Is CoD Ghosts Canon to MW?

The straightforward answer after analyzing all available information: No, Call of Duty: Ghosts does not share canonical ties or narrative continuity with the Modern Warfare games. The two popular first-person shooter franchises exist entirely in their own separate fictional universes.

The Core Modern Warfare Series Timeline and Story Arc

The various Modern Warfare games featuring iconic characters like Captain Price, Soap MacTavish, and Ghost are directly connected through ongoing story threads across titles:

• Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2011) – Introduces key figures like SAS operatives Price and Soap during a civil war in Russia
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2016) – Price and Soap track down Vladimir Makarov, a dangerous Russian terrorist, after he initiates World War 3 between Russia and the USA
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2017) – Details the climax of Price and Soap‘s journey to bring Makarov to justice and end the global conflict
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) – A series reboot featuring the dramatic return of Price, multiplayer Operator skins of classic characters like Ghost, but centered on new SAS recruit Kyle Garrick

As evident from the ongoing plot and character arcs, the Modern Warfare series represents one cohesive fictional universe and canon spanning several titles.

Call of Duty: Ghosts – A Standalone Story in its Own Universe

In contrast, 2013‘s Call of Duty: Ghosts stars its own distinct cast of protagonists and occurs within an entirely isolated continuity. Set in a near future where the Middle East dominates the globe, Ghosts follows brothers Logan and Hesh Walker, members of an elite American military unit named the Ghosts. Their father Elias leads the squad as they wage guerilla warfare against a oppressive alliance named The Federation.

Despite the similar "Ghosts" squad name and masked soldier aesthetic, developer Infinity Ward has never officially connected the story of Ghosts to the modern-era events of the Modern Warfare series canon. Based on all in-game evidence and creative director statements, these do not share narrative continuity.

Ghosts was intended to kick-off a brand new sub-franchise within the expansive Call of Duty universe – essentially developing its own multi-title canon focusing on the Walker family and their high-tech allies. However, lackluster reception from critics and comparatively underwhelming sales seem to have halted any potential sequels.

Any Connecting Story Threads Appear to be Just Easter Eggs

Upon superficial inspection, the inclusion of elite spec-ops units called "Ghosts" in both franchises – along with a masked soldier named Simon "Ghost" Riley appearing in Modern Warfare 2 – may imply some deeper storyline connection. However, these seem to just be fun references rather than tangible proof of shared narrative continuity between the universes.

Simon Riley and the iconic balaclava-clad Ghost operator skin remain pivotal figures in Modern Warfare lore. But Riley originating from the UK‘s SAS has no tangible relationship to the Walker family‘s "Ghosts" clan of technologically-augmented American militia fighters in the nominal Ghosts spin-off title.

So in summary, no explicit evidence links the plots and characters of Ghosts sharing the same canonical reality as the Modern Warfare games.

Most Call of Duty Games Exist in Their Own Separate Fictional Universes

Analyzing the high-level landscape of Call of Duty game settings reveals a broader trend of isolated continuities rather than interconnected story threads between seemingly disparate titles. For example:

• Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (2054) – Futuristic setting starring soldier Jack Mitchell with exosuit abilities and drone technology
• Call of Duty: Black Ops – Cold War (early 1980s) – Sequel to original Black Ops, return of Alex Mason and Frank Woods on mission during the Cold War era
• Call of Duty: WWII (1944-1945) – Battlefield exploits of Ronald "Red" Daniels during key WW2 events

The above showcase wildly different premise and charactersoccupying their own realities unconnected to the core Modern Warfare series.

The main exception is the Black Ops saga interweaving settings from Cold War-era through future 2070s – creating its own multi-title canon steering away from distinctly standalone narratives.

Summary of Major Call of Duty Timelines

As the above comparison indicates, Call of Duty: Ghosts occupies its own independent setting and timeline separate from the canonical Modern Warfare universe.

In conclusion, Call of Duty: Ghosts and Modern Warfare do not share narrative continuity or canon links based on all available information. The only common threads appear to be superficial Easter egg-style references rather than evidence of tangible story connections tying these universes together. They seem destined to remain standalone franchises in the Call of Duty meta lore landscape.