The reaction to the news has been largely positive, and there hasn’t been large amounts of negative backlash to preview footage, or the Multiplayer BETA that recently ended, like we saw with Infinite Warfare. The gaming public have steadily vented over this period and a return to form and tradition has been called upon and Activision have listened, in an attempt to keep COD at the top of the sales charts, providing a classic second World War setting, no gimmicks, and boots on the ground gameplay. The journey into the future and bouncy gameplay continued with COD: Black Ops 3 and the phenomenally poorly received Infinite Warfare, meaning we have had three consecutive years of perceived ‘ non- COD-esque‘ Call of Duty games. The jet-packs and advance movement system turned the series into something highly unlike traditional Call of Duty gameplay. For what it’s worth, Advance Warfare was a good game (at least in multiplayer) but was highly unbalanced and would be a thoroughly alien (and subsequently uncomfortable) experience for hardened fans of the series.

The last few iterations have polarised the COD fanbase entirely, beginning with Advanced Warfare by Sledgehammer Games a knee jerk panic reaction to Vince Zampella’s stunning new concept of Titanfall, after quitting Activision/Infinity Ward. The COD franchise has been on a decline in terms of sales since its highpoint of 2011’s Modern Warfare 3, yet still sells in sufficient quantities year-on-year to warrant Activision continuing to back their cash-cow and biggest military shooter of them all. However, the Call of Duty series is in the midst of an identity crisis that may bring down the franchise entirely. Call of Duty: World War II launches this November with the series returning to its roots with classic second World War action, boots on the ground and no jet-packs or advanced movement.

Call of duty boots on the ground