At its core, every Call of Duty game has different guns, movements, and even visual styles, even if they’re only released a year apart. People used to defend the game by saying that it’s up to the developers, as Treyarch, Sledgehammers, and Infinity Ward previously (and still do) take turns leading the development of each new Call of Duty game. But, the truth is, the jarring changes all boil down to the lack of engine continuity. 2019’s Modern Warfare and 2021’s Vanguard used the same engine, but 2020’s Black Ops - Cold War didn’t. Even though Infinity Ward will likely offer some familiarity with this year’s Modern Warfare 2, Activision Blizzard confirmed that all games going forward will feel and play the same. Activision’s communications director, Stephanie Snowden, explained to GamesRadar that the new Call of Duty engine will use parts of the popular IW engine but will also integrate portions of the engines used by the other studios. Before the most recent announcement, Activision Blizzard risked sticking to an engine that players hated in one of its best franchises. This confirmation makes it feel like Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 are the start of a new era for one of gaming’s most popular and longest-running series. In other Call of Duty news, you might want to keep an eye out for the Summer Game Fest on June 9, Thursday. Activision and Infinity Ward confirmed Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s presence at the upcoming showcase following the initial reveal trailer. If we’re lucky, we might see Warzone 2 at the said showcase as well.
