Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Hardware
  • Video
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Guides
  • Deals
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Trending
  • Gamescom 2025 schedule
  • Gamescom
  • Battlefield 6
  • New Games for 2025
Don't miss these
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Beavis and Butthead skins
Call of Duty Activision owns up to ugly Call of Duty skins, reverses course on Black Ops 6 skins transferring and promises "authentic" skins for Black Ops 7 – a game that is already selling cyborgs and murder robots
A woman with tattoos looking up during the trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
Call of Duty As Battlefield 6 keeps skins grounded, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 goes the other way by carrying over all of Black Ops 6's goofy skins as devs are still "figuring out" how to keep everyone happy
Black Ops 7 new screenshot
Call of Duty Black Ops 7 is fighting franchise fatigue in the most unexpected of ways with an ambitious co-op adventure which Treyarch believes can "redefine what campaign can be in Call of Duty"
A robot standing in a green room during the trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
Call of Duty Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 dev doesn't care about former Blizzard president calling the series "lazy" or saying it'll get "boot stomped" by Battlefield 6: "You just don't worry about it, right?"
A close up of a man holding a gun during the reveal for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
Call of Duty If you're wondering how Call of Duty's Black Ops 7 trailer is going down, the top comment on YouTube by some way is "this actually made me pre-order Battlefield 6"
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
Call of Duty Black Ops 7 lead says FPS fans are "eating" thanks to the head-to-head release with Battlefield 6, "but if you want maximum variety..." play the new Call of Duty game
A close up of a man holding a gun during the reveal for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
Battlefield "CoD won't be lazy anymore": Ex Blizzard boss predicts a beating for Call of Duty at the hands of Battlefield 6, says Activision's FPS "has gone downhill for years"
A soldier in a jungle setting and a bandana in Call of Duty: Black Ops
Call of Duty Cancelled Call of Duty: Fog of War would have had you playing hide and seek with a B52 bomber crashing in "a scary version of Vietnam"
Battlefield 6 multiplayer screenshot showing soldiers running away from a collapsing building
Battlefield Battlefield 6 won't actually boot stomp Black Ops 7, analyst says, because Call of Duty fans on "autopilot" will "buy it even if they complain about it"
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 trailer featuring space marine helmet
Real Time Strategy Games "RTS will not be the big genre again," Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 lead predicts, but it can still be a big niche: "RTS won't kick shooters from the top of the food chain anytime soon, but that's fine, right?"
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam screenshot shows someone holding a gun, running behind two other soldiers.
FPS Games Hell Let Loose: Vietnam devs say their new shooter isn't a replacement for the OG World War 2 game, and don't want fans to "feel like we've abandoned them in any way"
 Battlefield Bad Company screenshot with two soldiers, one of which is pointing out a target to the second
Battlefield Battlefield 6 multiplayer is taking inspiration from Bad Company 2, but I hope its single player campaign looks further back to the series' best story
Battlefield 2042 Road to Battlefield 6 update soldier in barrel flash
Battlefield Years after a terrible launch, Dice loads Battlefield 2042 onto the BF6 hype train, revealing "Road to Battlefield 6" update reviving fan-favorite BF5 map Iwo Jima
A close up of a man holding a gun during the reveal for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
Call of Duty Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 ad goes live early, showcasing stompy mechs, Goliath foes, and yet another November release date
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Action Movies Call of Duty might be getting a movie adaptation from the studio behind Sonic the Hedgehog
  1. Games

Should Sledgehammer bring WWII back to Call of Duty?

Features
By Lorenzo Veloria published 18 February 2014

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

What's next?

What's next?

Call of Duty has a new full-fledged developer. Sledgehammer Games is now part of a trinity of game developers that will be creating an annual Call of Duty title, freeing up more time each game maker has to create its respective sequel. Right now, Infinity Ward has the Ghosts series set in the near future; Treyarch could conceivably continue the Black Ops series (which is also set in the near future). With the CoD series spanning wars from World War II to the future, we have to ask, "What setting will Sledgehammer take for its new game?"

As far as wars involving guns go, Call of Duty has most of the major ones covered. It's hard to imagine what new trail in modern-ish warfare Sledgehammer could blaze. But I've come up with a list of possible settings Call of Duty could tackle, and all of them have the potential to be awesome. Where should Call of Duty go next? Read on.

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of 7
Vietnam War

Vietnam War

Black Ops may have dabbled in the Vietnam War, but that was all behind-the-scenes, secret operative stuff. We still haven't experienced the conflict from the perspective of the average soldier holding his own in the jungles of 'Nam. Some of the greatest moments from the old WWII games in the CoD series came from being a participant in the massive, famous battles from history, and now I think it's time that Vietnam gets the same treatment.

