Noted insider Tom Henderson, who’s been on the forefront of most Call of Duty-related leaks (among other things), recently took to Twitter and stated that as per usual, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (or whatever it ends up being called) is going to be revealed in the summer. That said, it seems the game could release a little earlier than expected. While Call of Duty games generally tend to launch in November, this year’s game is apparently going to release in October “due to Vanguard’s poor sales performance”. A “big” update for Call of Duty: Warzone will apparently follow not long afterward.

Call of Duty: Vanguard’s sales, when viewed in isolation, have been solid, but compared to past games in the series, the game’s commercial performance has seen a steep drop-off due to a number of reasons. The last time a Call of Duty game launched before November was Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, which released in October 2018- though that was done so the game could avoid clashing with the November 2018 launch of Red Dead Redemption 2.

Several other details about this year’s Call of Duty game have also emerged in leaks, from a new PvPvE mode similar in nature to Battlefield 2042’s Hazard Zone, to the fact that actor Warren Kole, who played Uncharted 4 villain Rafe, is also going to be featured in the game, to the game possibly being set in Latin America.

As expected, it's looking like this year's Call of Duty title, Modern Warfare II (2022), will be revealed in the summer.

Hearing rumblings that the title could release in October due to Vanguard's poor sales performance, with a "big" Warzone update coming soon after. pic.twitter.com/3x8Qw2Eryp

— Tom Henderson (@_Tom_Henderson_) January 13, 2022

As Henderson reported previously, Modern Warfare 2 is seemingly following Battlefield 2042 and introducing its own Escape from Tarkov-style PvEvP mode called DMZ. It offers a unique map (which will also be used for Warzone) and Infinity Ward is apparently placing a huge focus on AI for it (along with the campaign). It’s also worth noting that Modern Warfare 2 Remastered – who’s multiplayer was apparently meant to launch near Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) – will have its maps, weapons and Operators incorporated into the 2022 sequel instead.

“Possible” free-to-play elements have also been noted though what that means remains to be seen, especially since Warzone is still a thing. As such, based on pre-alpha footage that’s been seen thus far, development appears to be doing better compared to previous titles. Stay tuned for more details on the sequel in the coming months.

Where new details are concerned, Henderson claims, citing anonymous sources familiar with the project, that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will bring with it a new map for Call of Duty: Warzone. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, of course, since the battle royale shooter introduced a new map with Black Ops Cold War, and will be doing so again with Vanguard. However, whether or not the new map will replace the existing one (which has been trend for Warzone) hasn’t yet been decided.

According to Henderson, the map will feature various locations and “points of interests” from 2009’s original Modern Warfare 2, with classic maps such as Favela, Afghan, Quarry, Terminal, and Trailer Park being “expanded upon and stitched together.”

Interestingly enough, Henderson claims that the new map will serve more than just one purpose. In addition to Warzone, it will also serve as the backdrop for a new mode being introduced in 2022’s Modern Warfare 2. The mode, similar to Battlefield 2042’s Hazard Zone, will allegedly combine PvP and PvE elements, and will see completing objective-based missions on the map and battling AI-controlled cartel enemies. Apparently there’s a chance that this mode, which has allegedly been in the works for “several years”, will replace Zombies in next year’s game, though that could change.

Rounding out the game’s multiplayer offerings, Henderson also reports that the main multiplayer experience will be using a lot of work that was allegedly done on a remaster of the original Modern Warfare 2 that had been in development before it was shelved. This will include remastered maps, weapons, and more returning from the 2009 original.

Additionally, Henderson’s report also expands upon another recent leak which provided potential details on the game’s single player campaign. While there are several details he corroborates, there are some he does so with caveats, and others still that the report claims are not entirely accurate.

For instance, while moral choices and advanced gore and dismemberment will indeed be featured in some story missions, they might not be as crucial to the experience as the aforementioned leak suggests. Similarly, while there are several new animations, including for weapon jamming and characters being shaken up by their surroundings, that’ll happen at specific story moments rather than be featured as a recurring gameplay mechanic.

That said, Henderson claims that the previous leak is accurate about an overhauled AI system that will see enemies reacting more realistically to wounds and gunshots. The story and the single player campaign are, in terms of the big picture, said to expand upon the grittiness and realism that was emphasized so heavily in 2019’s Modern Warfare, with more close-quarters firefights and the like.

