Fans of the Call of Duty franchise have been conditioned to expect a new game every year, with each entry usually receiving just twelve months of support before the attention is shifted to the newest release. However, numerous reports and comments from Activision suggest that this trend is coming to an end this year, with 2023 and a majority of 2024 supposedly being dedicated to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. This would mean that Treyarch, who is next in line to release a Call of Duty title, will get an extra year of development and release its game in 2024.
Though official details about how Activision is planning to compensate for the lack of a premium Call of Duty game remain limited, leaks have provided a fair bit of insight into the supposed plan. Assuming that these reports turn out to be accurate, then players will be in for an interesting year, with 2023 also set to bring the usual Seasons of content to the hugely successful Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2.
More Content for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2
Before players even reach Activision’s substitute for a premium Call of Duty game, they will likely have around ten more months of the usual content to enjoy. Season 2 has not even begun yet, so there are still a lot more battle passes, map additions, and events on the horizon. Based on some recent leaks, fans know that at least one more Warzone 2 map could be coming to the game this year, and it will apparently double as a location for Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer.
Leaks have suggested that a new Resurgence map is on the way for Call of Duty: Warzone 2, which should be music to the ears of those who enjoyed Rebirth Island. This map will supposedly have an island theme as well, though it could lean into ancient Japanese architecture instead of focusing on factories and industrial areas. This is because the classic Call of Duty: World at War location Castle will supposedly serve as a major point of interest, with reports adding that this map will also feature in Ground War for Modern Warfare 2 and the popular DMZ mode.
While a new Resurgence map will likely be the main draw of Season 2, fans can expect more of the usual content to be added as the months go on. A mix of remasters and fully original maps will surely come to Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer, though based on the current pattern, remasters could continue to take priority. Ranked play will be added in 2023, and hopefully fan favorite modes like Gunfight will return down the line. As for Warzone 2, the fan favorite Plunder mode could make a comeback, while extra points of interest and mechanics will likely come to Al Mazrah. Battle Passes will continue to be released, bringing fresh Operators, weapons, and cosmetics for players to unlock. Events will likely come, too, providing limited time content for both games.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s Year Two Content
Where 2023 gets interesting for Call of Duty is its supposed year two content, as it could essentially come in the form of a big expansion pack. Though the very first Call of Duty game received an expansion pack in the gap year between itself and 2005's Call of Duty 2, it has been nearly two decades since this approach was taken Still, rumors suggest that this Modern Warfare 2 DLC could share the price of a full Call of Duty game, costing players $70 but essentially providing another game’s worth of content. A full campaign is supposedly coming, with more Spec Ops content and a massive lineup of multiplayer maps also in the works. Fans even have a few details about the developer of this content and the maps that will be on the way.
Though leakers have suggested that a campaign focused on Ghost could be in the works at Infinity Ward, this will likely be unrelated to the year two content for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. This is because Sledgehammer Games is supposedly developing Modern Warfare 2’s big expansion, which would likely include the new campaign missions. As for the multiplayer portion of this huge DLC, players will supposedly get to enjoy all the maps from the original Modern Warfare 2, with remakes coming for Terminal, Highrise, and the other 2009 arenas.
However, it is worth pointing out that there has been another rumor about how Call of Duty plans to fill out its first off-year. Though the premium Modern Warfare 2 DLC is the most likely scenario, with numerous reliable reports backing up the idea, other leaks have suggested a standalone CoD Zombies game is in the works. With Treyarch focused on crafting Call of Duty 2024, though, this seems unlikely. Right now, all the rumors should be taken with a grain of salt, even if Modern Warfare 2 year two seems like a sure thing.
Call of Duty 2024 Information
Though a full reveal with gameplay footage is highly unlikely, Activision could start to confirm a few details about the next major Call of Duty game. If paid DLC for Modern Warfare 2 really is released as opposed to a fully new entry in the series, the first question casual fans will have is when the next standalone game is coming. Activision moving to calm down any confused or concerned players makes sense, and providing some public information about Treyarch’s next game could do just that.
Leaks have indicated that Treyarch will finally be moving over to the more modern engine used for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which would surely be a good talking point to build hype. The game could also be released on newer consoles only, allowing it to be a technical marvel. Call of Duty 2024’s setting could be revealed, too, as could an official title and confirmation of whether it is part of the existing Black Ops timeline. Lastly, leaks have suggested that Call of Duty Zombies’ old round-based format is returning, and confirming a classic approach for the mode would be one way to get that part of the CoD community hyped.
If Call of Duty 2024 is announced at the end of this year, it could have an extended window of marketing and hype building, making it feel like a major event once it finally releases. Though this is purely speculation, and fans may not get details on Treyarch’s game until much closer to its release, giving fans an idea of when the next game is coming and what it will be like makes sense. Many are still coming to terms with the idea of a year without a CoD game, and it remains to be seen if the approach will pay off. Even without a fully new entry in the franchise, though, it seems like fans can still expect a lot of Call of Duty content in 2023.