Call of Duty, Battlefield doing the time warp?

  • By thorsen-ink, GameSpot
  • Posted Mar 8, 2006 2:21 pm PT

Source: A "reliable source" dishing to tech-blog Joystiq.com and a recent interview with senior producer Dan Blackstone on Shacknews.com. The official story: See below. What we heard: Nothing sets the Web afire like rumblings of a sequel to a top-selling game--a game like Call of Duty 2, which has...

Source: A "reliable source" dishing to tech-blog Joystiq.com and a recent interview with senior producer Dan Blackstone on Shacknews.com.

The official story: See below.

What we heard: Nothing sets the Web afire like rumblings of a sequel to a top-selling game--a game like Call of Duty 2, which has proven wildly successful on the PC and Xbox 360, and its current-gen console spin-off, Call of Duty 2: Big Red One for the Xbox, GameCube, and PlayStation 2.

While the Call of Duty games have received varying degrees of critical acclaim, all have one thing in common--their setting. All have focused on the European and African theaters of World War II, where the Allied forces (the UK, US, and USSR) fought the Axis (Germany and Italy).

However, Joystiq.com is now reporting that a "reliable source" is saying the franchise is doing some traveling--time-traveling, to be exact. The source says some of the already-confirmed sequels to Call of Duty will make the leap to the modern age, swapping Nazis for terrorists. Players will fight battles in locales like London, the North Atlantic, and the Middle East and will be able to throw flashbang grenades, rappel down walls, and wear night-vision goggles, a la Ubisoft's Rainbow Six series.

According to Joystiq, the game, titled Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, will reportedly be released on the PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, and Xbox 360--within three months of the launch of a WWII-themed new Call of Duty. Infinity Ward would develop the current-day-set installment, while another developer would take over the reins on the 1940s-era entry into the franchise.

When asked for comment, Activision reps replied that it is company policy not to comment on rumors and speculation. However, such a move would make sense for two reasons. First is that the first-person WWII shooter genre is getting pretty overcrowded. Though popping the stahlhelms off of Waffen-SS troopers with an M1 Garand will never really get old, it's certainly not as fresh as it was when the first Call of Duty came out in 2003.

Another likely reason is the success of Activision's archrival Electronic Arts in the present-day first-person shooter genre. The publisher's Battlefield 2 (PC) and Battlefield 2: Modern Combat (PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360) made millions by making the leap from sniping Nazis to capping modern opponents from China and the Middle East. Ubisoft's Ghost Recon series has also scored by setting itself up in near-future conflicts. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, which shipped yesterday for the Xbox and Xbox 360, takes place during a fictional revolution in Mexico in 2013 and is drawing massive interest.

Although the Call of Duty series may be jumping on the near-future transition bandwagon soon, it still may be behind the curve. Besides Advanced Warfighter, rumors are now circulating about a Battlefield sequel that takes place in the faaaaaar future.

In a February interview with Shacknews.com, BF senior producer Dan Blackstone hinted that the series may be taking a new direction by dropping some mathematics. "We're about to announce something very big, so stay tuned," Blackstone told the site. "3213/3X2. Or said another way: S.R. 4588164." The number 3213 divided by three and multiplied by two equals 2142, and the square root of 4588164 is 2142. The year 2142 just happens to be exactly two hundred years after the game that started the BF series, Battlefield 1942.

Does this mean Battlefield 2142 is in the works? Nothing's for sure, as Electronic Arts is not commenting externally on Blackstone's not-so-subtle clues. However, it's likely commenting aplenty internally if a widely circulated video clip is authentic. Marked "Property of Digital Illusions CE AB | For Internal Use Only," the clip is titled "'Stella' Minsk Level Video Showcase." It then fades to an abandoned futuristic plaza at sunset, which is quickly overrun by several mechs, hoverships, and futuristic infantry with caseless assault weapons a-blazin'.

Bogus or not bogus?: Nothing's for certain, but given Blackstone's blatant hint and the impressive video, Battlefield 2142 is looking not bogus. As for Call of Duty headed to the Middle East, we're as clued in as you are.

158 Comments

  • Silhouette_

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 9:09 pm PT

    I like more modern combat than futuristic. I do love the past combat, too, like in the current Call of Dutys that are released now. WWII games are great as well, but it depends which one it is.

  • bog_god

    Posted May 6, 2006 9:28 am PT

    im hopin for CSS guns + iron sights that would make my day and CoD gameplay is always good.

  • bobreturns

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 2:50 pm PT

    cool to be honest i never played any of the call of duty games they look good but i haven't really been into the wrold war 2 shooters thats why i prefer battlefield 2 then next attlefield and this looks pretty good

  • cookoo4cocopuff

    Posted Apr 14, 2006 10:44 pm PT

    That would be pretty awsome if COD took it to the modern-day warfare!

  • bobreturns

    Posted Mar 30, 2006 10:52 am PT

    this is good but i would rather have battlefield 2142

  • BonelessBone

    Posted Mar 23, 2006 4:31 pm PT

    All I care about is the weapons thats gonna be used in Battle Field 2142,...and of course, the gameplay

  • hittin

    Posted Mar 23, 2006 9:28 am PT

    Wow, nice.

