Does Black Ops 4 Take Place Before Black Ops 3? A Deep Dive into the Timeline
The short answer is no, Black Ops 4 does not take place entirely before Black Ops 3. However, the relationship between the timelines of these two titles is complex, particularly given that Black Ops 4 abandoned a traditional single-player campaign. This article will break down the timeline of each game to clarify the situation. While both games are part of the Black Ops sub-series, their narratives don’t unfold in a straightforward, linear fashion. Let’s get into the details.
Black Ops 4’s Timeline Complexity
Unlike its predecessors, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 opted for a unique approach by forgoing a traditional single-player campaign. Instead, it focused on Specialist HQ, which offers story-driven missions that provide background on the multiplayer characters, known as “Specialists”. These missions are not part of a grand, linear storyline but rather serve as character-focused vignettes. The narratives within Specialist HQ are set between the events of Black Ops II and Black Ops III, not entirely before.
Additionally, the Blackout battle royale mode and the traditional multiplayer modes of Black Ops 4 are set in the 2040s. This period is centered around the Specialists being recruited by Savannah Mason-Meyer, the granddaughter of Alex Mason from the first two Black Ops games. This situates the majority of Black Ops 4’s story elements prior to the events of Black Ops III, but not entirely.
Black Ops 3’s Chronological Setting
Call of Duty: Black Ops III is set in 2065, a full 40 years after the events of Black Ops II. This game presents a world grappling with the impacts of climate change and advanced new technologies. The main narrative of Black Ops 3 follows a new team of black ops soldiers. The game’s events are directly influenced by the outcomes of the earlier Black Ops titles.
The beginning of the game sees the player character critically wounded in a mission in Ethiopia, setting the stage for the technological enhancements and augmented soldier storyline present in Black Ops 3. The key takeaway here is that Black Ops III’s story is set significantly later than the majority of Black Ops 4’s narrative.
Key Differences and Overlapping Timelines
Understanding the interplay of timelines requires recognizing that while Black Ops 4’s Specialists HQ missions are pre-BO3, the multiplayer is set in the 2040s, while BO3 takes place in 2065. Therefore, Black Ops 4 does not occur entirely before Black Ops 3.
The Black Ops 4’s story serves as background lore, explaining the origin of many characters and elements that influence the world of Black Ops III. Think of it as filling in the gaps between the second and third games in the series, rather than preceding the main events.
FAQs: Exploring the Black Ops Timelines
1. What is the main difference in storytelling between Black Ops 3 and Black Ops 4?
Black Ops 3 features a traditional single-player campaign with a linear narrative. In contrast, Black Ops 4 lacks a traditional campaign, instead offering story through Specialist HQ missions and a multiplayer setup, with most of this action happening prior to the events of BO3.
2. Does Black Ops 4 have a single-player campaign?
No, Black Ops 4 does not have a traditional single-player campaign. It substitutes it with Specialist HQ missions, a multiplayer experience, and a battle royale mode called Blackout.
3. In what year does Black Ops 3 take place?
Black Ops 3 takes place in 2065, 40 years after the events of Black Ops II.
4. When are the Specialist HQ missions in Black Ops 4 set?
The Specialist HQ missions in Black Ops 4 take place between Black Ops II and Black Ops III, serving as a narrative bridge between the two games.
5. What is the Blackout mode in Black Ops 4?
Blackout is a battle royale mode introduced in Black Ops 4, featuring locations and characters from throughout the Black Ops series. This mode is mostly set in the 2040s timeframe.
6. Is there a connection between the stories of Black Ops 2 and Black Ops 3?
Yes, the events of Black Ops 2 directly influence the world of Black Ops 3. Although they are set in different time periods, the third game addresses the consequences of earlier events.
7. Do the multiplayer modes in Black Ops 3 and 4 share the same timeline?
No, the multiplayer modes do not directly correlate timewise. Black Ops 3’s multiplayer takes place in virtual simulations set in the context of its story. Black Ops 4’s multiplayer/Blackout mode focuses on the Specialists in the 2040’s.
8. Is Black Ops 3 a direct sequel to Black Ops 2?
Yes, Black Ops 3 is a direct sequel to Black Ops 2, continuing the storyline, albeit several decades in the future, with new characters in a new war.
9. What is the setting of the main story in Black Ops 3?
The main story in Black Ops 3 is set in a world dealing with climate change, technological advancements, and a new Cold War, all set in the year 2065.
10. What is the main focus of the story in Black Ops 4?
The main focus of story in Black Ops 4 is on the individual backstories of the Specialists, and their recruitment for missions, which largely takes place in the 2040s, which is earlier than Black Ops 3’s events.
11. Are the zombies modes in Black Ops 3 and 4 connected?
Yes, the zombies modes in the Black Ops series are connected, but each game focuses on different groups of characters with their own storylines. Black Ops 4 notably features the storyline of Scarlett Rhodes and her quest.
12. Why did Black Ops 4 not have a traditional campaign?
Treyarch, the developers of Black Ops 4, chose to focus on the multiplayer aspect of the game, specifically the Specialist system and the new Blackout battle royale mode rather than a traditional single-player campaign, making it the first main-line entry to omit this feature.
13. Is it necessary to play Black Ops 2 and 3 to understand Black Ops 4?
While not mandatory, playing Black Ops 2 and 3 will provide you with a better understanding of the overall Black Ops lore and character backgrounds. It will give players some background knowledge about the characters, lore, and settings referenced in Black Ops 4, but these are not required for the game’s story to be understood.
14. Are all Call of Duty games connected?
The Call of Duty franchise has multiple connected sub-series. The Modern Warfare and Black Ops series are prominent examples. World War titles generally remain separate, with their own timelines.
15. Is Black Ops 4 a direct sequel to Black Ops 3?
While Black Ops 4 builds on the themes, and character lore of the series, it’s not a direct, linear sequel to Black Ops 3. Black Ops 4 story elements serve to flesh out lore, while Black Ops 3 advances the narrative to its own setting in 2065. Black Ops 4 is the 5th entry in the Black Ops sub-series, making it an indirect sequel.
Conclusion
In summary, Black Ops 4 does not occur entirely before Black Ops 3. The Specialist HQ missions are set between Black Ops II and Black Ops III, while most of the multiplayer is in the 2040s. Black Ops 3 takes place in 2065, well after the bulk of Black Ops 4’s story. The overlapping timelines create an interesting dynamic that enriches the overall experience of the Black Ops sub-series. Hopefully, this article clarifies the chronological relationship between the two titles, providing a more nuanced understanding of their respective stories.