Is There Going to Be a Call of Duty: Ghosts 2? The Truth Unveiled

The short answer is: extremely unlikely, at least in the foreseeable future. While the ending of Call of Duty: Ghosts left players hanging with a massive cliffhanger, and despite consistent rumors and wishful thinking from some corners of the fanbase, all signs point towards Activision and Infinity Ward having moved on from the Ghosts storyline. The primary reasons are the lukewarm reception of the original Ghosts, the franchise’s tendency to reboot or revitalize existing sub-series rather than directly continuing less successful entries, and the sheer number of Call of Duty titles already in development pipelines.

The Ghost of a Chance: Why Ghosts 2 Never Materialized

Call of Duty: Ghosts, released in 2013, was intended to launch a new sub-series within the Call of Duty universe. It introduced a new setting, characters, and narrative, moving away from the established Modern Warfare and Black Ops storylines. However, it largely failed to capture the audience in the same way as its predecessors. Several factors contributed to this:

• Critical Reception: Critics and players alike generally regarded Ghosts as a step down from previous Call of Duty titles. Common complaints centered around the map design (particularly large, open maps that encouraged camping), some perceived imbalances in multiplayer gameplay (like the dreaded thermal scope paired with the M27 rifle), and a somewhat convoluted narrative.

• The “Dog” Factor: While Riley the German Shepherd was initially a marketing highlight and seemingly became an iconic character, his in-game execution was met with mixed reactions. Some felt his inclusion was gimmicky rather than organically integrated into the gameplay.

• Franchise Fatigue: By 2013, the Call of Duty franchise was already facing concerns about annual releases leading to formulaic gameplay and a lack of innovation. Ghosts, unfortunately, did little to dispel those concerns.

• Focus Shift: Activision and its studios are constantly evaluating the Call of Duty landscape. They may have decided that resources were better invested in revitalizing other sub-series, such as Modern Warfare (as seen with the 2019 reboot) or continuing the Black Ops saga, both of which enjoy significantly broader popularity and critical acclaim.

The original game ended with a cliffhanger leaving players to assume that a Ghost 2 sequel would soon follow. However, the negative reception to the original CoD: Ghosts, the franchise’s tendency to reboot or revitalise existing sub-series, and the sheer number of Call of Duty titles already in development have all contributed to the unlikelihood of another Ghost 2 video game.

The Cliffhanger That Never Resolved

The ending of Ghosts saw Rorke, the main antagonist, capturing Logan Walker, the protagonist’s brother, effectively setting up Logan’s brainwashing into another “Ghost Killer.” This cliffhanger was designed to be a direct setup for a sequel, leaving players eager to see how Logan would be affected and what Rorke’s ultimate plan was.

The cliffhanger’s unresolved nature has been a source of frustration for some fans. Many had hoped that future Call of Duty titles would at least offer some closure to Logan’s fate, even if a full-fledged Ghosts 2 wasn’t in the cards. However, as time passes, the chances of this diminishing.

Where the Series Stands

As of 2024, there has been no official announcement or credible leak suggesting that a Call of Duty: Ghosts 2 is in development. All official communication from Activision and Infinity Ward focuses on the current Call of Duty title and upcoming Modern Warfare, Black Ops, and Warzone content.

The recent trend within the Call of Duty franchise is to reboot or re-imagine existing storylines, bringing back familiar characters in fresh contexts. While this approach has proven successful, it also suggests that Activision is more inclined to build upon established successes rather than take risks with potentially unpopular sequels.

Call of Duty: The Future

Activision seems to have a clear strategy: lean on the most popular sub-franchises, incorporate elements from across the entire Call of Duty universe into Warzone, and continue to innovate with new gameplay mechanics and features. While the possibility of a Ghosts sequel can never be ruled out entirely, it’s safe to say that it’s not a priority for Activision at this time.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Call of Duty: Ghosts and Its Potential Sequel

1. Why did Call of Duty: Ghosts not get a sequel?

The game received a lukewarm reception from critics and players alike. Common complaints centered around map design, perceived gameplay imbalances, and a somewhat convoluted narrative. Activision may have decided that resources were better invested in revitalizing other sub-series, such as Modern Warfare or continuing the Black Ops saga, both of which enjoy significantly broader popularity and critical acclaim.

2. What happens to Logan after Rorke takes him?

Rorke shows admiration for Logan’s determination and spirit before dragging Logan away as Hesh helplessly screams for him. After the endgame credits, Logan is seen captured and stuck in a pit, resembling Rorke’s pit from The Hunted opening credits. This was a direct setup for a sequel that never materialized.

3. Is Ghost in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2?

No, the Ghost in Call of Duty: Black Ops II is a gameplay mechanic, a perk. It has been altered slightly; the player cannot be detected by UAVs while moving at a decent speed, planting or defusing the bomb in Search and Destroy or Demolition, or while using controllable Scorestreaks except for the Lightning Strike. It is unrelated to the Simon “Ghost” Riley character from the Modern Warfare series.

4. Is there another ending to Call of Duty: Ghosts?

There are no officially recognized alternate endings to Call of Duty: Ghosts based on in-game choices or scenarios. The ending remains the same regardless of player actions.

5. Will there be a Call of Duty: Ghosts 2?

Extremely unlikely. While the cliffhanger ending of the first game set up a sequel, the less-than-stellar reception of Ghosts makes it unlikely that Activision will revisit the storyline. All signs point to Activision prioritizing other existing sub-series.

6. Who killed Ghost in the Call of Duty series?

In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009), Simon “Ghost” Riley was betrayed and killed by General Shepherd, along with Roach.

7. Is Ghost alive in the current Modern Warfare trilogy?

No. In the original Modern Warfare timeline, Ghost dies at the hands of General Shepherd. While the 2019 Modern Warfare is a reboot and features Ghost, it does not negate his death in the original timeline.

8. Why does Ghost wear a mask?

The mask is believed to serve several purposes, including concealing his identity, creating a psychological effect on his enemies, and becoming a symbol of the “Ghost” persona, which represents stealth, enigma, and battlefield prowess.

9. Who is the voice actor for Ghost?

While several actors have portrayed Ghost across different games, Samuel Roukin is the voice and motion capture actor for the character in Modern Warfare 2 (2009).

10. What rank is Logan Walker?

Logan Walker is a Sergeant and a member of the Ghosts, an elite special operations unit.

11. How did Rorke survive at the end of Ghosts?

The exact mechanism of Rorke’s survival is never explicitly explained in the game. It’s implied he was severely injured but not fatally wounded, due to his training and the rough environment.

12. What Call of Duty is coming out in 2023?

The Call of Duty released in 2023 was Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.

13. Why is Ghost called Ghost in Call of Duty?

Simon Riley earned the moniker “Ghost” due to his exceptional covert prowess. The name encapsulates his stealthy demeanor, enigmatic presence, and formidable battlefield aura. However, that hasn’t been officially confirmed either in game by Ghost or by Call of Duty.

14. What is Soap’s real name in Call of Duty?

Soap’s real name is John MacTavish.

15. What is Ghost’s backstory?

Simon Riley had a very traumatic childhood while growing up in Manchester, England because of his heartless father. His father often brought dangerous animals back to their home and taunted him with them, even going so far as to force Simon to kiss a snake.