Seventeen years ago, Call of Duty gave us an enemy that shook up the FPS genre. Will we receive a sequel to take things further?

Call of Duty is one of the most recognizable gaming franchises out there and has been dominating supreme in the FPS space for more than twenty years now. Whether you love it or despise it, there’s no denying that this franchise has always felt a thrill to play while still maintaining action that keeps us coming back for more.

Call of Duty franchise is the face of the RPG genre. (Image via Microsoft)

Ever since the release of the first Call of Duty title, Activision has raised the stakes with every entry in the franchise. However, to this date, nothing comes close to the series’ most ambitious title, Call of Duty: World at War. It brought us a new enemy in the WW2 setting that pushed the boundaries.

How Call of Duty: World at War changed everything

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Call of Duty: World at War still stands as one of the most unique entries in the FPS series. Even though one might call it yet another WW2 shooter, its maps were spectacular, the campaign was filled with over-the-top challenges, and the gunplay was smooth.

Right before World at War’s release, GamesRadar got the opportunity to sit down with ex-Treyarch Studios head Mark Lamia, who gave insights into the development of the title. When asked what features games can expect with this entry, here’s what Lamia had to say;

We’re introducing a new enemy, the Imperial Japanese Army, which uses new and different tactics. We’ve introduced lethal fire-based weapons. And for the first time ever in the Call of Duty series, we’re introducing co-op.

With World at War, Treyarch brought a number of groundbreaking features to elevate the gameplay. One of these was the brand-new enemy, the Imperial Japanese arm, that used new tactics, ambushes, and guerilla warfare to make battles a nightmare for players. Alongside that, we saw the introduction of new weapons and, most crucially, co-op gameplay, which is still a staple to this day.

Considering the fact that World at War helped Call of Duty as a franchise to reach new heights, it’s a real shame that we never got a successor to it. If World at War 2 becomes a reality in the future, it must consider shifting the focus to the Italian front.

For some odd reason, not a single Call of Duty has explored Italy despite it being one of the Axis Powers during WW2. Even though Battlefield 1 did give us a mission set in Italy, it was based on World War 1, leaving gamers itching for a WW2 Italian campaign. Let’s hope Treyarch can cover the battle against Italian forces in a sequel.

What’s the next Call of Duty game?

The next Call of Duty will be a return to Black Ops action. (Image via Microsoft)

As Call of Duty is an annual franchise, it’s expected that we’ll see another entry this year, like we have since 2005. You’ll be shocked to know, but 2025 will be the 20th year in a row that Activision has released a new entry in the FPS franchise.

While Microsoft or Activision still haven’t revealed anything officially, rumors suggest that the upcoming entry will be a Black Ops game. It’s supposed to be a sequel to 2012’s Black Ops 2 and set in the early 2030s. Even the 2024 Call of Duty was a Black Ops game, and this would be the first time we see back-to-back Black Ops releases.

If Activision or Microsoft doesn’t deviate from the franchise’s release formula, Call of Duty 2025 is likely to hit the shelves sometime around October or November 2025. Activision is likely to announce the game just a few months before the release.

With that said, would you like to see Call of Duty: World at War 2? Let us know in the comments below.