Unraveling the History and Age of Call of Duty‘s Captain Price
"What the hell kind of name is Soap?" That famous line from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare kicked off the legend of the iconic character Captain John Price into high gear. As one of the most beloved figures in COD history spanning nearly two decades now, many fans have wondered – how old is Captain Price actually based on the various storylines? After deep analysis into Price‘s background across the multiplicity of titles, I‘m here to provide a detailed dossier revealing his age, origins and connections to characters like Soap to unravel this mystery once and for all!
A Lineage of Captain Prices
While the Modern Warfare series made him a household name, Price‘s legacy traces back to some of the earliest Call of Duty titles:
- Call of Duty (2003) – First appearance of a Captain Price fighting in World War 2 under the British Army. This is likely the grandfather of Modern Warfare‘s Price given the timeline.
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) – Introduction of Captain MacMillan, John Price‘s mentor and commanding officer in the SAS.
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare – Lt. John Price steps into the spotlight for the first time as a playable character alongside Soap MacTavish.
Now that we‘ve covered the various versions of Price, let‘s focus in on Modern Warfare‘s iteration and his path towards becoming captain.
The Age Progression of Lt/Capt John Price
Thanks to some brilliant reporting from Call of Duty wiki journalists, we have enough information to piece together a reasonably accurate profile for John Price‘s age and biography across his appearances in the game franchise spanning nearly 15 years!
Here‘s a high level timeline I‘ve compiled for Price‘s age matched against the key events of the various Call of Duty titles he plays a starring role in:
| Year | John Price‘s Age | Call of Duty Title | Key Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Born (0 years old) | – | – Born in the UK |
| 2001 | 16 years old | – | – Joins British Army infantry |
| 2005 | 20 years old | – | – Enters SAS selection |
| 2006 | 21 years old | – | – Promoted to Lieutenant – Serves under Capt MacMillan in SAS |
| 2011 | 29 years old | Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare | – SAS mission in Russia with Soap |
| 2016 | 30 years old | Modern Warfare 2 | – Disavowed from SAS – Task Force 141 formed |
| 2017 | 31 years old | Modern Warfare 3 | – Price labeled war criminal – Goes underground |
| 2019 | 34 years old | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) | – Unite with SAS Captain John Price |
| 2022 | 37 years old | Modern Warfare II | – Shadow Company threat |
Analyzing this timeline data reveals some fascinating insights:
- Price would join the military at just 16 years old as a teenage infantryman before entering the UK‘s elite Special Air Service (SAS) several years later.
- He was already 21 years old by the time he‘s promoted to Lieutenant under Captain MacMillan in the SAS.
- The events of the original Modern Warfare kick off when Price is approximately 29 years old as a newly minted SAS operator.
- Flash forward to today within Cold War universe timeline, Price is now 37 years old(although technically a year YOUNGER than this game canonically!)
Having this visual timeline really connects the dots on Price aging in real-time with each new Call of Duty release to reach 37 years old presently!
Next let‘s examine the real-world roots of Price‘s character design for more perspective.
Basing Price on Real-Life Special Forces Icons
As one of Call of Duty‘s most celebrated virtual heroes, Price‘s personality and background draw inspirations from actual British special forces legends like John McAleese.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19310747/mwcaptainprice.png)
Some experts cite the original Modern Warfare as the pinnacle of the Captain Price character arc
McAleese conducted countless covert operations throughout the 80s and 90s including the renowned Iranian Embassy Siege in London.
Additional reports suggest the affinity for baseball hats drew parallels to American special forces soldiers during 1980‘s conflicts Price may have encountered early in his career.
These real-world connections reinforce Price‘s character as an experienced, storied leader that commands respect across the Call of Duty universe!
Price‘s Pivotal Leadership Dynamics
Beyond his extensive service record, Price‘s legendary status also stems from his strong relationships and leadership with other beloved characters like:
Soap MacTavish
The fiery Scottish SAS commando first introduced in Call of Duty 4 as Price‘s protégé. Their witty rapport and military prowess together cemented Price‘s pop culture icon status.
"What the hell kind of name is Soap, eh? How‘d a muppet like you pass selection?"
– Captain Price to Soap, Call of Duty 4
Ghost
The skull-masked special forces operator served with Price during their peak years in Task Force 141. His quiet intensity paired effectively with Price‘s assertive leadership style.
Shepherd
Price‘s commanding officer turned ultimate betrayer added an arch-nemesis dynamic that drove the drama to new heights during Modern Warfare 2‘s climax.
Analyzing these interpersonal relationships spotlights additional dimensions beyond Price‘s age and background to fully appreciate his standing.
Like a fine wine, the essence of Captain Price only gets better with age having fought through eras of global conflicts from Cold War proxy battles to the War on Terror. Through it all, Price‘s determination, leadership capabilities and strategic prowess has made him the definite cream-of-the-crop as special forces heroes go both within Call of Duty lore and pop culture at large for nearly 15 years running.
So to answer the question plainly: In Modern Warfare canon, Captain John Price is presently 37 years old as of 2022. But the combination of his weathered experience, SAS pedigree, leadership record and real-world operator connections makes Price ageless in many ways as he prepares for the next chapter.
Here‘s to many more Price-centric campaigns allowing us to continue reliving his missions for years to come! This is Captain John Price signing off…for now at least.
