Unleashing the Ultimate Gaming Universe: Call of Duty Embraces the MCU Treatment

Highlights

Marvel Studios' Infinity Saga successfully tied together different characters, styles, and tones, offering a coherent story that pleased critics and moviegoers.

The Call of Duty game franchise possesses a vast array of captivating characters and concepts that hold immense potential for expansion, utilizing spin-offs and collaborative projects, similar to the successful approach adopted by Marvel. By following a formula akin to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), a Call of Duty Game Universe could present riveting singleplayer campaigns that focus on renowned characters, while simultaneously delving into diverse time periods and intertwining storylines.

Phase 4 and 5 of the Infinity Saga by Marvel Studios have faced criticism, but it is undeniable that they have accomplished a great feat. Bringing together numerous solo projects with diverse characters, styles, and tones is no small task. However, they managed to deliver a coherent story that won over both critics and regular moviegoers. While Marvel's current foray into the multiverse may be too daring for Call of Duty, a combination of spin-offs and team-up projects could be suitable.

Call of Duty has created memorable characters such as Alex Mason, Soap MacTavish, Frank Woods, Captain Price, and Ghost. These heroes have faced off against formidable villains like Raul Menendez and Vladimir Makarov, and the game has immersed players in fictional futuristic battles as well as historical wars. With several decades of lore and concepts at their disposal, including the popular Call of Duty Zombies, creating a Call of Duty Game Universe similar to the Marvel Cinematic Universe presents an opportunity to elevate CoD to even greater heights.

How an MCU Formula For Call of Duty Could Work

There are various iconic characters in Call of Duty, each of whom has the potential for their own captivating singleplayer story. Activision has yet to explore character-focused campaigns in the Call of Duty franchise, but it is an idea that holds promise in terms of character development. This approach would enable Treyarch, Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer Games, and Raven Software to cover multiple time periods within a single interconnected storyline. By ensuring that all the games are canon, players would witness their favorite characters evolve beyond mere charismatic action heroes.

The initial phase of a Call of Duty Games Universe could commence with World War 2 and the story of Viktor Reznov, the unforgettable Russian soldier whose early years and acts of heroism would be chronicled. A post-credit scene could portray his imprisonment in Vorkuta, setting the stage for his eventual encounter with Alex Mason in a retelling of the original Black Ops. Prior to this, an Alex Mason campaign could delve into his background, showcasing his youth and survivalist skills. Subsequently, a new Black Ops game could serve as the universe's defining moment, analogous to the Avengers, as a culmination of years of anticipation and buildup.

After the successful release of the Black Ops game, fans have been eagerly awaiting a Frank Woods spin-off campaign that takes place during the Vietnam War. This campaign could provide players with the immersive Vietnam game experience they've always desired. As the campaign comes to a close, a post-credits scene could show Frank Woods being captured, setting the stage for his epic battle with Raul Menendez in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. This would incorporate key plot points from the original 2012 game, but with a fresh twist—David Mason would emerge as a pivotal character in a brand new Modern Warfare storyline.

To ensure a seamless transition between these different phases in the Call of Duty timeline, a young Captain Price could be introduced in the "Black Ops" era. This would create a well-connected narrative that bridges the gap between the different game phases.

In addition to the regular release of singleplayer campaigns, it would be beneficial for Call of Duty Zombies to retell its Aether story in a more concise and coherent manner. Treyarch, the developer, could achieve this by creating dedicated games that focus on different phases of the story. For example, phase one could revolve around Ultimis, phase two could focus on Victis, and phase three could center on Primis. With this approach, the Aether story would be much easier for players to follow, and surprise elements could be introduced, similar to the remake project of Final Fantasy 7.

Overall, by combining the release of singleplayer campaigns with a major crossover title every few years, and by reimagining the Aether story in a clear and concise manner, the Call of Duty franchise would be able to cater to the diverse interests of its fanbase while providing a cohesive and engaging gaming experience.

While ambitious, this formula has the potential to be successful for Call of Duty. With the upcoming Activision Blizzard deal with Microsoft, the idea of creating smaller singleplayer games for Xbox Game Pass could be appealing. Fans have been eager for a multiplayer experience that is supported over a longer period of time, and focusing on spin-offs centered around Zombies could allow for yearly releases while maintaining a high level of quality. It's unlikely that Call of Duty will adopt a model like Assassin's Creed Infinity and create its own platform to house these projects, at least not in the near future. However, it's exciting to imagine a connected Call of Duty universe that builds up to significant moments and provides its characters with the same depth as the MCU.