In the volatile world of gaming, nothing is set in stone. Studios face closures and games get scrapped regularly. Yet, one constant remains: the annual release of Call of Duty, a tradition that has held strong since 2005.
The details surrounding the 2025 installment of Call of Duty have yet to be officially announced, but leaks and rumors abound. One particularly intriguing tidbit suggests this new entry will serve as a direct sequel to 2012’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, bringing back the character David Mason for another round of action. While revisiting this storyline after such a long hiatus might seem unconventional, it holds significant potential, especially by capitalizing on a unique aspect of Black Ops 2 that deserves further exploration.
Before we dive deeper, let’s take a stroll down memory lane to when Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 tested the waters of science fiction. Long before Advanced Warfare’s exosuits and Infinite Warfare’s space shenanigans, Black Ops 2 set part of its campaign in 2025. Although the 1980s section focused on familiar faces like Alex Mason and Frank Woods, the future segment did not shy away from embracing advanced tech.
Despite not straying far into the future, Black Ops 2 managed to maintain a grounded narrative while injecting some sci-fi elements. Notably, robotic drones played starring roles in both its story and marketing. This semi-futuristic approach opened the door to a variety of unconventional weapons and Scorestreaks—think the Dragonfire drone, Autonomous Ground Robot, and VTOL Warship. These elements, with their technological twist, offered a fresh take and could be something Call of Duty might want to revisit.
Flash forward to 2025, and it becomes clear that a reincarnation of that semi-futuristic setting could be just what the series needs to invigorate itself. Embracing such a theme could pave the way for inventive weapon designs and Scorestreaks, allowing the narrative to delve into areas often untouched by other Call of Duty titles, thereby offering players something distinctly new.
There’s a pressing need for this year’s Call of Duty to stand out significantly. The games preceding Black Ops 6 adhered to contemporary settings, and even Black Ops 6, although set in the ’90s, felt quite similar, at least outside the campaign’s narrative. If Call of Duty 2025 opts out of its potential sci-fi scene, the result might be a sense of déjà vu, which is something the series should avoid at all costs.
