Call of Duty: WWII

Gameplay

Call of Duty: WWII is a first-person shooter game. Not similar to its recent predecessors, it removes the advanced system of movement present in the two previous Call of Duty titles, which included double jumping and wall running. Instead, it features a return of traditional movement to the series, taking it back to an original "boots on the ground" (which refers to non-aerial ground combat) gameplay style. The game features an unlimited sprint mechanic, seen in the previous two titles. Instead of a "slide" movement mechanic, which allowed players to slide quickly on the ground, WWII features a "hit-the-deck" mechanic that allows the player to leap forward and throw themselves on the ground in order to get to cover quickly, similarly to a previous mechanic known as "dolphin dive" in Treyarch's Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops II.

Campaign

WWII is the first title since the original game and Call of Duty 2: Big Red One not to feature health regeneration in the campaign. Instead, players must find health packs scattered throughout levels, or rely on their medic squadmate to provide health packs. Other members of the player's squad can provide ammunition, grenades, call in mortar strikes, or spot enemies and reveal their position in form of silhouettes. In certain sections of the game, enemy soldiers in the campaign can be captured, and wounded allies can be dragged to cover. In some parts of the campaign, players are able to control vehicles.

Multiplayer

The multiplayer mode for Call of Duty: WWII was revealed on E3 2017, which took place from June 13–15. Sledgehammer Games announced features such as the new headquarters social space, divisions, war mode and the return to "boots-on-the-ground" gameplay. Players who pre-ordered the game were invited to a closed beta, which was released initially for the PlayStation 4, and later released on other platforms.

In online multiplayer matches, players are randomly assigned either to Allies or Axis side. With regards to playing as the latter, Glen Schofield, co-founder and co-studio head at Sledgehammer, said "We also make a distinction between the SS and the German regular army", clarifying "The big distinction that Germans still make today is that between the German military and the Nazis. We made sure we made that distinction in the game, that the Germans were doing their duty". Jörg Friedrich, one of the developers of Through the Darkest of Times, criticized this choice for promulgating the "myth of the clean Wehrmacht", a false revisionist claim that regular Wehrmacht forces, unlike the Waffen-SS, were not involved in war crimes or culpable for the Holocaust. Other critics have argued that the distinction between Wehrmacht soldiers and the Nazi party is not meaningful when the former's actions helped advance the latter's genocidal activities. They also argue that play as these factions gradually numbs the audience's reaction to and normalizes an otherwise abhorrent group.

Instead of the usual create-a-class system, WWII features Divisions. Players can choose one of five (later eight) divisions, each with their own different basic combat training, division training, and weapon skills. Players need to progress through ranks in divisions in order to use additional perks, in addition to a global perk system named Basic Training. The divisions featured in the game are: Infantry, Airborne, Armored, Mountain, and Expeditionary. Additional divisions, Resistance, Cavalry, and Commando, were added throughout 2018 as part of post-release updates. The Divisions system received an overhaul in April 2018 to address balancing issues.

WWII also features Headquarters mode, which acts as a social space in the game. The hub is set on the Omaha Beach in Normandy, three days after the invasion when Allies retake the beach and turn it into a base. 48 players can be in the Headquarters at a time, and take part in various activities. For example, players can watch other players open loot boxes while in the Headquarters. There is a firing range in the hub, where all players can practice their shooting skills with all weapons, as well as a field where they can test scorestreaks. There are also areas where players can engage in "1v1" fights, as other players watch the duels.

Nazi Zombies

WWII includes a zombies cooperative game mode, similar to previous entries by Treyarch and Infinity Ward, with its own original storyline set in alternate history and separate from the campaign. The game mode, dubbed Nazi Zombies in reference to its first iteration in Treyarch's Call of Duty: World at War, is also set in the events of World War II, as the Third Reich makes a desperate attempt to turn the tide of the war by creating an undead army in the final stages of the war. While the mode is based on science-fiction and is a fictional take on the war, Sledgehammer Games co-founder Michael Condrey said that the story of the mode is based on some "real events". He also revealed that the experience is similar to Dead Space, a third person shooter horror video game directed by both Condrey and Schofield during their work time at EA Redwood Shores.

In regards to gameplay, Nazi Zombies retains the wave-based survival formula that have been used in all previous Zombies entries, with new additions. A class system is introduced, where players can opt for one of four combat roles: Offense, Control, Medic and Support, which provide different in-game abilities. Class loadouts are also included, with equippable Raven Mods, which are perks similar to the multiplayer mode. Sledgehammer Games also attempted to rationalize some of the popular mechanics, such as weapon wallbuys and currencies, with realistic explanation that fit within the lore of the game mode. Nazi Zombies includes a hint system, where portions of the main story quest are given directional hints for players to find and progress. In regards to the story quest, Sledgehammer's creative director Cameron Dayton reveals that there is a "casual path" for new and casual players where they can progress with the story, while a "hardcore" path, which is considered the official canon, exists with hidden objectives, and expands more on the story beyond what the casual path contains.

Plot

Campaign

On June 6, 1944, United States Army Private First Class Ronald "Red" Daniels (Brett Zimmerman), of the 16th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division, assaults Omaha Beach with his platoon as part of the Normandy landings, accompanied by PFC Robert Zussman (Jonathan Tucker), Technician Fifth Grade Frank Aiello (Jeff Schine), and Private Drew Stiles (Kevin Coubal); as well as the abrasive and alcoholic Technical Sergeant William Pierson (Josh Duhamel) and First Lieutenant Joseph Turner (Jeffrey Pierce). Zussman is stabbed by a German soldier during the battle, but recovers after being dragged to safety by Daniels. On July 25 and 26, the platoon accompanies the 745th Tank Battalion as part of Operation Cobra, liberating the town of Marigny; Daniels learns that Pierson was demoted after recklessly leading his men to their deaths during the Battle of Kasserine Pass.

