Activision executive downplays the loss of campaign mode in ‘Black Ops 4’

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4introduces several new elements to the long-running shooter series, including a battle royale mode, but it’s also the first main entry to not include a traditional campaign. It has some players thinking twice about purchasing it in October, but according to Call of Duty executive vice president and general manager Robert Kostich, Activision isn’t worried.

Speaking toGameSpot, Kostich acknowledged fans’ concern over the publisher, and developer Treyarch, choosing not to include a campaign inBlack Ops 4, but stressed that it doesn’t mean narrative is a thing of the past in the series.

“Look, it’s not a dedicated campaign like it was in the past. We’re telling stories differently this year,” he said. “We think our community is going to love this game from end to end, because the has so much to offer. I think what our community is going to love at the end of the day comes down to the gameplay and the fun you have with it.”

Pre-announcement reportsonCall of Duty: Black Ops 4said the game initially had a single-player component, but it was cut as development progressed and it became clear that it wouldn’t be finished by launch day. However, according to Treyarch co-head Dan Bunting, a traditional campaign was actually never in the works at all.

“We always started from the place of, we’re going to make something different with this game that was going to be inspired by how our community was interacting withBlack Ops IIIand the games over the years,” Bunting toldEurogamer.

TheBlack Ops IIIcampaign was already set up a little bit differently than past games, allowing players to complete the missions in any order, if they wished. It still had a linear narrative, however.

The solo missions included inBlack Ops 4will act as introductions to the specialist characters you’ll play as in the multiplayer mode. They’re set between the events ofBlack Ops IIandBlack Ops III, allowing the game to make use of the previous games’ weapons and abilities.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4is out for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC on October 12.