Task Force 141 is also allegedly returning with multiple playable protagonists, though you’d expect that much from a sequel to Modern Warfare, of course. Finally, Henderson also claims that where weapons are concerned, traditional armoured vehicles and tanks and what have you will likely be replaced by things like military rubber boats and small helicopters- which makes sense, given that the game allegedly sees Task Force 141 covertly taking on Columbian drug cartels.

These are all unverified details, of course, and Activision hasn’t provided any statement regarding them, so take them with a grain of salt for now, even though Henderson does have a solid track record where leaks (especially Call of Duty-related leaks) are concerned. Of course, with Call of Duty: Vanguard out on November 5, it’s probably going to be a while before Activision begins talking about next year’s game.

Now, new details on the game may have been potentially leaked by Twitter user @RalphsValve, many of which fall in line with previous rumours. According to the leak, Modern Warfare 2 (or whatever it ends up being called) is going to take some interesting risks with its campaign- more specifically, there’s going to be a morality system. It will allegedly work similar to Red Dead Redemption 2’s Honor System, with players’ decisions affecting how the story progresses at certain junctures.

There’s also apparently going to be quite an emphasis on gritty realism. For instance, enemies will have varied and detailed death animations that can change based on where they’ve been shot, and will feature a wide range of reactions. Gore will also be greatly emphasized, the leak claims, and depending on what kinds of bullets you’re using, enemies might get dismembered and lose limbs, or even try and put pressure on their wounds to stop the bleeding.

How the playable character reacts will also allegedly changed depending on the circumstances. During intense, high-stakes shootouts, the protagonist might get flustered, which will manifest in specific voice overs, animations, or even fumbled reload attempts. The leak also claims that weapons will sometimes jam during combat, though interestingly enough, the bullet that you waste upon unjamming the weapon can be physically retrieved and used again.

It should go without saying, but as is always the case with unverified leaks, you should take this all with a grain of salt. A lot of the details do align with previous leaks, but until such time Activision says something about the game in an official capacity (which likely won’t be anytime soon), tread with caution where any and all leaks are concerned.

Meanwhile, Sledgehammer Games’ Call of Duty: Vanguard is launching on November 5 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

Campaign
⁃ Assumed to receive a rating ‘M’ for MATURE with Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs, In-Game Content Purchases, and Users Interact.

— Ralph (@RalphsValve) October 28, 2021

⁃ Death animations: if an enemy combatant is shot, they will not die immediately, depending on where they’ve been wounded: they’ll beg for their lives, insult you, call out for their Mother, hallucinate, gurgle/moan/groan/death rattle, convulsions.

— Ralph (@RalphsValve) October 28, 2021

⁃ Realistic gore: contingent on the calibre of bullet, combatants will lose limbs – often remaining conscious, squirming and screaming. They’ll also put pressure on wounds in an attempt to stop the bleeding.

— Ralph (@RalphsValve) October 28, 2021

State-of-the-art weapon dynamics and revised interactivity, all details are specific to Campaign:

— Ralph (@RalphsValve) October 28, 2021

… heavy breathing and swallowing, voice quivering during call-outs etc; This applies equally to their ‘Realism’ mode

— Ralph (@RalphsValve) October 28, 2021

⁃ New feature: Bullet in the Chamber and Bullet ejection

— Ralph (@RalphsValve) October 28, 2021

Noted leaker Tom Henderson recently took to Twitter and stated that the aforementioned Project Cortez is the codename given to Call of Duty 2022, which will apparently be a sequel to 2019’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. In a separate report, VGC writes that the same has been corroborated by their own sources.

According to VGC, Call of Duty 2022 is being developed by Infinity Ward, and will have a single player campaign that tells the story of US special forces fighting a covert war against Columbian drug cartels. Supposedly, the codename Project Cortez is a reference to the 1994 film Clear and Present Danger, which, of course, has a similar purpose, and features a primary antagonist named Colonel Félix Cortez.

Infinity Ward’s last Call of Duty game came in 2019, with Treyarch leading the 2020 entry and Sledgehammer Games returning for this year’s game, so them returning for the 2022 entry does line up with the timeline the series has traditionally taken. Of course, until we hear something official from Activision (which likely won’t happen for at least a year), it’s best not to take this as confirmation.

Call of Duty: Vanguard, led by Sledgehammer Games (with support from every other Activision studio) launches on November 5 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Call of Duty: Warzone will also be getting an significant update to go along with that.

It looks like Call of Duty: 2022 is codenamed Project Cortez

It's expected to be a sequel to Modern Warfare 2019.

— Tom Henderson (@_Tom_Henderson_) September 13, 2021