Call of Duty: Vanguard isn't even out yet, but one can count on the next entry in the long-running Call of Duty franchise already being deep in development. Leaks from reputable sources have indicated that the next Call of Duty game is going to be Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 with a 2022 release. Details on what exactly the game will entail remain scarce, but it seems the game will retain one of the franchise's most controversial features.
Leaker Tom Henderson, who has accurately leaked a lot of Call of Duty news in the past, recently sent out a tweet teasing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Henderson said that he would have some news to share about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 next week, but that it sounds like "it's going to tick all the boxes," except for the apparent inclusion of skill-based matchmaking (SBMM). SBMM has been a hugely controversial feature in recent Call of Duty titles, though it seems that the developers refuse to budge on it despite fan complaints.
For the uninitiated, the basic reason why Call of Duty fans don't like SBMM is because it makes every match competitive. If players are constantly being put into games with those of similar skill levels, it can sometimes feel like they're playing ranked instead of casual play. Unfortunately for those who don't like the feature, it seems Call of Duty SBMM is here to stay.
Besides the inclusion of SBMM, not much else is known about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. The game's title has been talked about a bit, as it will be sharing its name with the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 that already exists, but with one exception. Apparently to differentiate itself from the 2009 Modern Warfare 2, this new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 game will use Roman numerals instead. So its title will technically be Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II instead of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, though it would still be pronounced exactly the same.
Infinity Ward's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare reboot was a massive success for the Call of Duty franchise, earning incredibly high sales and positive reviews from critics. Considering this, it's no surprise that Activision wants to capitalize by releasing a direct sequel, though it may still be odd for some fans that the name is going to be basically identical to a Call of Duty game that already exists.
Of course, a lot can change between now and when the new game is revealed, so maybe a title change will be in store. Based on the pattern Activision has established these last couple of years, it's likely that the Call of Duty 2022 reveal will happen at some point in August or September of next year, so fans have quite a long wait ahead of them.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is rumored to be in development.