Activision has not officially unveiled any news about the Call of Duty release planned for this year other than that it exists. However, there has been a bevy of leaks and rumors circling about what players should expect from the next Call of Duty. One of the most consistent rumors about the game, supported by a handful of leaks, is that it will be named Call of Duty: Vanguard, and act as a follow up to Sledgehammer Games' Call of Duty: WW2, but set in an alternate history.

However, the newest leak from Battle.net points to it being named Call of Duty: Slipstream, and it comes complete with a logo. Regardless of the name change, it still looks as though it will be set during World War 2, which is also supported by the confirmation by Activision that the new title is being developed by Sledgehammer Games. Of course, Call of Duty going to World War 2 is nothing new for the series, but going back to the setting does have some pros and cons for this year's Call of Duty.

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Call of Duty has a storied past with a massive number of previous entries, but the series kicked off with a World War 2 setting. Infinity Ward's Call of Duty and Call of Duty 2 were both set in WW2, while Treyarch's debut in Call of Duty 3 was as well. From 2003 to 2006, Call of Duty's entire identity was as a premier first-person shooter set during WW2 entirely. Then Call of Duty went modern with Infinity Ward's Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, before returning to WW2 with Treyarch's Call of Duty: World at War. After the incredible success of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, however, Call of Duty doubled down on modern and eventually futuristic settings until Sledgehammer Games released Call of Duty: WW2 in 2017.

At the time of its release, Call of Duty: WW2 was welcomed by fans as a return to the series' historically more grounded gameplay: Without the double jumping, wall-running, and specialist abilities that had become so commonplace in entries from 2014 to 2016. However, it was followed by Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 which featured those same movement mechanics again before the series dropped them again with the recent releases of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. A leaker has suggested that Call of Duty 2021 could be very similar to Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, which would make sense if Call of Duty 2021 is set during World War 2 as both games would be far away from some of the modern equipment that was so integral to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare's design.

Whether Call of Duty 2021 is called Vanguard or Slipstream, it is all but confirmed that the game will take place in World War 2. Returning to the setting will likely make a lot of fans excited, as it will be a return to the series' roots. Being able to jump back into the moments that fans know and love and use the iconic weapons of the time, like the M1 Garand and Thompson, will undoubtedly make fans excited. It also will allow the game to draw on the real history of the war and could even show players new perspectives that the games haven't explored before.

However, if Call of Duty 2021 does take an alternate history approach, that will also help free the game up to experiment with new battles, locations, and even gear. Call of Duty could keep things in the WW2 setting that fans already know and love, while also being able to introduce some new elements to it so that it doesn't feel too derivative. Storming the beaches of Normandy is exciting, but after fans have done it in a handful of previous Call of Duty titles, so it may not grip them in the same way as it has before. This would also help the game make itself stand out from the rest of the series and make sure that Call of Duty 2021 doesn't feel too similar to Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War or Call of Duty: WW2.

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Of course, Call of Duty: 2021 returning to World War 2 could also end up hindering the game as well. The familiarity of the setting could lead to the game feeling boring and uninspired, depending on the design direction and new features. With both Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War having their own sizable playerbases, Call of Duty: 2021 will have to make sure it is enticing enough to pull players away from those titles.

Another aspect that Call of Duty 2021 has to deliver well on is its integration with Call of Duty: Warzone. The battle royale component of Call of Duty is extremely popular, and after Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War's integration, fans are looking at Call of Duty 2021 to decide whether or not the problematic integration of Warzone is to be expected or if Black Ops Cold War was just growing pains for Warzone.

Being set in World War 2, however, could make this implementation more difficult: Moving Call of Duty: Warzone to an entirely different time period will take a lot more resources, and even more careful balancing with the current weapons and equipment in the game.

Hopefully, Call of Duty 2021 is able to satisfy fans no matter what setting it ultimately goes with. With Call of Duty 2021 having to compete with Battlefield 2042, many fans will be paying attention to draw comparisons between the two, and both games will have to be at their best to measure up to the other. Overall, Call of Duty 2021 going to World War 2 could be a great thing for the game as long as the developers are able to overcome the pitfalls and make it something polished and unique enough to stand out from the series' storied history with the setting.

Call of Duty 2021 is in development.

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