While every Call of Duty fan has their favorite entry in the series, many are particularly fond of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. For some, the 2012 game is a clear example of Call of Duty at its peak, with many viewing it as the end of the franchise’s golden era. Not only were Call of Duty: Black Ops 2’s weapons the most balanced the series has seen yet, but League Play and a strong map lineup also offered a franchise best competitive experience.
Another reason Call of Duty fans love the second Black Ops so much has to do with its other modes. While Zombies started off rough, the DLC maps included Mob of the Dead and Origins, two of the best experiences the co-op mode has ever introduced. As for the campaign, it had the tough task of following up the first Black Ops game’s twist-filled narrative. It succeeded in doing so due to complex missions with multiple endings and a split focus betwen two time periods. Two settings meant two protagonists, with players controlling both David and Alex Mason. While there is a chance Treyarch’s next game focuses on new characters like Adler and Bell, there is a great case to be made for going back to the Masons.
What David Mason’s Part Of The Story Could Accomplish
While Call of Duty 2022 leaks have mentioned that it will indeed be the expected sequel to Modern Warfare 2019, the leaks for 2023’s game are more intriguing. Call of Duty 2023 is supposedly semi-futuristic, a description that was often used for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. This means that the game will be boots on the ground but still utilize some futuristic technology and weapons, allowing it to feel fresh yet familiar to longtime fans.
While the enduring popularity of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 makes a return to a semi-futuristic time period a logical decision on the part of Treyarch, it could also imply a direct sequel to that game. Possibly set in the late 2020s or 2030s, it would be able to show what happens after the downfall of Raul Menendez. While Treyarch could obviously tell a new story with this semi-futuristic game, it has stuck by the Black Ops brand since 2010. With even Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 sharing the name despite having almost no connection to the original story, this new project will likely be a Black Ops title of some kind.
Assuming that it does take place after Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 in the timeline, it simply makes sense to bring back David Mason. Alex Mason’s son could go on a new mission of some kind, and Treyarch could tell a story that gives fans more insight into what makes him different from his father. Players know that he marries and has a child before Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, as his two daughters serve as the protagonist and antagonist of the odd Blackout story. Seeing that relationship unfold could be a great way to humanize David, making him more than just a relative of his dad.
On top of this, assuming a follow-up to Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 keeps the dual protagonist format, David’s side of the story could show off all the fancy tech that players will be making use of. From drones and robots to advanced guns, the Mason that is fighting in the near future could have access to all of the gear that players would be using in multiplayer. The campaign could not only spin a story as interesting and different as what was seen in 2012’s Call of Duty game, but it would also succeed at getting casual players familiar with what they will see if they hop into an online match.
What Alex Mason’s Part Of The Story Could Accomplish
While David Mason’s story could focus on making him a character that is just as interesting as his dad, Alex Mason’s arc could fill one of the biggest gaps in the Black Ops storyline. While the series spans a full century, everything from 1990 to 2025 goes completely unexplored. This is a big deal because, in the ending of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 where Alex Mason survives, he would have had to be doing something during this 35-year window.
With Frank Woods and David Mason both believing Alex died in the 80s, there had to have been a reason he stayed in hiding until he was 92 years old. David would understandably be sad that his dad was alive and kept that information from him, and that heartbreak could lead to some interesting fights and memorable scenes. Beyond that, Alex Mason is a fan favorite character, so getting answers on this secretive portion of his life would be satisfying for longtime Call of Duty players.
Alongside some more time with a beloved Call of Duty character like Alex Mason, his story could serve as a way to set up the villain of David Mason’s storyline. Much like how the portion of Black Ops 2 that was set in the past told Raul Menendez’s origin story, Alex Mason could learn of some conspiracy that is relevant to David Mason in the present day. His return at the end of the second Black Ops game could be more about preventing some attack than it is about repairing a fractured relationship with his son, adding more depth to the tortured character.
Alex Mason’s half of the campaign taking players through the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s could be a terrific way to attract those that are on the fence about another futuristic Call of Duty title. While it is true that just about everyone loved Black Ops 2, the nonstop futuristic releases afterwards (and the addition of advanced movement) saw fans burnt out on the idea. Splitting the focus could be a smart way to attract all players, and it would lead to the most diverse multiplayer arsenal possible. This new Black Ops game could boast weapons from the Cold War, the modern era, and the near future, making for a varied gun lineup and thrilling post-launch Call of Duty Seasons.
While there are other mysteries tied to the character to explore, like whether Alex Mason killed JFK, this gap of time is too strange to leave untouched. With parent and child dynamics working incredibly well in other modern games, it could make for an interesting premise to explore once again. If things like Call of Duty: Black Ops 2’s choices, different endings, and campaign challenges also return, Treyarch could deliver a story mode that is just as appealing as multiplayer or Zombies. With the Masons being a big reason that the first two Black Ops campaigns work so well, the characters deserve to be placed in the spotlight once Call of Duty 2023 releases.
Call of Duty 2023 is rumored to be in development.