With Call of Duty: World War 2, Sledgehammer Games wants to make a game that is, apparently, as authentic to the actual conflict as is possible. The jury is out on whether or not they will do it (and whether or not it is even possible to do so within the blockbuster action movie-like confines of the franchise), but one historian certainly believes that the game could be an accurate portrayal of the war, generating more interest in it from the common population.
That historian is Martin Morgan, who has written two books on World War 2, interviewed 2000 veterans, and who is acting as consultant for Sledgehammer Games for this game. Speaking to EDGE, he admitted that a game like this could be huge in generating interest in this deadly conflict yet again.
“The living memory of this conflict is receding very quickly. Just this past week, three veterans that I’ve interviewed have died, and that happens every week,” he said. “I’ve written two books; nobody read them. We’re living in a world where people read less and less. What’s going to replace it? Projects like this [Call of Duty: WWII], that have strong emotional themes, and also strong educational themes.
“I have this looming sense that this [Call of Duty: WWII] is going to be big. It may be the biggest thing that has ever happened for this subject. I’m not saying that because I’ve become a Sledgehammer Games zombie who just spouts off propaganda. I say it because one thing we already definitely know is that this is going to be big. Band of Brothers was released in 2001; Saving Private Ryan was released 20 years ago. There was no social media universe back then, and now there is.”
I can only hope that the game treats the subject matter with the appropriate respect and gravitas that it deserves. I also hope that it remains accurate, rather than willfully only showing certain aspects of the conflict. We’ll see when the game launches for PS4, Xbox One, and PC this November.
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