  • JcDent

    Posted Mar 21, 2006 2:17 pm PT

    Just can't imagina Call of Duty shooting terorist. What, some Gobal Bad Terorists army will invade LOndon and blow everything to bit to make the setting that we were used to in previous games? and what about mass battles, with people runnig all over the place? Terorists ain't Nazis, they don't fight in mass. But Battlefield 2142 - cool!

  • Stu_548

    Posted Mar 21, 2006 1:17 pm PT

    Hey guys!
    I think this video prettey much sums everything up, I mean if this is a hoax then some idiot has been working on this for a while! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-DnK-d_sp0&search=battlefield%20games%20cool%20stuff%20video%20trailers%20e3

    Copy n Paste into your address box!

    I love the idea of BF 2142! At first i wasnt so sure about the setting but with BF2's gameplay it really wont matter at all.

  • Stu_548

    Posted Mar 21, 2006 1:17 pm PT

    Hey guys!
    I think this video prettey much sums everything up, I mean if this is a hoax then some idiot has been working on this for a while! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-DnK-d_sp0&search=battlefield%20games%20cool%20stuff%20video%20trailers%20e3

    Copy n Paste into your address box!

    I love the idea of BF 2142! At first i wasnt so sure about the setting but with BF2's gameplay it really wont matter at all.

  • MrBlake

    Posted Mar 18, 2006 10:40 pm PT

    I do say...a BF 2142...that would be absolutely smashing. It would be Mech Warrior, Battlefield style, which I personally think would be great (don't hurt me mech warrior sim junkies, I love them too) and would cater to those who never got into Mech Warrior. Niceeeee

  • Zecro_

    Posted Mar 17, 2006 10:09 am PT

    very nice!!!

  • Reetesh

    Posted Mar 17, 2006 4:08 am PT

    That is some serious GEEKY suff there I hope that thing calculated is correct,.

  • mattro11

    Posted Mar 17, 2006 1:53 am PT

    how about cod3, you play from the axis point of view, as opposed to the allies, i could blast me a few russian's!!!!

  • Raykim

    Posted Mar 16, 2006 12:11 pm PT

    i really wanna play~

  • Merl57

    Posted Mar 16, 2006 11:56 am PT

    hmm whats after that Bf mideval land?

  • cpt_langsta

    Posted Mar 14, 2006 10:44 am PT

    i kno how to get a rocketlauncher in a close area look down this is for black

  • gamedude117

    Posted Mar 13, 2006 2:03 pm PT

    I don't think so. I would love the fact of a Call of Duty in the future but something about that just doesnt seem like its going to happen. Now the Battlefeild thing might just happen because of their luck with the games that they have made. But they will make it in a long time because all games say there gonna come out soon then they get pushed back.
    -gamedude

  • gringots

    Posted Mar 13, 2006 12:15 pm PT

    i dont really like futuristic games, they feel so false

  • ASHLEY_123

    Posted Mar 13, 2006 11:38 am PT

    COOL!!

  • SwordFish95

    Posted Mar 12, 2006 2:58 pm PT

    How about [ Battlefield: Medieval Times ]
    Horsemen, archers, swordsmen, wizards?, catapults, trebuchets, castles...

    or [ Battlefield: Middle Earth ] EA has the rights to LOTR stuff...

    Battlefield: Neanderthal (ok, that's a bit of a stretch)

  • JayEightyNine

    Posted Mar 12, 2006 8:48 am PT

    I think a modern day CoD will be fun, but BF set in the future... eh.

  • DeathSquad75

    Posted Mar 11, 2006 9:53 pm PT

    that video looks like a newer version of the MMO Planetside. i would love if they made a new planetside, the gameplay was great but it needs a graphic update.

  • whyamisogood716

    Posted Mar 11, 2006 5:11 pm PT

    please not a halo remake. i hate halo.

  • Battlehead90

    Posted Mar 11, 2006 9:25 am PT

    I want them to make Battlefield:Keroa or Call of Duty Keroa. No one has ever made a FBS Korean War game, no wonder why it is called the Forgotten War.

  • Lawmanrevolutio

    Posted Mar 11, 2006 6:46 am PT

    COD would work in the Modern day but Battle field would suck in the future

  • magedhamdy

    Posted Mar 11, 2006 5:50 am PT

    h-e-l-p m-e h-o-v-e-r p-l-a-n-e-s---------------------------------------
    transmission ended

  • magedhamdy

    Posted Mar 11, 2006 5:48 am PT

    the walking tanks are coming! the walking t----------

    traansmission ended

  • darkfox101

    Posted Mar 10, 2006 11:52 pm PT

    Its prob a counter to Quake Wars...

  • thechosenone827

    Posted Mar 10, 2006 10:14 pm PT

    That is great news. I love the Call of Duty games, but there are way too many WWII based games out there. It will be nice to see the series take a different route. Out of all the WWII games I can say Call of Duty and Call of Duty 2 are the best ones out there.

