Call of Duty: WW2 will be a return to the series' roots and not just in the way that its multiplayer plays. The game takes players back to World War 2, the conflict that the Call of Duty series first looked at. The move has been well-received and so could the franchise end up staying in the past?

In a recent interview the CEO of Activision, Eric Hirshberg, played it cool when asked directly abut whether Call of Duty will continue to focus on historical settings. The executive said that although he "can’t reveal things on the slate that are several years off," he doesn't see the series' return to World War 2 as a "one-off." Hirshberg went on to explain that "World War II and historical settings more broadly are very rich territory, and I think there’s every possibility that that could become an area that we explore more than once."

Few could blame Activision and the series' development trio if they did decide to stop giving Call of Duty some futuristic makeovers. Last year's Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare saw masses of hate over the decision to set the game in the future, as it even took the firefights to space.

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Although each Call of Duty game is in development for around three years, many saw the reveal of Call of Duty: WW2 as Activision's way of making it up to fans. During the interview, Hirshberg also admits that "while there were a lot of innovations and a lot of fun new things that players got to do, [Infinite Warfare] was one future game too many."

Staying in the past also gives Activision a chance to appeal to the history buffs and those who just want to learn more about history's most tragic conflicts. Call of Duty: WW2 will be historically accurate, for example, something which has mostly gone down well with fans. Basing the game on events that really happened could make for a more emotional game and one that is more respected for doing those realities justice.

Unfortunately, fans of the franchise won't get a look at the next Call of Duty for quite a while, as Activision gets Call of Duty: WW2 and its DLC out of the door. But Hirshberg's comments suggest that fans shouldn't give up hope that the series will keep its boots on the ground for at least a little bit longer.

Call of Duty: WW2 releases November 3, 2017 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Source: Game Informer