What's most interesting about setting Sledgehammer's game in Vietnam is that the jungle environment and enemy Viet Kong tactics could make for some intense engagements. Enemies could use guerrilla tactics in the jungle, hitting your squad in the middle of a patrol, then disappearing into their dug-in hideouts. But there wouldn't be a lack of huge battles. The Battle of Hamburger Hill was one of the most hard-fought and tragic of the war. And while a CoD version of the battle could be one of the most epic missions ever, showcasing conflicts like these could give the developer a chance to show how much war actually, really sucks.

Page 2 of 7
Page 2 of 7
Far future

Far future

Look, I know that this is pushing CoD close to the Halo zone of FPSs, but going into outer space and having futuristic weaponry isn't too farfetched for the series. In previous Call of Duty games, players have already spent some time floating around in space, shooting zombies on the moon, and getting their hands on super-advanced tech. Sledgehammer could make bringing CoD to a far--but perceivably realistic--future a setting that could work.

So far, the series has taken us almost as far as the year 2030, which really isn't that far into the future. What would really be interesting would be to go into the distant future, perhaps 100 years, when the world would be almost unrecognizable. Maybe in the future, new tensions will rise between nations (anything to make it so that we won't have to fight Russians again). Advanced technology could give players more gadgets to play with, and soldiers won't be shooting bullets anymore. If Sledgehammer wants to differentiate its game from all of the others, a radically changed future would be a surefire setting to distinguish yet another CoD.

Page 3 of 7
Page 3 of 7
SWAT

SWAT

Ok, this one is a long shot--but hey, soldiers aren't the only ones who answer the call of duty. Drug-soaked streets and heavily-armed thugs can make city streets a warzone. Why not put players in the role of a Special Weapons and Tactics officer on the mean streets of cities around the world? Better yet, make the world some sort of alternate universe in which the law is outnumbered and failing, and criminals rule the cities with an iron fist. But, uh, different from Judge Dredd.

Playing a police officer could have features parallel with what other Call of Duty titles have. You could work as a team to take down a murderous drug lord and his cartel, losing your beloved squadmates to police corruption and betrayal. The police could get state-of-the-art equipment, like drones and weapons, to help in tense hostage standoffs. There certainly wouldn't be any missed opportunities to breach doors here and there. Sounds like a perfect fit to me.

Page 4 of 7
Page 4 of 7
Completely take over Treyarch's Zombies world

Completely take over Treyarch's Zombies world

Treyarch created a monster when it introduced it's Nazi Zombies mode in World at War. The wave-based horde mode got so big that Black Ops 2's Zombies was a full open-world. But where can Zombies go from here? How about the undead shamblers get their own developer, say Sledgehammer, and get their own full blown, full-featured game with a story, multiplayer, and, of course, classic Zombies mode.

Zombies has been so successful that I wouldn't be surprised if Activision decided to put a dedicated developer behind the concept. Players could follow a ragtag group of survivors as they attempt to stay alive in the undead-infested world, raiding other survivor camps, defending their base, and moving around an even larger open-world. There could even be a multiplayer mode in which players use the outlandish Zombies mode weapons against each other. It would be a silly contrast to the other CoD's more serious wartime tales and settings. But really, I just want to vaporize an opposing team with the Wunderwaffe.

Page 5 of 7
Page 5 of 7
World War II

World War II

Yeah, I know. World War II has been completely done to death, but that was last, last-gen. We haven't seen a true WWII game in some time now, and in all seriousness, I think I'm ready to get back into shooting-up Nazis again. The second World War was one of the most famous wars in history, but it still can be seen from many more perspectives than have already been presented in games.

The other positive about bringing back the World War II era is that this is the chance to see war-torn Europe in all its next-gen visual glory. Imagine storming the beaches of Normandy with thousands of soldiers running by your side getting blown to mulch, or manning a sniper nest in the besieged city of Stalingrad. You've played those levels already--but imagine them with all the next-gen particles you could shake a rifle at.

Page 6 of 7
Page 6 of 7
What setting do you want to see?

What setting do you want to see?

That's my wishlist for the settings I would like to see Sledgehammer's CoD create. Do you have any settings you want to see the next Call of Duty be set in? Let me know your suggestions in the comments below.

Also, be sure to check out our other articles, such as our The Order 1886 - Road to the Review and The Top 7...Games where you meet the President.

Page 7 of 7
Page 7 of 7
Lorenzo Veloria
Lorenzo Veloria
Social Links Navigation

Many years ago, Lorenzo Veloria was a Senior Editor here at GamesRadar+ helping to shape content strategy. Since then, Lorenzo has shifted his attention to Future Plc's broader video game portfolio, working as a Senior Brand Marketing Manager to oversee the development of advertising pitches and marketing strategies for the department. He might not have all that much time to write about games anymore, but he's still focused on making sure the latest and greatest end up in front of your eyes one way or another.

