The outlines for the next Call of Duty are beginning to take shape. It is important to note that Microsoft has confirmed the game will be a highlight of its upcoming Xbox Games Showcase scheduled for June 9th, which replaces the annual E3 conference. This will mark the first time a Call of Duty title, following Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard last year for $69 billion and subsequent layoffs among developers, will be communicated under Microsoft’s direction. We will not revisit that controversy as it has been previously discussed, but there is another one on the horizon that is likely to stir significant debate. According to multiple sources and clues found in official teaser materials, the next Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will allow players to relive the events of September 11, 2001, specifically focusing on the attack on the World Trade Center’s twin towers.
The name of the 2024 Call of Duty edition has been revealed as Call of Duty Black Ops 6. The title opts for a more conventional, albeit explicit, naming scheme. As the sixth installment in the Black Ops series, it continues to be developed by Treyarch studio, similar to their work on Cold War in 2020; this time, they have also enlisted assistance from Raven Software. According to insider information, the game has been in development for two years and studios have been refining every detail during that period, with beta testing currently underway. Could this be the most meticulously developed Call of Duty to date? Only time will tell, but so far, no reports of bugs or issues have surfaced, not even in news headlines.
In the meantime, one can already explore the website that Activision has launched to begin teasing and generating speculation about the story and themes featured in this episode. The site is titled “The Truth Lies,” which should not be confused with James Cameron’s film of the same name; it depicts two activists preparing to take action at Mount Rushmore by blindfolding these former American leaders. This message underscores that truth is elusive, the government deceives its citizens, and people are being misled—ideas a group identifying itself as Cerberus aims to highlight. The name Cerberus is noteworthy because it was also the internal code name for this Call of Duty title when Treyarch and Raven were working on it secretly just a few days ago.
It is confirmed that Call of Duty Black Ops 6 will take place during the Gulf War period, specifically in the early 1990s and may span several years. Developers have provided hints indicating that the series will explore significant moments in U.S. history. The Black Ops franchise has a tradition of doing this, often using flashback sequences to revisit key events from the protagonists’ past. Recall that insiders revealed a few months ago the game was initially supposed to be called “Call of Duty Black Ops Gulf War.” The title was later simplified at the last minute.
When discussing this period of the Gulf War and the emerging conspiracy theories, one cannot help but mention the September 11, 2001 attacks. The live television broadcast of the World Trade Center’s twin towers collapsing is a traumatic moment, and Call of Duty might decide to recreate it. However, at this stage, the question arises: how can they relive these attacks? A delicate issue that developers have likely grappled with. Should they approach it from the perspective of firefighters trying to save trapped individuals in the towers, or should they shock players by letting them embody the terrorists and crash planes into the towers? It’s a touchy proposition, but if they choose to proceed, it will undoubtedly spark unprecedented controversy. More so than the massacre of innocents in an airport by Makarov in Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 in 2009. Back then, social networks weren’t as advanced as they are today, and Twitter wasn’t yet a breeding ground for toxicity. The world has changed, and proposing such a scenario in 2024 would expose them to controversy, bordering on negative publicity. Not to mention the reactions of the victims’ families from those attacks. It’s indeed a complex matter.
Why is it plausible to revisit September 11 again? In last year’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, there was already a mission where terrorists attempted to hijack an airliner. The threat was neutralized, indicating that Call of Duty is venturing into sensitive territory. Rumors suggest that the upcoming Call of Duty title, Black Ops 6, will depict the U.S. invasion of Iraq, with political figures such as Saddam Hussein, George Bush, and Margaret Thatcher being referenced within the game. Missions involving American troops deployed on the ground are likely to involve Osama bin Laden and events from the early 2000s. This is plausible since Russell Adler’s character, seen in Call of Duty: Cold War, may appear in Black Ops 6, as his name has been mentioned in official game elements. Although he was seemingly killed off at the end of Cold War, there is uncertainty about his survival. Given such a complex character, it is not impossible that developers might use him as one of the World Trade Center terrorists. Regardless of the path taken, controversy is inevitable, and the game will undoubtedly spark debate.
In all cases, there is a strong impression that Treyarch, Raven Software, and Activision have never been as confident about a Call of Duty as they are now. The game will feature a solo campaign, multiplayer mode, and zombies, with the plot currently at the center of speculation, given many theories that emerged in the last 24 hours. The main illustration or key art revisits the famous pose of the US soldier from the first Black Ops, which also indicates a certain confidence on the part of the game creators.
