Rumor: Call of Duty 2018's Setting and Title Revealed
Ref. NG/D55DIn early February 2018, a report based on information from a supposed industry insider claimed that the title for that year’s installment of the Call of Duty franchise would be Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.
Claims from an Online Insider
The rumor originated with a social media user named Marcus Sellars, who was presented in reports at the time as an industry insider. The claims went beyond the game’s title, suggesting that the new entry would be released on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and, notably, the Nintendo Switch. According to the report, Sellars’s credibility was bolstered by previous accurate predictions, including information about an upcoming Nintendo Direct presentation and a Switch port for the game Dark Souls.
Treyarch’s Expected Return
That the game would be developed by Treyarch was not considered a surprise. Publisher Activision had for years employed a three-studio rotation for its flagship first-person shooter series. With Sledgehammer Games having released Call of Duty: WWII in 2017 and Infinity Ward having released Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare in 2016, the development cycle placed Treyarch next in line for a 2018 release. The studio’s last entry had been 2015’s Call of Duty: Black Ops III, and its commercial success made a direct sequel seem like a logical step for the publisher.
A Shift in Gameplay Style
The report also contained details about the game’s mechanics, stating that it would feature a more grounded, or “boots on the ground,” style of combat. This indicated a move away from the advanced movement systems, such as wall-running and boost-jumping, that had been central to Treyarch’s Black Ops III and Sledgehammer’s Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. The positive market reception for the more traditional gameplay of Call of Duty: WWII was seen as a potential influence for this creative direction, suggesting a franchise-wide shift back to its roots.
Potential for a Nintendo Switch Port
The most significant part of the rumor was the inclusion of the Nintendo Switch as a launch platform. The Call of Duty series had not appeared on a Nintendo home console since Call of Duty: Ghosts was released on the Wii U in 2013. The rapid and widespread success of the Switch since its launch in 2017 had created a large new market, and the possibility of Activision bringing its best-selling franchise to the platform was a major point of discussion. While unconfirmed, the report advised observers to take the information with a grain of salt but acknowledged its plausibility.
Questions about this record
What was the rumor about the 2018 Call of Duty game?
In February 2018, reports claimed the next title would be *Call of Duty: Black Ops 4*. The game was said to be in development by Treyarch and would feature a more traditional "boots on the ground" combat style, moving away from the advanced movement systems of previous entries. It was also rumored to be coming to the Nintendo Switch.
Who was the source of the Black Ops 4 rumor?
The information was attributed at the time to Marcus Sellars, who was described as an industry insider. His claims gained some traction because he had reportedly made other accurate predictions, such as a Nintendo Switch port for the game *Dark Souls*, which lent his statements a degree of credibility among followers.
Why was Treyarch expected to be the developer for the 2018 title?
Publisher Activision used a three-year development cycle with its main studios. Sledgehammer Games released *Call of Duty: WWII* in 2017 and Infinity Ward released *Infinite Warfare* in 2016. Following this established pattern, it was Treyarch's turn to release a title in 2018, making that part of the rumor widely expected and unsurprising.
Was a Nintendo Switch version of the game considered likely at the time?
The rumor's claim of a Nintendo Switch port was a significant point of discussion. The series had been absent from Nintendo consoles for several years, but the immense commercial success of the Switch following its 2017 launch made the prospect of a port seem plausible to some analysts looking at the new market.