COD 2020 is coming - it's a matter of when not if.
While the next Call of Duty game is yet to be officially announced, what we do know is that it'll likely release on next-gen consoles - the PS5 and Xbox Series X.
What we do know is that Treyarch, behind the Black Ops titles, will be taking the lead this year (more on this lower down) - and there are strong rumours it'll be set during the Cold War.
Expectations are sky-high after this year's title, Modern Warfare, which went down a storm with old and new COD fans alike.
Here's everything we know about COD 2020 - from leaks and rumours to multiplayer and campaign news and whether or not we can write off a Modern Warfare 2 remaster.
COD 2020 Release Date And Trailer
Little is know about the COD 2020 release date however we can expect the game to drop around October.
Traditionally COD titles land in Q4, which would make sense this year as it would tie into the launch of the next-gen PS5 and Xbox Series X.
The COD 2020 trailer will likely drop in E3 in June - perhaps a couple of days before to build momentum.
We can also suspect that COD 2020 will release on the following consoles:
- Xbox One
- PS4
- PC
- Xbox Series X
- PS5
Treyarch Back In Driving seat
Call of Duty is actually split between four main studios - Infinity Ward, Treyarch and newly added, Sledgehammer and Raven.
The latter pair was supposed to be the developer for COD 2020, and there were heavy rumours that they were developing a Vietnam COD game.
However, it appears that the project has either been cancelled or postponed and Treyarch appears to be taking over for now.
This is allegedly due to a massive overhaul and shift in the development team from Sledgehammer to Treyarch.
The new instalment is also set to have a separate single-player campaign, which many COD fans will be happy to hear after Black Ops 4 excluded it.
It's also said to be far more 'gritty' than any COD game of the past... we can't wait!
A return to the Cold War and Vietnam
As mentioned earlier, one of the more formidable rumours surrounding COD 2020 is by leaker LongSensationYT, who has leaked some accurate COD information in the past.
According to a tweet last summer, COD 2020 will be based during the Cold War, spanning 40+ years and will include the Vietnam and Korean War.
Call of Duty has covered both Vietnam and the Cold War in the past in the original Blacks Ops games, however, the Korean War sees the series enter a new battleground.
There are also rumours there are two titles circulating - these being:
- Call of Duty: Black Ops
- Call of Duty: Black Ops V
The Korean War
The Korean War took place between 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953, and saw North Korea, with the support of China, and South Korea, with the support of the US and United Nations battle for three years of continued bloodshed.
The conflict, which kicked off when North Korea invaded South Korea, is one of the most destructive in history - resulting in nearly three million deaths and the destruction of virtually all of Korea's major cities.
In fact, North Korea became among the most heavily bombed countries in history during the course of the battle.
Torture and starvation of prisoners of war by the North Korean command were frequent. If COD 2020 does end up covering this era, expect this sort of stuff to feature prominently.
COD 2020 Multiplayer
The lead COD multiplayer designer (Treyarch) David Vonderhaar confirmed in a tweet that the game will not feature any jetpacks - again hinting of an era in the past rather than the future.
That prompted a lot more tweets, with some fans actually welcoming another COD with jetpacks.
One user, called Phixate (cited in Metro), said: ‘Jetpack CODs are the ones that promoted and rewarded players for playing aggressively.
"Boots on the ground CODs promote a slower killstreak-acquiring mentality which results in a lot of camping. It’s a shame the majority of COD fans prefer the latter play style.’
If the game does return to Vietnam and battlegrounds of the past, expect to see helicopters, tanks and buggies aplenty in both the campaign and multiplayer.
In terms of modes, Treyarch will bring a full suite of options - although there's no confirmed news yet.
COD 2020 Zombies
Zombies first appeared in Call of Duty: World at War and has since become a staple of a Treyarch game.
What started as a relatively basic survival mini-game spawned a number of sequels - returning in Call of Duty: Black Ops, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Call of Duty: Black Ops III and again in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.
We're almost certain Zombies will feature in Black Ops V - it's just a matter of when.
Modern Warfare Remastered
There has been a number of rumours circulating that Modern Warfare 2 will be getting a remaster - although nothing has been confirmed yet.
What we do know is that the MW2 remaster has been delayed.
According to rumours, MW2 Remastered was meant to be campaign only and release before Modern Warfare 2019, but due to unforeseen circumstances, it was pushed back.
MW2 Remastered is apparently ready to go with a campaign and multiplayer however as it's developed by Infinity Ward, it would be an unusual move for it to land with a rival studio's main game.
Remember you can keep up-to-date with all the latest COD 2020 news right here.