wait and see what Treyarch has come up with, 'cause even if it is crap, I'm sure I'll read a lot of reviews on it before I go out and spend $60.

  • GoldenRamoth

    Posted May 9, 2008 6:14 pm PT

    "why base it in vietnam the americans lost that war but i would like to see another modern setting"

    just because the US lost doesn't mean the wrong side won.. it's just a matter of perspective. In my opinion, that war was like Iraq, kinda pointless. after all, the domino theory was pretty much wrong and we're left with more democracy in the world than pre-Nam. So, if there was a Vietnam game, I'd love to play it. Even as the Viet Cong, because I'm really tired of playing games that always have you as the "good guys"

    I loved the game Tie Fighter, for that reason, you played as the Imperials in Star Wars the whole game. And, when you got to then end, you felt you had won, because all characters acted like they were going to win the battle at the second death star, and you never actually saw the loss. So yes, a Vietnam game could potentially be awesome, even if played as the Americans.. Just play the game up to.. say Operation Rolling Thunder, so that when the vietnamese come back to the peace table, you think you've won. It could be that simple.

  • kazuma334

    Posted May 9, 2008 5:50 pm PT

    Hm I don't care really what the setting is, but more so what the developer is. My friends told me CoD3 was junk, and it was made by Treyarch. If the pattern follows then I'm probably gonna skip CoD5 and come back to CoD6 when Infinity Ward is developing again.

  • 856891

    Posted May 9, 2008 5:40 pm PT

    hell yeah vietnam game man we need a good one

  • blorg13

    Posted May 9, 2008 5:31 pm PT

    It is either the pacific, the future (could be good if it is more killzone than halo) or, my bet, nam

  • okassar

    Posted May 9, 2008 5:13 pm PT

    Hmm James Bond with COD4 (let's hope they take full advantage of the engine),that would actually be pretty sweet as the downfall of most past James Bond games were bad graphics.The gameplay wasn't all to good either but if they're comitting to good graphics this time they'll probably commit to actually making the game good.

  • SimsDevil

    Posted May 9, 2008 5:12 pm PT

    it better be multi player on the wii or i wont bother.

  • bowlama

    Posted May 9, 2008 5:09 pm PT

    still no good fps for the psp..........

  • ocdog45

    Posted May 9, 2008 5:08 pm PT

    hmmm. as long as it pretty much has the same concept and NOT a WW II game. i down to buy.

  • thedownfall

    Posted May 9, 2008 5:05 pm PT

    Hopefully Activision will get the picture through the tone of these comments that NOBODY wants Treyarch to do COD5, or any game for that matter. Infinity Ward does it well...this is a fact. Why stray from what works?

  • syafiqjabar

    Posted May 9, 2008 4:51 pm PT

    This has better be Vietnam. Not enough attention to that era in games. The only good one was Battlefield Vietnam.

  • Somebody89

    Posted May 9, 2008 4:40 pm PT

    COD 5 announced ---- YAY!!!!!!

    Developed by Treyarch ------ AWWWW!

    COD 6 FTW!

  • club-sandwich

    Posted May 9, 2008 4:40 pm PT

    Treyarch is developing the new James Bond game? ****, they'll screw the game.

  • Dain_Bramage77

    Posted May 9, 2008 4:39 pm PT

    Man I sure hope it stays in the modern-day era, or maybe the near future! I'm starting to get tired of WW2 games. I also hope Infinity Ward is making this next one.

  • __carwreck__

    Posted May 9, 2008 4:35 pm PT

    please not treyarch, please not treyarch, please not treyarch...

  • Xxgood-timesXx

    Posted May 9, 2008 4:33 pm PT

    tired of ww2 era, keep it modern or possibly high-tech. Definantly not buying it if its ww2 era.

  • SHAZ101

    Posted May 9, 2008 4:26 pm PT

    Vietnam would be neat.

  • ColdfireTrilogy

    Posted May 9, 2008 4:25 pm PT

    As long as it's not WWII or earlier, or some BF2142 futuristic crap, then hopefully it will be good.


    So wait what can it be .... i would have no problem with another WWII theatre, maybe a good pacific theatre game for once that would be rocking to see what COD could do in the pacific theatre.

  • doomwarrior235

    Posted May 9, 2008 4:17 pm PT

    Hopefully CoD 5 will be in modern times like CoD 4. Even if it is not, then hopefully it will still have an awesome multi player.

  • Maxor127

    Posted May 9, 2008 4:10 pm PT

    As long as it's not WWII or earlier, or some BF2142 futuristic crap, then hopefully it will be good.

  • AMPgamer

    Posted May 9, 2008 4:07 pm PT

    sweet, can't wait til both games are out

  • vengala31

    Posted May 9, 2008 4:00 pm PT

    i want 007 for Wii

  • Xenocide001

    Posted May 9, 2008 3:58 pm PT

    as macboy88 said.. cod3 sucked.. infinity-ward did an excellent job on cod4 (even if they dont put attention in the ps3 version ¬¬)

  • Gadeos

    Posted May 9, 2008 3:57 pm PT

    I don't think they'll take it back to WWII... I that would be a step backwards, nor taking it to future-like secenario. I think they'll identify current real tensions between countries and place us gamers there, being placed like some ten or so years in the future, no much further.

  • Macboy88

    Posted May 9, 2008 3:50 pm PT

    This isn't good. I don't want Treyarch to work on it. COD3 sucked because of them. Acitivision needs to let Infinity Ward do both COD5 and the new James Bond game. We haven't had a great 007-based game since Goldeneye.

