The rumours were true –Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is back. Activision released the first trailer for the latest entry in the juggernaut franchise on Thursday.
It features the series' signature action inspired by events in current geopolitical hot spots and includes the return of at least one beloved series protagonist.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare revolutionised the first-person shooter genre when it was released in 2007, and for many it remains the high point of the series. The MW sub-franchise has been in hibernation since Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was released in 2011. MW has done more than any of its stablemates to help Call of Duty become a franchise that has earned more revenue than all Harry Potter and James Bond movies combined.
The decision to resurrect the name must be seen as a statement of intent by developer Infinity Ward and publisher Activision. The past few entries in the Call of Duty franchise have drawn influence from trends dominating the gaming world at the time of their release. Last year's Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 even eschewed a single-player campaign entirely as it sought a piece of the battle-royale action that brought Fortnite so much success and money.
It may be overstating matters to call the decision to bring back Modern Warfare an admission of defeat, but it does imply that Activision wants to bring the series back to its roots, with a robust single-player experience and a story that could be torn from the pages of the latest Tom Clancy-esque techno-thriller.
It is great to see a publisher seemingly listening to what fans want at a time when gamers are often dismissed as entitled crybabies when they voice their opinions.
Activision says the game will feature an "incredibly raw, gritty, provocative narrative that brings unrivalled intensity and shines a light on the changing nature of modern war. Developed by the studio that started it all, Infinity Ward delivers an epic reimagining of the iconic Modern Warfare series from the ground up."
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare releases on October 25 on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
