The upcoming release ofCall of Duty: Black Ops 6is one of 2024’s most anticipated games. As promotional material heavily focuses on political figures from the 1980s, the potential for an enthralling dive into this period in its single-player campaign is expected. Previous iterations in theBlack Opssubseries of the franchise have seen some dynamic narratives that were altered by player choices, leading to multiple endings. The last edition in the series,Black Ops: Cold War,featured three ending variations, for example.
With the massively popular multiplayer game modes likeCall of Duty:Warzonetaking the lead in the developer’s focus, questions have arisen about whether the series will let the single-player aspects take a backseat. However,members of the development team at Treyarch confirmed the narrative style ofBlack Ops 6, which in turn suggests what the future ofCall of Dutywill look like.
Black Ops 6 Will Only Have One Ending
The First In The Black Ops Series To Do So
Production Director Yale Miller and Creative Director Jon Zuk have confirmed, according toDualShockers, that the story mode will feature a linear narrative and conclusion, meaning that for the first time in its history,aCall of Duty: Black Opsgame will feature just one ending. They also confirmed that the length of the story will be longer thanCold War’s, which clocked in at a 5–6 hour runtime withmultiple endings based on player choices. This massive change to the subseries' ethos suggests that a streamlined experience is what players can expect fromCall of Dutymoving forward.
While it is certainly an improvement on thecomplete lack of a single-player campaign inBlack Ops 4, the shift away from a dedicated single-player mode in aCall of Dutygame is becoming ever more apparent. AsWarzonecontinues to be a successful cash stream for Activision, the multiplayer mode is consistent in its dominance in the competitive FPS genre, and Zombies makes a return to its old round-based form, the single-player campaign experience may be somewhat of an afterthought for Treyarch.
Multiplayer Modes Take Priority
TheBlack Opssubseries is known for having some of the best campaign experiences in the franchise.A departure from its roots in complex and flexible storytelling may be a step backwardfor player agency and freedom. Multiple endings compel players to replay the game, and a one-and-done experience isn’t reminiscent of previous hits like 2010’sBlack Opsor 2012’s follow-up,Black Ops2. Although the single-player modes from the franchise continue to be replayed (and reinvented like2019’sModern Warfaresoft reboot) to this day, the mediocre campaigns from the last few editions ofCall of Dutyprove that multiplayer is the focus.
Due to the huge amount of money that can be made from microtransaction purchases in the multiplayer modes of the franchise, likeWarzone, story-driven experiences seem not to be the priority for Activision moving forward. As the industry continually invests in live-service models as potentially steady revenue streams, a campaign mode doesn’t quite fit with the modern landscape. While theBlack Opssubseries has always been an example of AAA interactive storytelling experiences (besides the fourth edition), branching narratives may now be a thing of the past afterCall of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Source:DualShockers
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
As tensions rise during the Gulf War, Black Ops veterans find themselves facing a covert group within the CIA, now branded as traitors. Players navigate intense missions across new multiplayer modes, including dynamic environments and innovative features like body shields, while the Zombies mode returns with classic round-based action and new maps.