  • lamprey263

    Posted May 9, 2008 3:46 pm PT

    I've no doubt that this game will look great, no matter what system it comes on. I'm sure they have enough experience to take full advantage of all the systems they're making ports for. But still...

    It's all about the rest of the package that counts. What Infinity Ward did well in CoD4 did was create a story that each of the missions was a part of, and they did it really well. This was first attempted in CoD3 by Treyarch, but it wasn't that good because the story really sucked... but everything else was fine. But you gotta give them credit for at least trying to integrate story. Hopefully they learned from their mistake of making a crappy story.

  • flybynite73

    Posted May 9, 2008 3:46 pm PT

    If COD5 is modern warfare in a new locale,one area not mentioned is Africa! How about North Africa (Arabic) vs. Central /South Africa(Black) with NATO & China/Russia choosing sides.Also,making the game compatible with low end & older machines would be a plus

  • parrot_of_adun

    Posted May 9, 2008 3:46 pm PT

    "The publisher did not say if series creator Infinity Ward or Treyarch was developing the project."

    There's still hope!

  • codepunk

    Posted May 9, 2008 3:42 pm PT

    Make it modern and add more AC130 gunship levels. That's all I want. Is that too much to ask for?

  • pokerguy94

    Posted May 9, 2008 3:40 pm PT

    Pretty cool it's coming to Wii. It better not be some neutered version like COD3 with no multiplayer (Wii).

  • DoomSky

    Posted May 9, 2008 3:21 pm PT

    COD5 Colonial warfare, rifles and cannon!

  • Skullcandy

    Posted May 9, 2008 3:07 pm PT

    Enough talk about realism in a video game, we dont play them for realism, we play them to ESCAPE reality. A realistic video game would suck. We would spend 95% of the time hiding behind cover and blind-firing from cover. I've also heard repeatedly that CoD5 is being made by Treyarch, and 6 is Infinity Ward. Rumours say 5 is going back to WWII. This is still all speculation until we see actual gameplay footage and a press release from the developer. CoD is a money maker, which means it will have as much cash sucked from it as possible while its still a viable franchise. The next game could very well suck AND be the biggest seller of the year, so lets hold judgement until we see the game.

  • Magatsu23

    Posted May 9, 2008 3:02 pm PT

    not WW2 again... ugh...

  • desert_e_909

    Posted May 9, 2008 2:50 pm PT

    Ryuketsu2043 COD5=Vietnam jsmoke03 when will they do an asian theatre? its always the same villians -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Yea i hope they make it take Place during the vietnam war, i havent seen a descent shooter based on the Vietnam War. Or if they are returning to the WWII setting make it on the pacific theater, the only attempt I saw at that was with Medal of Honor: Rising Sun.

  • gnutux

    Posted May 9, 2008 2:50 pm PT

    @jsmoke03 ... ummm... Call of Duty 4 is set in an Asian theatre. The Middle East is in Asia... lol.

    Plus, what conflict can we do there ... what, North Korea? I think Crysis snatched that.

  • Get_Shorty

    Posted May 9, 2008 2:49 pm PT

    It's going Back to the Future!! We're going to party like it's 2999!!!

  • -HCMF-

    Posted May 9, 2008 2:49 pm PT

    good news

  • tavernapple

    Posted May 9, 2008 2:49 pm PT

    Im voting for COD5 to be in the Pacific during WWII

  • willauqs

    Posted May 9, 2008 2:42 pm PT

    alrighhhht! i've been wonderind when the first next gen bond game would come out! bond games were always at least decent, but some of the best shooters on ps2. word word word

    you guys really think treyarch is making COD5? i thought the big business men would have learned there lesson.. after COD4's sucess why would anyone make the next game besides infinity? unlesssss infinity ward is stared COD6 as we speak so they can have double time to make it awesome like they did with COD4.

  • jsmoke03

    Posted May 9, 2008 2:42 pm PT

    when will they do an asian theatre? its always the same villians

  • gord_mose

    Posted May 9, 2008 2:39 pm PT

    A new Bond game might be fun, especially since it's not handled by EA this time around.

  • beedouk

    Posted May 9, 2008 2:37 pm PT

    why base it in vietnam the americans lost that war but i would like to see another modern setting

  • staring_death

    Posted May 9, 2008 2:28 pm PT

    i give 80% that the new 007 game would not be as good as it`s predecessors,
    and the new COD would turn into a mistake,
    putting a 4 year work on COD4 is what made it great but the new one might not make the same success that COD4 made,
    specially if treyarch makes it,
    even after COD3 people were playing COD2,
    so it might happen again!

  • AsianGammer94

    Posted May 9, 2008 2:16 pm PT

    Activison is doing this because the want more money after the gain million of dollars out of the PS3 AND 360. But I don't have a problem with that I like Activison

  • Ryuketsu2043

    Posted May 9, 2008 2:11 pm PT

    COD5=Vietnam

  • Toph998

    Posted May 9, 2008 2:08 pm PT

    alright a new james bond game, was never into the call of duty games but there reputation proceeds them so good things for 007

  • rocketraydog

    Posted May 9, 2008 2:07 pm PT

    LETS SEE HOW CALL OF DUTY IS THIS YEAR AND I CAN'T WAIT TO THE NEXT JAMES BOND GAME I HOPE IT IS AWESOME

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