Why The Next Call of Duty: Ghosts Likely Won’t Be 'Ghosts 2' (2024)

After releasing in 2013 to some less than stellar reception, Call of Duty: Ghosts has gone largely untouched by Activision, much to the disappointment of those who have been hoping for some resolution to the campaign cliffhangers they’ve been sitting with for over a decade. Sadly, it doesn’t look like they’ll be getting answers any time soon, even if Infinity Ward dusts off the Ghosts title for a release in the near future, as rumors claim.

11 years after its release, Call of Duty fans are finally talking about Call of Duty: Ghosts again, due in large part to a leak indicating a new Ghosts title is on the horizon for 2026. While on the face of it, this may seem like the 2013 Call of Duty is getting a long-overdue followup, the state of affairs seems a little more bittersweet for longtime fans of the franchise.

Is Call of Duty: Ghosts 2 Going to Happen?

While the rumors of a Call of Duty: Ghosts follow-up were spurred on by trusted data miners with a good track record, it seems that those leaks aren’t entirely accurate. While there is a game in development for 2026, it is in all likelihood not a sequel to the 2013 game of the same name. Instead, it’s much more probable this title’s campaign will follow the early years of the fan favorite Modern Warfare character, Simon “Ghost” Riley.

Why Won't Activision Make Call of Duty: Ghosts 2?

While this may come as a disappointment for some, it shouldn’t be all that much of a surprise. Ghosts, even all these years later, is something of a black sheep for the franchise. While the campaign definitely has its fans, and the game featured some incredibly unique DLC maps featuring the Predator and Michael Myers, the game didn’t do much to shake up the standard formula at the time, making it ultimately feel like a stale entry.

On top of mixed reviews, the game failed to perform up to Activision's financial expectations. Coming off the heels of the juggernaut that was Black Ops 2, Ghosts sold significantly less than its predecessor, marking the start of a slump for the franchise that would continue with the release of the underappreciated Advanced Warfare the following year. Between disappointing sales figures and lukewarm public reception, it makes sense why Activision would want to shy away from the misstep that was Call of Duty: Ghosts.

What Call of Duty Game Is Coming Out In 2026?

A prequel focusing on Modern Warfare’s Ghost, on the other hand, is an obvious choice for a game, and has been for years. Ghost has always been a fan-favorite character, which speaks volumes for a series typically more beloved for its multiplayer than its campaigns. From his very first incarnation in Modern Warfare 2 (2009), the enigmatic, masked SAS soldier captured fans’ hearts and imaginations. Though he was killed off before the devs realized how popular he would become, Ghost lived on in merchandise, guest appearances in other games, and even spiritually as the inspiration for the title of the 2013 game.

What Would a Modern Warfare Game About Ghost Entail?

The Modern Warfare reboot gave fans more of Infinity Ward’s sleep hit character, and it’s never been more clear how much Call of Duty fans absolutely love Ghost. A prequel focusing on his early life and career would be a welcome addition to the successful reboot timeline and a fitting conclusion to the character’s story in the new series. A prequel could follow Ghost’s time in the SAS before he linked up with Soap, his earliest missions, how he developed his skills, and even how he adopted his iconic skull mask.

It's unfortunate that Call of Duty: Ghosts probably won’t be receiving a proper conclusion anytime soon. No one likes to see plot threads go unanswered, especially when the series is still technically ongoing. But rather than focus on old games that never quite lived up to their potential, maybe it's better the series moves forward with the stories of the newer games that have been reasonably well-received and more successful in the public eye.

See Also

I watched "Madame Web" on Netflix so you don't have to

Call of Duty Ghosts

Ghosts is the 10th major game in the Call of Duty series. This time around, players play as Logan Walker (for the most part), in a near future where the Middle East that has been destroyed by nuclear warfare. South America's oil powers have become a global superpower and serve as the antagonists of the game, while a special ops group called the Ghosts are the protagonists.

Franchise

Call of Duty

Platform(s)

PC , Xbox 360 , Xbox One , PS3 , PS4 , Wii U

Released

November 5, 2013

Developer(s)

Infinity Ward

Publisher(s)

Activision

Genre(s)

First-Person Shooter

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Engine

IW

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language

How Long To Beat

6 Hours

See at SteamSee at Xbox Games StoreSee at Playstation StoreSee at Amazon