Ghost Returns: Analyzing the Evidence on His Fate in Modern Warfare II
As a hardcore COD fan and content creator, I‘ve been eagerly awaiting official confirmation on whether the legendary Ghost returns in this year‘s blockbuster reboot, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. Rumors and leaks have been swirling for months, but with the game now released, we can closely examine the proof to determine if Ghost somehow survived his untimely death over a decade ago.
Revisiting Ghost‘s Shocking Death in 2009‘s Modern Warfare 2
To recap Ghost‘s background for newcomers…
In the original MW2‘s climax, Ghost meets an explosive demise when he‘s betrayed by General Shepherd in one of the most shocking plot twists in Call of Duty history. This long fueled speculation that Ghost could come back in future COD titles.
Indications of Ghost Living On in Alternate COD Continuities
Despite his death in MW2, Ghost has made appearances in several other Call of Duty games over the years – implying he survived in alternate universes or timelines:
- Call of Duty: Heroes (mobile game)
- Find Makarov: Operation Kingfish (animated prequel)
- Call of Duty: Online (Chinese PC game)
So while Ghost definitively died in the MW2 storyline many of us grew up with, it seemed Infinity Ward left the door open to his return by keeping the character alive in adjuvant COD properties.
My Theory: Ghost Survived Thanks to Captain Price
Personally, I wouldn‘t be surprised if Infinity Ward retcons Ghost‘s death completely in the new MW2.
- Perhaps Price discovered Ghost‘s body before the fire consumed him, quickly stabilizing his old friend similar to how he saved Soap.
- This would perfectly set up Ghost recovering from his wounds off-grid before his triumphant return to duty in the 2022 MW2.
There‘s circumstantial evidence backing this up – Price wears Ghost‘s balaclava under his hat in 2019‘s Modern Warfare reboot. A subtle hint that Price saved Ghost? Their brotherly bond makes me think it‘s possible.
Analyzing Leaked Proof of Ghost‘s MW2 Return
For months, rumors and leaks have indicated Ghost would be back in 2022‘s MW2, and now I can confirm these suspicions were TRUE!
Promotional Art
First, official art surfaced showing Ghost alongside Price, Farah, Soap and Gaz with the MWII logo. This strongly implied Ghost would be a main cast member:
[image]Activision immediately issued DMCA takedowns which all but validated it was real leaked art.
Playable Operator
Dataminers uncovered Ghost as a playable MP operator, meaning players can equip and control him:
Campaign Appearances
Lastly, gameplay leaks revealed Ghost appearing prominently in MWII‘s story campaign.
[Videos/images showing Ghost in mission cutscenes]This conclusively proves Ghost returns in major capacity, not just a cameo.
Implications of Ghost‘s Return in Modern Warfare II
Bringing Ghost back has massive implications for MWII‘s campaign and overall lore:
- Multiverse Theory? Does MWII introduce parallel universes, or somehow rewrite the original MW2 events?
- Off-Grid Activity? What has Ghost been secretly up to in the years since his reported death?
- Shepherd‘s Return? If Ghost is back, does this foreshadow the return of General Shepherd as well?
I‘ll cover some theories and speculation around these ideas in a future post!
For now, I think all COD fans can celebrate Ghost finally resuming his rightful place alongside Soap and Price in TF141 – turning the triumvirate we tragically lost over a decade ago whole once again.
I don‘t know about you all, but I can‘t wait to don the iconic skull mask myself when Modern Warfare II launches October 28th! This fan-favorite character returning brings MW2‘s hype to a whole new level. See you all online!
