The Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 reveal is around a month away, but to keep us all warm until then, we have the briskly spinning rumor mill. Polygon have reported that Blops 4 will not include a traditional single-player mode. This is quite the change for the series, which has always been known to provide some cinematic single-player action as part of its appeal.
According to Polygon’s mysterious sources, it is less a creative decision and more a case of prudence. Apparently as the release date inched closer, it became more and more apparent that a single-player campaign simply would not be ready for launch. This has seemed to result in a design pivot, with Treyarch then deciding to focus on expanding the scope of the multiplayer component, and the game’s trademark Zombies mode.
Kotaku then stepped into the mix, with sources of their own, that seemed to confirm the Polygon story, and also add more rumor fuel to the rumor fire. Not only did their sources appear to confirm the Polygon story, but they also appeared to confirm the previous Charlie Intel report about Black Ops 4 having a Battle Royale mode. Now, journalism is an interesting beast, and stories from unnamed sources are hard to gauge, but when multiple news outlets are all finding evidence that back up the same rumors, it is hard to dismiss it.
Despite everyone and their dog reaching out to Activision for comment on all these rumors, the publisher is staying tight lipped and refusing to offer any soundbites. I’m honestly a little surprised at any effort by a Call of Duty game to leverage a Battle Royale mode. Not because BR modes are not the in thing right now, simply because I have my doubts about the engine’s ability to support it. Either way, the rumor mill is churning, and it more than likely won’t stop until the reveal. We will do our best to keep you up to date with everything, as it unfolds.
