Modern Warfare Returns: How the New Games Connect to the Landmark 2007-2011 Trilogy
As an ardent Call of Duty fan who has eagerly followed every release since the 2007 original, one of my most burning questions in the lead-up to 2022‘s Modern Warfare 2 was whether it would continue the iconic storylines and characters I grew up with.
I‘ve been desperate to know: do these new titles tie back to the pivotal 2007-2011 trilogy that revolutionized first person shooters, or do they erase that history to start completely fresh?
Does Call of Duty‘s Epic Saga Still Endure?
After playing through thrilling, dramatic campaign that sets the stage for what‘s to come – I can confirm the answer is a resounding yes.
The new Modern Warfare series that launched in 2019 constitutes a direct sequel, with Price, Soap, Ghost and other legendary figures returning older yet still ready for globe-trotting action. Developers Infinity Ward have been clear this reboot interconnects deliberately:
"It is canon. We made that stuff, and we‘re conscious of it. It was deliberate and intentional and all part of the narrative universe."
So how exactly does the continuum work? Having pored through every clue hidden within these stunning new titles powered by today‘s cutting-edge tech, here‘s the breakdown for fellow fans…
Modern Warfare (2019): The Portal Reopens
Emerging six years after the conclusion of 2011‘s Modern Warfare 3, this soft reboot looked to refresh Call of Duty‘s most iconic chapters for a new generation. It revived the realities of desperate proxy wars and blurred battle lines for the online streaming era through slick production and photoreal visuals.
Most importantly, Infinity Ward ensured to re-introduce core characters firmly rooted in established lore:
- Captain John Price: older yet still leading the SAS side-by-side with…
- Kyle "Gaz" Garrick: hinted to be the grandson of the original trilogy‘s Gaz, killed in action during Call of Duty 4
- John "Soap" MacTavish: sporting his classic mohawk cut despite not yet bearing his infamous nickname
These familiar faces ensured a strong link back to the most foundational early Modern Warfare storyline. However it was the ending that firmly cemented the new saga as a full-fledged continuation rather than isolated adventure.
The Shocking Final Moments
In the climatic finale, Price and Nikolai (leader of the Russian Loyalists since 1996‘s original game) reflect on the loss of former comrade Vladimir Makarov. Viewers learn this newly rebooted timeline has already endured the evil Makarov‘s ascendancy, airport massacre and World War 3 instigation depicted across Modern Warfare 2 & 3.
By referencing past events from the 2009 and 2011 chapters, Infinity Ward confirmed this revival to be both sequel and prequel – soon to cover new unexplored conflicts leading into the already known stories many fans can recite verbatim!
Modern Warfare 2 (2022)‘s Pivotal Prequel Tale
This year‘s blockbuster follow-up fulfills the promise of exploring unseen warfare, serving as direct prequel to 2009‘s genre-redefining Modern Warfare 2 classic. Set once again in the current day, its globe-spanning campaign shows how the new Task Force 141 comprising Price, Soap, Ghost and Gaz forms before dealing with the fallout of Shepherd‘s shocking betrayal.
This tense, emotional thrill ride re-introduces more pivotal characters:
- Simon "Ghost" Riley: Killed by Shepherd in MW2, this earlier timeline depicts more of Ghost‘s service
- General Shepherd: Shaping the shadowy agendas that lead him to eventually turn on TF141
Alongside the return of 2009‘s protagonists before their deaths and disbanding, the prequel storytelling approach leaves events perfectly poised to lead directly into where the original MW2 began.
Meticulously Connected Through Details
As someone invested in every piece of lore, I was thrilled to spot minor yet meaningful references like Price inheriting Soap‘s Scottish Fold cat toConfirming the reboot series as positively entrenched in existing canon!
The Franchise Marches Onward Together
While thrilled to revisit Price, Soap and more in today‘s visually jaw-dropping adventures, I had concerns the series might abandon its intricate continuity developed over 15 years in favor chasing the latest trends.
Yet by recommitting to the most classic characters and pivotal unseen chapters, Activision have ensured these rebooted yet still faithful Modern Warfare tales will endure for longtime faithful fans as well as newcomers to its finest moments.
2022‘s enormous early success with a record 538,000 simultaneous Steam players proves this wise strategy has paid off enormously.
The Stage is Set For More Interlinked Stories
With Infinity Ward promising MW2‘s post-credits scene foreshadowing "where the story is heading" across future installments and post-launch content updates.
Price‘s closing words in the original trilogy now carry new meaning:
"History is written by the victor. History is filled with liars. If he lives, and we die, his truth becomes written – and ours is lost."
By returning in these rebooted yet still connected chapters, Soap and his fellow departed comrades may someday get to write futures different than what longtime fans recall.
I for one can‘t wait to join many of you in following the continuing ops of Price, Soap and maybe even Ghost if Infinity Ward wills it to see where the two interlinked timelines lead next!
