It still feels as thoughCall of Duty: Black Ops 6has only just come out, but already there’s plenty of talk about the next entry in the annual military shooter franchise. Though there’s no official word from Activision or any of the usualCall of Dutyfranchise developers, there have been plenty of leaks over the last year or so that suggest 2025’sCall of Dutyentry will be anotherBlack Opsgame, and adirect sequel toBlack Ops 2at that.

2022’sCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2and 2023’sModern Warfare 3made history by being the first back-to-back series entries in the franchise. That approach didn’t go too well, however, and if Activision is planning on doing the same withCall of Duty: Black Ops 6andCall of Duty2025, then it needs to make sure it steers clear of one majorModern Warfare 3criticism.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Tag Page Cover Art

Call of Duty 2025 Might Live or Die By Its Campaign

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s Campaign Was Heavily Criticized

WhileCall of Duty’s campaigns haven’t really been anything to write about in quite some time, they’ve at least been consistently enjoyable blockbuster action affairs. That wasn’t the case withCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s campaign.

Though a good portion ofCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s features received criticism, its campaign was widely regarded as its worst element.Modern Warfare 3’s campaign could be completed in just 3 hours, even on higher difficulties, leading to its pacing feeling incredibly rushed. It featured a severe lack of action set pieces, one of the franchise’s defining features. Its “innovative"Open Combat Missionsended up feeling very generic. And the campaign ends on an abrupt cliffhanger that likely won’t be resolved for years to come, if ever.

Call of Duty 2025 Needs to Deliver a Good Campaign

After the immensely disappointingCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3campaign, the only way was up forCall of Duty: Black Ops 6. Thankfully,Black Ops 6’s campaignwas the return to form that the franchise desperately needed, delivering plenty of action set pieces, a cast of memorable characters, and a sprinkling of trademarkBlack Opsmind-bending twists and turns.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s campaign dropped the bar lower than the series had ever seen, andBlack Ops 6has taken it, and raised it much higher than fans expected. There are going to be some high expectations going intoCall of Duty2025’s campaign, and it can’t afford to drop the ball likeMW3did.

Call of Duty 2025 Might Not Need to Work as Hard for its Other Game Modes

Usually, it’sCall of Duty’s multiplayer and Zombies modesthat receive the most scrutiny from fans before a new entry’s release, but that might not be the case withCall of Duty2025.Call of Duty: Black Ops 6has laid some incredibly strong foundations with both its multiplayer and Zombies modes, delivering an innovative new Omnimovement system and ushering in the long-awaited return of traditional round-based Zombies.

AllCall of Duty2025 needs to do is takeBlack Ops 6’s foundations and keep building upon them, offering a new set of original multiplayer maps and new Zombies stages with plenty of Easter eggs, Wonder Weapons, and Perk-a-Colas. Obviously, that’s easier said than done, but there might be a little less pressure to fully reinvent the wheel this time around.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

WHERE TO PLAY

Forced to go rogue. Hunted from within. This is Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.Developed by Treyarch and Raven, Black Ops 6 is a spy action thriller set in the early 90s, a period of transition and upheaval in global politics, characterized by the end of the Cold War and the rise of the United States as a single superpower. With a mind-bending narrative, and unbound by the rules of engagement, this is signature Black Ops.The Black Ops 6 Campaign provides dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay that includes a variety of play spaces with blockbuster set pieces and action-packed moments, high-stakes heists, and cloak-and-dagger spy activity.In a best-in-class Multiplayer experience, players will test their skills across 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6.Black Ops 6 also marks the epic return of Round-Based Zombies, the fan-favorite mode where players will take down hordes of the undead in two brand-new maps at launch. Post-launch, players can look forward to even more exciting maps and groundbreaking experiences dropping into both Multiplayer and Zombies.