Even though Call of Duty: Vanguard is dropping next month, many Call of Duty fans seem to be more interested in the games that are coming next. Some are intrigued by the rumored semi-futuristic setting of Call of Duty 2023, while others are looking forward to next year’s return to a modern-day setting. Based on leaks, the plot of next year’s game will apparently see gamers taking down drug cartels, and it should serve as a nice change from the villains that usually feature in the franchise.
However, Call of Duty fans have also learned the title for next year’s game. Supposedly, it will indeed be named Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - though with a small distinction that sees the roman numeral used to label the game. While fans are obviously excited about a return to the Modern Warfare universe, as 2019’s game set up some interesting things like Task Force 141, it is hard to imagine the title not causing confusion amongst players. Worse, it makes a long-requested Call of Duty remaster even less likely to happen.
Why Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Is A Flawed Title
When Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2019 launched, fans had to come to terms with its confusing title. The original Modern Warfare, Call of Duty 4, remains one of the most beloved games in the franchise. With a remaster dropping in 2016, too, it is still relevant, meaning that fans have had to say things like “the new Modern Warfare” or list the game’s year when trying to differentiate the titles. The fact that the games play so different only made the title issue more annoying, though it will surely be carrying over to next year’s game as well.
Despite Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s campaign remaster dropping last year, Activision and Infinity Ward have once again decided to reuse an old title. While the roman numeral distinction is clearly an attempt to separate the two games, it will hardly do the trick when the title is pronounced out loud. Players will need to utter phrases like “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 2022” and “the new Modern Warfare 2” once again, something that should not be necessary. While it is hardly a huge issue since it will not impact the quality of the actual game, it is going to be strange when it comes to its marketing.
While the newer Call of Duty engine and slower, more realistic approach make for games with hugely different gameplay, those simply searching up the title online will likely find themselves getting confused. Players searching up loadouts could end up finding a guide from 2009 for the weapons that feature in both games, with the same being said for campaign walkthroughs. Images for the old Modern Warfare 2 could appear when people want to see content from the newer one, while those that want to look up info on the older game could find it more difficult to track down. While it is unlikely due to the different platforms the games feature on, at least one person will probably buy the “wrong” Modern Warfare 2 for a friend or family member. All this confusion could be avoided with a different title.
The Difficulty With Naming Call of Duty’s Reboots
Still, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II could have been better than the alternative. Branding is difficult, especially when it comes to reboots. Last year’s Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is an excellent example of this, as that game’s name was dangerously close to being too long. Nobody really called it by its full title, either, with most fans abbreviating it to "BOCW" or simply calling it “Cold War.” With the Modern Warfare subtitle having more characters than Black Ops, adding something else to the subtitle would likely make it far too wordy.
With the Modern Warfare name sure to attract new and lapsed fans alike, it is important that a sequel maintains that. Likewise, the story will seemingly be a direct follow-up to that of 2019’s game, so the Modern Warfare branding is a must in order to remind casual fans of the connection. While the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 title has been utilized before, it may be worth the risk of bringing it back. After all, 2022’s Call of Duty game having an entirely different name when it is actually a Modern Warfare sequel would be a poor idea, as players who want more Modern Warfare could miss the memo. They may pass on the game as a result, mistaking it for a fresh subseries instead of something they already know and love.
With Activision and Infinity Ward stuck between a rock and a hard place, the publisher and developer have supposedly chosen the safe option. Fans would likely be confused either way, whether that be because of the original Modern Warfare 2 or because the new game does not properly reflect what it is. With more words after Modern Warfare guaranteeing a title that is far too wordy, too, there was no good choice. As such, while Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is a strange title, it may be the best route to go from a business standpoint.
Why Call of Duty 2022’s Title Hurts A Modern Warfare 2 Multiplayer Remaster
However, the true downside to this title is what it may mean for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Multiplayer Remastered. Ever since the updated campaign released back in 2020, fans have been hoping that the multiplayer would follow suit. While Activision has said that there are no plans to remaster the game’s online experience, fans have kept hope alive, with conflicting reports from insiders giving gamers a reason to stay optimistic.
However, while fans want to see the original Modern Warfare 2’s multiplayer updated, this title leak makes that seem less likely than ever before. It is hard to imagine a scenario where Activision releases a remaster of the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s multiplayer anywhere near the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. Based on the expected title for next year’s game, it will likely be the one and only Modern Warfare 2 for the foreseeable future. While it is a possibility that the 2009 game is fully remastered one day, that time is unlikely to come before or during 2022.
With the branding already being confusing enough, fans of the Call of Duty series should give up hopes regarding more content from 2009’s Modern Warfare sequel. While it is a shame that the game’s multiplayer will likely not be remastered like Call of Duty 4’s was, Activision’s focus seems to be entirely on the rebooted Modern Warfare series. Though the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II title may be a bit problematic, it does reflect that the franchise is trying to focus more on the present than it is on the past.
Call of Duty 2022 is currently in development.