The next game in the “Call of Duty” series has been confirmed — and it’s heading back to its roots.
Publisher Activision confirmed Friday on its website the next game in the franchise will be “Call of Duty: WWII.” Activision’s announcement confirmed few official details for the game, but the publisher and developer Sledgehammer Games — previously behind 2014’s “Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare” will show an official live stream reveal April 26 at 10 a.m. PDT.
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The game’s official confirmation comes after ample rumors and speculation over its existence. As with Bungie’s “Destiny 2,” leaked retail posters from early May showed key art for the game, along with a yet unconfirmed Nov. 3 release date. Activision chief operating officer Thomas Tippl also hinted about the game’s direction during a call with investors in March, saying, the new “Call of Duty” would “take Call of Duty back to its roots,” Gamespot reported.
Since launching the original “Call of Duty” in 2003, the first-person shooter franchise has been a stalwart for publisher Activision. Yearly sequels like “Call of Duty: Black Ops” and “Call of Duty: Infinite War” have taken the franchise from its historic roots to increasingly sci-fi inspired settings. “Call of Duty: World At War” in 2008 was the last game in the franchise to draw from history, as it was set in during World War II.
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Among current-generation games, not many first-person shooters have delved into history for their settings as the original “Call of Duty” did. In November, EA released “Battlefield 1,” the latest entry in its long-running “Battlefield” series. The game features the franchise’s first-person shooter gameplay and draws heavily from the history of World War I.