  • BCTitan4552

    Posted Mar 10, 2006 2:57 pm PT

    ...and here come the Halo Killer claims...

  • Shaun373

    Posted Mar 10, 2006 2:30 pm PT

    I like the idea of a modern call of suty since there are only so many battles in WWII. However the mechs and hover ships, etc. doesn't do it for me though.

  • mixjon

    Posted Mar 10, 2006 1:41 pm PT

    Ive been waiting for a mech game since the 90's mechwarrior vengance.That was cool but then agin so was a 64meg video card back then. I cant wait to mix it up in battle armor. what took the industry so long. the only reason i was considering an xbox360 was because of lost planet Ive got a woody for mech battles. Its been to long since they have made a decent one with next gen pc or console hardware. bring it on....

  • exclusiveburner

    Posted Mar 10, 2006 9:39 am PT

    Well i gotta say i hope its a futuristic shooter because I cant stand any more WW2 games they're just so outdated. I'm hoping this is true and they announce sumthing soon because FPS's really need to get more creative these days. Huxley or Huntley look pretty good along with UT07 but we will see

  • xDiesel9x

    Posted Mar 10, 2006 9:32 am PT

    AWESOME!!! I can't wait!!!

  • hardcore0115

    Posted Mar 10, 2006 8:54 am PT

    they should start a new franchise if they want to make a war game outside of WWII. Just change the name, have the same people make it. Would be better than COD: Iraq

  • Limonadi

    Posted Mar 10, 2006 7:35 am PT

    just great! i hope they going to do patches for ps3 version. Because ps3 has a hardrive

  • timmy0001

    Posted Mar 10, 2006 7:26 am PT

    battlefield going future is cool but COD should remain WWII. WWII was the most modern war the US entered that we can justify. That makes for the most compelling and engrossing storyline. You just can't match it basing the game off of any war after that.

  • hump

    Posted Mar 9, 2006 6:47 pm PT

    Sorry but anyone who doesn't think strapping into a 30 ton walking tank bristling with weapons isn't cool needs to get their pulse checked.

    You guys pining for more WW2 goodness need only wait for the Forgotten Hope 2 mod which will be more realistic and exstensive than anything DICE has time to do. If you played the FH mod for the original BF you know what I mean.

  • volumesoxxs

    Posted Mar 9, 2006 6:43 pm PT

    if its futuristic then dont put the name Call of Duty on it just give it a new franchise name or something.

  • Cross_eye

    Posted Mar 9, 2006 6:15 pm PT

    "BF vietnam near 1960"

    wow just wow if youre an american how can you call yourself that jeez vietnam started (officially) 1968 and (officialy) ended 1972.......

    now for the part that most people dont know about.... that the vietnam war never really ended. We still have people stationed in vietnam and Korea and we even have an outpost or 2 in germeny for chrissake.........................................

    ok now back on topic I think its ok to move COD into modern times cuz WW2 isnt as fun as it used to be (at least in video games) alright they take tried and true so they just squeeze the money out of ur pockets for the same darn thing over and over and over again. Aight i think more games should be in a realistic setting but make it belivable if its in the future.

  • MCCHA

    Posted Mar 9, 2006 3:13 pm PT

    bogus

  • gzaneski

    Posted Mar 9, 2006 3:02 pm PT

    WOW HAVING A MODERN OR FUTURE DAY COD WOULD STINK LIKE POOPY lol

  • ma21212

    Posted Mar 9, 2006 2:53 pm PT

    NO,,,NO,,,,,,,,NOOOOOOO god damn it ...i like it the way its is .....why cant the do some thing about the pacif theater .....hell ill take it even if it was about vietnam !!!!

  • TheBuffetMaster

    Posted Mar 9, 2006 2:17 pm PT

    i agree with DrKill09, a Vietnam COD would be pretty cool, there are too many WWII games out there, and with the few Vietnam games, they arent that good, so CODVietnam would be a pretty good thing. I think its time we give WWII a break for a while, or we could start making up wars that take place like 10 years from now.

  • amkalfus

    Posted Mar 9, 2006 1:36 pm PT

    sounds pretty friggin sweet... i just hope this doesn't turn war games into only Sci Fi shooters.

  • frankeyser

    Posted Mar 9, 2006 8:31 am PT

    for some reason i see time warp i picture all the soldiers doing the time warp dance from rocky horro picture show hahahaha now that would be worth buying.

  • ghsacidman

    Posted Mar 9, 2006 8:17 am PT

    future garbage? Ghost Recon Adv Warfighter is the best game I've played in years. I think sci-fi settings are more creative.

  • SavoyPrime

    Posted Mar 9, 2006 8:15 am PT

    Well, at least someone is trying to breathe some new life into the oversaturated shooter market.

  • rokkuman09

    Posted Mar 9, 2006 7:52 am PT

    cod not in wwii that sux but the bf2142 sounds pretty sweet though it was kinda predictable because bf42 is wwii bfv is vietnam then bf2 is modren so where do they have to go? the future duh!

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