Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War fans have noticed a small detail hidden on some of the in-game assets that hint at what could have been. During the development process, there apparently was a chance that Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War was going to be a direct sequel to the 4th game. These in-game icons may hint at an original design, or they could be there on purpose, as this is the 5th chapter in the series.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War released under the pretense that it would be a direct sequel to the first Black Ops title. The developers could easily have wanted to go a different direction with the game's initial build instead of the campaign and game design seen today. While that future may never come to light, fans are still theorizing what these hidden icons really mean.
Twitter user CoDGhosts619 posted images that show a zoomed-in logo that clearly reads "Black Ops V." This icon shows up at the top right of the screen and on the top left of all in-game wildcards. While this is a subtle icon, many fans have taken to theorizing that it could be more than a simple developer mistake. The fact that it appears multiple times could hint at something more.
Fan investigations are easily warranted, as Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War's announcement hid several puzzles for players to solve. From in-game Easter egg hunts to puzzle experiences that stretch across the Internet, fans are now looking for anything that may hint at the title's future.
News site Charlie Intel reached out to Activision for a statement and was told that the logo is nothing more than a placeholder prior to Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War's name being confirmed. The studio clarified that it is nothing more than a mistake by the development team, but this has not stopped fan theories from spreading.
This does not mean that a Call of Duty: Black Ops 5 may not eventually happen. Many fans believe that the logo could be a hint to a future title, but other community members say it is too soon for rumors like that.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is available on PC, PS4, Ps5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: CharlieIntel