Call of Duty: Vanguard, as the sequel is being referred to, will have a campaign, multiplayer and Zombies. It will be set in the European and Pacific theaters during World War 2, focusing on the creation of the modern Allied Special Forces. Thanks to having more time for development, Sledgehammer Games reportedly has quite a bit planned for Warzone.

This includes a World War 2 map in the Pacific theater, which will be the series’ largest yet (even more than Verdansk) and release alongside the main game. There will also reportedly be new vehicles and updates to the technology (since Vanguard utilizes the same engine as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare). Activision wouldn’t comment on the rumors but more details should be inbound in the coming months.

Rumors have been circulating for a while now but it’s finally confirmed: Sledgehammer Games is the lead developer for the next Call of Duty. Over on Twitter, it stated that it was “excited to be leading the charge” and “can’t wait to share more.” Whether that means a reveal is coming sooner or later remains to be seen.

However, if reports till now have been true, then Call of Duty could be returning to World War 2. Titled Call of Duty: WW2 Vanguard, it was initially rumored to be an alternate timeline where the war didn’t end. However, later reports noted that it had a “traditional” World War 2 setting. It’s also apparently developed on the IW8 engine which was used for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019).

As such, the gameplay should be a few leaps and bounds above Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, especially in the multiplayer department. Call of Duty 2021 is expected to release this Fall and will likely be coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC along with Xbox One and PS4. Stay tuned for more details in the meantime.

We’re so excited to be leading the charge on @CallofDuty this year and can’t wait to share more. https://t.co/pMuaFybT1r

— Sledgehammer Games (@SHGames) May 4, 2021

Recent rumours and leaks have lifted the lid on several potential details on this year’s Call of Duty game. Reportedly being developed by Sledgehammer, it will take players back to a World War 2 setting, and will be called Call of Duty WW2: Vanguard. Those are details that have been shared by multiple sources, and a recent report by VGC corroborates that as well.

In addition, however, VGC’s report also claims that WW2: Vanguard is being built on the IW8 engine, the new and overhauled engine that was introduced with 2019’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Last year’s Black Ops Cold War, however, switched back to the engine that Treyarch had previously used for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 back in 2018, albeit an upgraded version of it.

As per VGC, the switch to IW8 is likely due to potential integration with free-to-play battle royale shooter Call of Duty: Warzone, which uses the same engine, and has been integrated with Modern Warfare, and then with Black Ops Cold War. That said, given the fact that WW2: Vanguard’s Second World War setting is going to diverge from Warzone’s setting significantly, it remains to be seen how that integration will be handled, or whether the two will even be integrated.

2021’s Call of Duty game is confirmed to be releasing later in the year, so the official reveal should likely be coming a few months from now, at which point we’ll know more about the validity of these details one way or another. Stay tuned to GamingBolt for more updates.