Black Ops 6’s ending leaves COD at an exciting crossroads

As a long-time Call of Duty enthusiast who has witnessed the evolution of this franchise since its humble beginnings in World War 2, I must say that the recent developments are nothing short of intriguing. The convergence of the Modern Warfare and Black Ops universes is not only a testament to the success of these series but also an exciting opportunity for fresh storylines and crossover events.


In simple terms, Black Ops 6 concludes the Call of Duty series’ grand narrative at a crucial juncture. Let me explain the significance of its ending and possible future directions for the franchise.

Although the plot may not be the primary reason people play Call of Duty games, the creators at Activision and the different development teams responsible for producing each new installment in the series don’t always receive adequate recognition for their storytelling efforts.

As a gamer, I’ve noticed that when a fresh single-player campaign drops, not all of us dive right in, but for those who do, there are some intriguing links being uncovered, and let’s be real, a handful of inconsistencies creeping up as well.

Initially, let’s delve into the conclusion of Black Ops 6 and decipher its implications. Then, let’s speculate on where the Call of Duty franchise might be headed next. I have a hunch that we may witness the merging of two distinct realities soon.

Black Ops 6’s ending leaves COD at an exciting crossroads

Black Ops 6 ending explained

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but feel my heart race in anticipation for Black Ops 6! This time around, it’s back to the world of covert operations with none other than the legendary CIA hardliner Frank Woods and the cunning, yet devoted Russell Adler. In this game, I find myself stepping into the boots of Case, another undercover agent serving under Woods.

The game also verified significant plot twists in Call of Duty’s storyline that had been uncertain for quite some time. Firstly, it was confirmed that “Agent Bell” from Black Ops: Cold War met his end at the hands of Adler towards the conclusion of the campaign. As he posed a threat to the CIA, he is no more. Farewell, Agent Bell.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t hide my excitement about the confirmation that Alex Mason, the original hero of Call of Duty: Black Ops, and his comrade Jason Hudson, were indeed sacrificed in Black Ops 2 at the hands of its antagonist, Raul Menendez. The intricate plot twists never cease to amaze me!

In Black Ops 6, Menendez continues to pose a threat since the storyline places him at a crucial point. Consequently, he creates problems for our protagonists, particularly Adler. Though Menendez plays a less prominent role in this installment, it’s hinted that he was responsible for framing Adler as a traitor to the CIA.

In 1991, Case and his associates find themselves embarking on another operation in Kuwait. During this mission, they cross paths with Adler, who is evading the CIA at the time. He reveals that a secret paramilitary organization called Pantheon is engaged in conflict with the CIA, aiming to seize control from within. It’s later discovered that Pantheon was once a division of the CIA that developed a deadly bioweapon codenamed Cradle. However, this group was disbanded, and they’ve been seeking revenge ever since.

Pantheon intends to orchestrate an attack on the U.S. Capitol, a move that would likely result in the loss of thousands of lives, with the intention of pinning the blame on the CIA for failing to stop it. This would provide an opportunity for ex-CIA members and Pantheon agents embedded within the organization to seize control.

On the other hand, Adler, Case, and their group successfully thwart a false flag operation and eliminate the infiltrators. It’s later discovered that Case was the initial subject for Cradle, making him resistant to it. Regrettably, during the mission, he appears to drown and is listed as Missing in Action.

Thankful for Woods and his squad, the CIA has cleared Adler’s name and chooses to retain them as a covert ops team, tasked with tracking down the remaining members of Pantheon – who are yet to be apprehended. The information uncovered about Case suggests he may still be alive, potentially reappearing in the next Black Ops mission.

Black Ops 6’s ending leaves COD at an exciting crossroads

Where will Call of Duty go next?

As a gamer, I’ve just finished Black Ops 6, and let me tell you, it left me hanging! Two massive cliffhangers are now keeping me on the edge of my seat, eager for more. The game has introduced a brand-new terror for our heroes to confront.

The problem lies with how dated the futuristic setting of Black Ops 2 (initially set in 2025) has become, but for now, it remains canonical. However, there’s a concern because the remakes of the Modern Warfare series and Black Ops: Cold War seem to suggest that Call of Duty will be moving towards a single shared universe in the future.

Should this scenario hold true, there’s a slight inconsistency in the narrative progression seen in Black Ops 2 compared to the end of Modern Warfare 3. It may not be a significant issue, but it’s noticeable how drastically different the Call of Duty universe appears to have transformed between 2023 and 2025.

In a distinct narrative thread of their own, the initial Modern Warfare series differed from the Black Ops games. Interestingly, both these series intertwined with the original Call of Duty games that were based on World War II. Despite occasional characters like Captain Price recurring across these titles, such connections primarily served as nods to fans rather than playing a significant role in the storyline.

Black Ops 6’s ending leaves COD at an exciting crossroads

In a surprising twist in Black Ops: Cold War, they introduced a younger version of the Modern Warfare antagonist, Imran Zakhaev. This connection between the revamped MW timeline and the original Black Ops universe was both startling and logical.

Modern Black Ops

Refreshing the Modern Warfare series provided Activision with an opportunity to re-attempt their efforts. Not only are interconnected storylines popular nowadays, but constructing such a universe offers numerous creative advantages for them. Furthermore, by integrating Call of Duty: Warzone elements from both Black Ops and Modern Warfare games, having two timelines within one unified narrative is a smart commercial decision.

The issue at hand is what direction Activision should take next with the storyline. Since the rebooted Modern Warfare trilogy has concluded, they have several options. They might choose to retire Captain Price and his team, or they could create Modern Warfare 4. Alternatively, they could incorporate the Task Force 141 crew into the Black Ops series. A more intriguing option could be launching a new series that blends both groups of characters, essentially a fusion of Modern Warfare and Black Ops, which could be dubbed ‘Modern Black Ops’.

It’s clear that these characters are deeply cherished by fans, and given the progression of the Black Ops series towards Modern Warfare, it’s likely we haven’t seen the end of them. Fast forward a few years, and the Black Ops storyline might surpass Modern Warfare. It’s reasonable to speculate that future games may revisit the 1990s, focusing on Pantheon and Case, perhaps tying in with Menendez. This would explain why efforts are being made to resurrect this villain.

If Activision is genuinely committed to creating a Call of Duty shared universe, they might consider developing Pantheon as a common enemy that both David “Section” Mason (the son and co-protagonist of Alex Mason from Black Ops 2) and Task Force 141 must pursue. Many Call of Duty campaigns feature the US and UK uniting against a mutual adversary, so this concept isn’t too far-fetched.

On the other hand, just as the Cold War was distinct, Black Ops 6 did not establish many connections with the Modern Warfare series. This could suggest that Activision opted to explore a new path instead.

Regardless of the circumstances, this is an electrifying era for Call of Duty lore enthusiasts, and if you haven’t caught wind of it yet, Call of Duty campaigns are now more captivating than ever.

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2024-10-31 19:29