See more Games Features
Read more
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Beavis and Butthead skins
Activision owns up to ugly Call of Duty skins, reverses course on Black Ops 6 skins transferring and promises "authentic" skins for Black Ops 7 – a game that is already selling cyborgs and murder robots
A woman with tattoos looking up during the trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
As Battlefield 6 keeps skins grounded, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 goes the other way by carrying over all of Black Ops 6's goofy skins as devs are still "figuring out" how to keep everyone happy
Black Ops 7 new screenshot
Black Ops 7 is fighting franchise fatigue in the most unexpected of ways with an ambitious co-op adventure which Treyarch believes can "redefine what campaign can be in Call of Duty"
A robot standing in a green room during the trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 dev doesn't care about former Blizzard president calling the series "lazy" or saying it'll get "boot stomped" by Battlefield 6: "You just don't worry about it, right?"
A close up of a man holding a gun during the reveal for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
If you're wondering how Call of Duty's Black Ops 7 trailer is going down, the top comment on YouTube by some way is "this actually made me pre-order Battlefield 6"
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
Black Ops 7 lead says FPS fans are "eating" thanks to the head-to-head release with Battlefield 6, "but if you want maximum variety..." play the new Call of Duty game
Latest in Games
Borderlands 4
Borderlands 4 can't even win in its own ads, as WWE has cosplaying wrestlers take the L in their own championship match
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty screenshots
CD Projekt Red is teasing something Cyberpunk 2077-shaped with a mysterious new message, and fans are desperately trying to work out if it could be sequel news, DLC, or something else entirely
Hideo Kojima in a screenshot from the Xbox and Bethesda 2022 showcase.
Hideo Kojima will give a "glimpse into future projects" at his "Beyond The Strand" anniversary event for Kojima Productions' 10th birthday this month
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
Call of Duty drops a whopping 100 GB on PS5, and fans think it's due to Battlefield 6: "Competition is always good for gaming"
Battlefield 6
Battlefield 6 won't have ray tracing at launch and devs "don't have any plans in the near future for it either" because "our effort was focused on making the game as [optimized] as possible"
Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 studio CEO says the "vast majority" of people "silently play" the shooter, which means the devs can't just look at Reddit and what streamers are saying for feedback: "This is a challenge for all games"
Latest in Features
Metal Gear Solid 5 showing Snake and Ocelot looking to the horizon in front of more soldiers
10 years later, Metal Gear Solid 5 remains a masterpiece that was never going to live up to its own hype
Dogtooth
The new Yorgos Lanthimos movie is getting rave first reactions out of Venice Film Festival, but I think it's worth revisiting his breakout feature Dogtooth before Bugonia hits theaters this fall
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Legacy of the Forge DLC showing Henry and two allies standing looking down
I built a home and ran a business in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's next DLC, and the added role-playing guarantees I'll spend another 70 hours in my current game of the year
D&D Player's Handbook laid out on a wooden surface
Will romantasy be the next great crossover for Dungeons & Dragons? Fourth Wing could be the perfect D&D setting, if you ask me
Jurassic Park: Survival
Jurassic Park: Survival has quietly been 35 years in the making, and it's taking us back to where it all began
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era artwork showing a beautiful fantasy city
Playing Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era has turned me into a Dungeon devotee, and I can't help but feel like I'm already seeing a strategy classic in the making
  1. Kaser clad in black and Victor in white clash swords in Lost Soul Aside
    1
    Lost Soul Aside review: "We (don't) have Final Fantasy Versus 13 at home"
  2. 2
    Hell is Us review: "The lack of waypoints and explicit objectives is a double-edged magical sword that pulls me deep into its harsh world"
  3. 3
    Shuten Order review: "The Danganronpa creator's new multi-genre mystery feels like a forgotten DS cult classic I would have been obsessed with"
  4. 4
    The Rogue Prince of Persia review: "I roguelike but don't roguelove this freerunner – there's just not enough to stand out"
  5. 5
    Shinobi: Art of Vengeance review: "So close to being to a pitch-perfect revival of a classic series, but just can't quite line up the killing blow"
  1. Jacob Elordi as the monster in Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein
    1
    Frankenstein review: "A classy, if somewhat safe, adaptation"
  2. 2
    Weapons review: "A twisted fairytale that bests Barbarian"
  3. 3
    The Fantastic Four: First Steps review: "An occasionally thrilling heroic adventure that sits safely within a B-tier MCU range"
  4. 4
    Superman review: "A triumphant reinvention and a promising start for the DCU"
  5. 5
    Jurassic World Rebirth Review: "An unscary sequel that needed a little more time in amber"
  1. John Cena as Peacemaker holds a gun to the head of a different John Cena as Peacemaker in Peacemaker season 2.
    1
    Peacemaker season 2 review: "Darker and sadder than the first year, but there's still a lot of fun to be had with the 11th Street Kids."
  2. 2
    Wednesday season 2 part 1 review: "Complex and exciting but weighed down by too many subplots"
  3. 3
    Alien: Earth review: "Arguably the franchise's strongest outing since James Cameron's Aliens"
  4. 4
    King of the Hill season 14 review: "Hank Hill himself has evolved into a much more open and accepting person"
  5. 5
    Eyes of Wakanda review: "A creative premise shortchanged by the runtime and Marvel bloat"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...