Plenty of rumors and teases have been floating around the internet about the next Call of Duty game, though the series may have found an interesting way to tease the next iteration. Word and speculation seems to be leaning towards a Cold War setting, likely as another entry in the incredibly popular Black Ops sub-series. Usually Call of Duty games get their reveals towards the beginning of summer, but since this year has been nothing but unprecedented for video games, the franchise may unveil the game through Warzone.
Through Warzone’s massive popularity as a battle royale, it seems the Call of Duty franchise may be taking a page out of Fortnite’s book. Considering rumors and leaks have reached an all-time high, that usually signifies an official reveal by Activision is coming soon. Most recently, there’s been datamines and leaks of Black Ops-related content being added to Warzone, possibly as a tease for the next game which is reportedly called Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.
Bunker 11
Starting with the rumors and leaks, it seems Warzone will at least be receiving some kind of Black Ops tie-in soon. The mysterious bunkers discovered in an earlier Warzone update are finally accessible by normal means during a match. Some of these bunkers however contained even more mysteries within, with an additional door inside the bunker locked via access code. Players can find a telephone within the bunker that plays a secret message (in Russian) that opens the secretive 11th bunker. Of all the bunkers littered around Warzone’s map, bunker 11 is the only one that continues to shine a red light and is inaccessible via normal means. This bunker is directly linked to the meta-game that’s teasing Black Ops Cold War.
Every bunker besides bunker 11 was unlockable, but now through a complicated side quest during each Warzone match, players can unlock this final largest bunker. Within are several rooms with an unlockable Mud Dauber SMG blueprint, but more importantly each room is part of a currently unsolved puzzle within bunker 11. Upon entering bunker 11, players need to head into a primary room to reactivate a computer system within the bunker. An additional room then displays a 10-second countdown, which subsequently only counts to two before glitching out. Searching in the back of the bunker, players can find a hole in the wall that takes them to another computer with a big red button. Pushing the button clears out a smoke-filled room revealing a nuclear warhead.
The Cold War is Coming
From there the mystery still remains unsolved, as triggering the true end to the countdown and/or the nuke detonation hasn’t been discovered yet. Obviously nuclear warheads and the Cold War go hand-in-hand, but that’s not the only reference to Call of Duty 2020. Dataminers have also discovered files for the RC-XD as well as a U-2 Spy Plane killstreak from the original Call of Duty: Black Ops. There’s been too many leaks and rumors about an upcoming Black Ops title for this to be a coincidence. Pair that with the nuclear warhead easter egg, and it seems Warzone’s leading up to a big Black Ops Cold War themed event.
The prevailing theory is that Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, or whatever the official name for 2020’s Call of Duty ends up being, will be officially teased/revealed through this event in Warzone. Considering the aforementioned content that was datamined, along with threat of nuclear detonation coming to the game itself, it only makes sense that Activision is using Warzone as an opportunity to advertise the next game. It’s a proven concept of direct communication to fans that games like Fortnite and Apex Legends have utilized in the past, and considering Warzone’s immense popularity since the battle royale was released, it’s a golden opportunity.
Hinting At What’s to Come
Fans of Fortnite will likely recognize this in-game teaser idea, as it’s something that the Epic Games battle royale has already been doing consistently. Exclusive Fortnite “Live Events” have featured things like gigantic mech battles, movie trailers, an actual in-game Travis Scott concert, even having the entire game “deleted” to make way for the next chapter. Fortnite has pioneered this unique concept as a completely new way to utilize a game’s ubiquity to be more than the sum of its parts. Call of Duty wanting to capitalize on this trend, especially with the first reveal for its next game, is a fantastic idea despite any marketing risk the company may be taking.
In the case of Warzone, it wouldn’t be surprising to witness a nuclear explosion being the catalyst for the Black Ops or 2020 Call of Duty tease. Granted this is also very optimistic, but it wouldn’t be a bad chance for the game to significantly alter or change Verdansk into a completely new map for Warzone. Given the bevy of leaks and information fans have received that’s pointing to a Cold War or Black Ops title coming this year, anticipation for the reveal is likely at its peak. In the coming weeks Treyarch will likely show what the developer has up its sleeve for 2020.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is reportedly in development for 2020.
