Call of Duty 2021 and rumors seem to go hand in hand, as so much about the game has been leaked over the past few weeks. While insiders cannot seem to agree on whether it will be traditional or have an alternate history twist, World War 2 does seem to be the setting of choice for the next entry in the Call of Duty franchise. Sledgehammer will supposedly develop the game, while features like skill-based matchmaking and Call of Duty: Warzone integration have also been discussed.
However, one particularly exciting aspect of Call of Duty 2021 is the engine that will be used to develop the game. Supposedly, the IW8 engine from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2019 will be used to create this year’s release. While this is still only a rumor, like everything else players know about the project, there is a lot to be excited about if it proves true. From graphics to gameplay, this engine is superior to the one used in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War — ensuring that Call of Duty 2021 should look and play better than its predecessor.
The Cleaner Graphics Of IW8
When it comes to visuals, the difference between Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is clear. With development on Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War being rushed due to COVID-19 and a tighter schedule, Treyarch opted to use an updated engine from Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 instead of the newer variant used for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. While this likely saved the studio some time, Call of Duty fans have shared several screenshots that prove that Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is far less visually appealing than its predecessor.
Call of Duty: Warzone integration ensures that all assets from Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War are ported over to Call of Duty: Warzone, with the game built on the same exact engine as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. This means that Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’s Operators are depicted in the newer engine, allowing players to notice clear differences between the software. Hair is more detailed, having different shades with each strand as opposed to one flat color. Makeup stands out more on female characters, while more definitive facial features like cheekbones and cleft chins stand out.
Beyond changes to hair and face, the newer engine sees clothes modeled with more detail. Different textures are seen on pants and jeans, with leather and cloth standing out clearly. Each piece of an outfit has proper shading as well, and while this has been proven to be a bit too strong in the case of Roze’s Rook skin, it is beneficial for just about every other cosmetic item. After all, with players spending money to make their characters look flashy, it makes sense that players would want a prettier game to use them in.
Aside from characters, the IW8 engine has proven to be hugely beneficial for the game’s other aspects. While Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’s guns may be strong, they are less impressive visually than the ones seen in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Environments lack the level of detail as well, with areas in 2019’s Call of Duty feeling more well-realized than those in the 2020 game. Call of Duty 2021 could excel in all of these areas, however, as using the IW8 engine will allow for more impressive environments and more appealing weapons to use within them. With a better engine also allowing for stronger character models, Sledgehammer will be able to tell its story well and bring its cast to life. The characters and guns will also be able to have a seamless transition into Call of Duty: Warzone, with any visual differences far less noticeable.
The Smoother Gameplay Of IW8
One of the downsides to Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War using an outdated engine is that the gameplay feels a bit less polished. Not only has this shown via an abundance of bugs, but regular match-to-match gameplay feels far less refined. For starters, guns feel less diverse, as the recoil systems and detailed animations for each weapon lack the same punch that they did in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. They also do not feel nearly as good to fire and control, with the only saving grace being the DualSense controller’s adaptive triggers for PlayStation 5 fans.
Other mechanics exclusive to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare’s engine are not available in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, with one example being that players cannot super sprint. Though the mechanic took some time for gamers to get used to, being able to ram down doors and run at quicker speeds was a major plus for Call of Duty’s style of gameplay. Not needing a perk to do this was also nice, while the drawback of not having a weapon ready was a great way to keep things balanced. This system is nowhere to be seen in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, though, with the basic sprinting returning instead.
The engine-exclusive feature of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare’s doors is also not included. While some would argue that the system encouraged camping, it did add another layer to gameplay. For starters, players could peek doors, tossing a flashbang or grenade through them while staying in cover. They could be opened and closed fully, or even shot through to create small openings in the cover. While many ran straight through them, those that used the mechanic tactically benefitted greatly from the system. In one-life modes like Search and Destroy, it proved to be a terrific feature that has been missed in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.
While players may love or hate the slower, more tactical gameplay of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, it is hard to argue against the notion that the engine used for the game was impressive. As such, the next entry in the Call of Duty series making use of this engine is a huge win for fans. Not only will the game look better, boasting better textures and lighting for its characters and environments, but it should feel better to play as well. Features like super sprint and doors could come back, adding more depth to combat if they do. The game should be more polished and lack the bugs of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, with players getting something more akin to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare’s launch day quality. With guns likely to have more detail, better animations, and smoother mechanics, the most important aspect of Call of Duty should feel great.
While there are plenty of good things to take from Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, such as its in-depth prestige system and an FOV slider for consoles, using Call of Duty: Modern Warfare’s engine is the right call. If Sledgehammer Games makes good use of the IW8 engine, Call of Duty 2021 will be starting off on the right foot. Though this does not guarantee a good game, it does at least ensure a visually impressive release that feels up to date — something that should make Call of Duty fans and critics alike optimistic about the future.
Call of Duty 2021 is rumored to be in development for unspecified platforms.