Call of Dutyfans will often debate their favorite developer, and over the years, the general consensus has constantly shifted. FollowingCall of Duty 4and the originalModern Warfare 2, Infinity Ward was the most popular, though this changed with the growing popularity of Treyarch’s Zombies mode andtheBlack Opssubseriesas a whole. Now, things are shifting once again, as Treyarch has been plagued by rushed developments and Infinity Ward has found great success with itsModern Warfarereboot.
However, theCall of Dutyfranchise has three different studios behind its premium games, with another in Raven Software that handles the free-to-play juggernaut that isCall of Duty: Warzone. Sledgehammer Games has not managed to shake its reputation of being the new kid on the block despite releasing its firstCall of Dutygame all the way back in 2014. FromAdvanced WarfaretoVanguard, the studio has yet to release a game as beloved asBlack OpsorModern Warfare. Though it could attempt to start up another new universe with its next mainline game, Sledgehammer should instead work with an established brand - bringing backCall of Duty: Ghosts.
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Simultaneous Redemption For Ghosts and Sledgehammer
WhileCall of Duty: Ghostsis regularly seen as a step-down fromModern Warfare, and the start of a rough era for Infinity Ward, it still has its fans. In particular, gamers have been waiting for answers aboutCall of Duty: Ghosts’ cliffhangerfor years, as the campaign ends with some obvious setup for a sequel that never came. Beyond that, Extinction has become a cult classic, as the alien-focused co-op mode provided some unique gameplay that differed greatly from the series’ standout Zombies mode.
Admittedly,aCall of Duty: Ghostssequelwould have to solve some significant problems, particularly on the multiplayer front. The concept of Field Orders would need some reworking, SAT COMs would need to be removed for traditional UAVs, and the absurdly large maps featured in the originalGhostswould have to be avoided. A less bland color palette would also be beneficial, as many fans felt that the ugly look ofGhostsdamaged its memorability and lasting appeal.
Still,Call of Duty: Ghosts 2seems like a perfect endeavor forSledgehammer Games. Redeeming the divisiveGhostsuniverse could be even more rewarding if Sledgehammer were to take the reigns from Infinity Ward, as the studio is still in need of its first major success with theCall of Dutybrand. For fans, havingGhosts’ lingering cliffhanger answered would be a welcome surprise, and wielding weapons like the Honey Badger again would also be fun.
Infinity Ward’s underrated Extinction Modecould also be a perfect playground for Sledgehammer Games, as the developer’s releases have consistently struggled to find success when it comes to their third game mode. Exo Zombies andWW2Zombies are widely seen as the worst attempts to replicate Treyarch’s success, and though it was developed by Treyarch,VanguardZombies has continued the trend of weak Zombies modes being featured within Sledgehammer’s games. Getting away from Zombies entirely could be the right move for Sledgehammer, and Extinction offers a stellar alternative.
Since Infinity Ward has its hands full with the newModern Warfaregames, it is highly unlikely that it will ever return to theGhostsuniverse. However, since Sledgehammer has been struggling to win fans over with its original stories, reviving one of its peer’s could be ideal. FromGhosts-inspired cosmetics inVanguardto the debut of Rorke as an Operator, the newest Sledgehammer game features a surprising number of references to the 2013 title. In an ideal world, this would be foreshadowing, with Sledgehammer making and releasingGhosts 2in the near future. By expanding on the first game’s strengths, building off the original campaign’s ending, and fixing some key flaws, a comeback forGhostscould result in a strong game for allCall of Dutyfans to enjoy.