On August 20, the platoon is ordered by Colonel Davis (Matt Riedy) to conduct an operation with British Special Operations Executive officers Arthur Crowley (David Alpay) and Vivian Harris (Helen Sadler) to intercept and destroy a German armored train carrying V-2 rockets, rendezvousing with French resistance member Camille "Rousseau" Denis (Bella Dayne). On August 25, Rousseau and Crowley infiltrate a German garrison in Paris to retrieve explosives in preparation for the platoon's assault upon it. Rousseau places explosives on the entrance and assassinates Gestapo officer Heinrich (J. Paul Boehmer) when he discerns her true identity, allowing the platoon to liberate the city.

On October 18, the platoon assaults Aachen, supported by an M4 Sherman tank commanded by Staff Sergeant Augustine Pérez (Christian Lanz) of the 745th Tank Battalion. After liberating a hotel, they discover civilians sheltering within the basement, and Turner orders their evacuation despite Pierson's objections. After Daniels rescues a young girl named Anna (Lilith Max), German soldiers open fire on a truck carrying the civilians, killing Anna's older sister, Erica. Pierson sends the truck away without protection. On November 14, the platoon is ordered to capture Hill 493 during the Battle of Hürtgen Forest. Pierson and Zussman are tasked with advancing towards the hill, while Daniels and Turner cover them until they can meet at the bottom. However, Turner's squad discovers that Pierson ordered an early attack on the hill, forcing them to join in. The platoon destroys artillery positions, but are attacked by a Tiger II. Daniels is injured in the process of destroying the tank, and Turner sacrifices himself to cover the platoon's escape after rescuing him. In the aftermath, Pierson becomes head of the platoon, promoting Daniels to corporal.

Development

Call of Duty: World War II is the second game in the Call of Duty franchise developed by Sledgehammer Games, and the fourth to benefit under publisher Activision's three-year development cycle (the first being Sledgehammer's Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare) in order for a longer development time for each game. A new Call of Duty title set in World War II was alluded to in a 2014 Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare launch interview with Michael Condrey, co-founder of Sledgehammer Games. In the interview by Metro, the interviewer asked him what the possibilities of where the next Call of Duty could go in terms of setting. Condrey responded, "Some of my favorite pieces of entertainment are set in World War II." Band of Brothers, I'm a massive fan of Band of Brothers." Condrey dived further into the subject, "And that's a great hero's war, kind of the last that was recognized as a noble cause in a war. So yeah, I think a next generation game with the latest production values and robustness in a World War II setting like Band of Brothers would be amazing. Now, how would it play and how would the multiplayer work after the new movement set in Advanced Warfare? That's a tougher question than I've had to tackle yet…". The game runs on an upgraded version of Sledgehammer Games' in-house custom engine from Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare.

Sledgehammer Games was hesitant to reveal all the authentic settings from World War II that developers have put into the game's storyline. Activision initially refused to deny claims that Nazi extermination camps would be featured in the game. Adam Rosenberg of Mashable wrote that video games set during World War II tended to be "Holocaust deniers" in the sense that they avoided broaching the subject for business reasons, but that this could be the very first Call of Duty World War II based game where the Holocaust would be depicted. Senior creative director Bret Robbins said in an interview "Some very, very dark things happened during this conflict and it felt wrong for us to ignore that." He further stated "We absolutely show atrocities. It's an unfortunate part of the history, but you can't tell an authentic, truthful story without going there. So we went there." Robbins argued that audiences can now handle games with more maturity and nuance, "People are ready for it. They want it", he said. When asked directly over Twitter as to whether or not the story campaign would allow gamers the opportunity to play as soldiers from the Axis powers such as Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, Sledgehammer Games confirmed that the campaign gameplay would be limited to Allied forces. More specifically, Sledgehammer co-founder Michael Condrey confirmed that the game will focus exclusively on the Allied powers.

Release

The game was released worldwide on November 3, 2017, for PlayStation 4, Windows and Xbox One.

Downloadable content

Call of Duty: WWII offers four downloadable content map packs, each containing three regular multiplayer maps, one War map, and one Nazi Zombies map. Players who purchased the Season Pass, which granted access to all four map packs on release, also received "Carentan", a remake of the multiplayer map of the same name featured in Call of Duty and Call of Duty 2.

On December 19, 2017, Activision released a preview trailer for the first downloadable content pack, The Resistance, containing three new multiplayer maps: "Anthropoid", "Valkyrie", "Occupation" (the latter of which is a remake of "Resistance" from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3); one new War map: "Operation Intercept"; and one new Nazi Zombies map: "The Darkest Shore". The map pack was released January 30, 2018, first on PlayStation 4, and on March 1 for Xbox One and Steam.

On April 6, 2018, Activision announced the second downloadable content pack, The War Machine, containing 3 multiplayer maps: "Egypt", "Dunkirk", and "V2"; 1 new War map:" Operation Husky"; and 1 new Nazi Zombies map: "The Shadowed Throne". The map pack was released on April 17, 2018, first on PlayStation 4, and on May 17 for Xbox One and Steam.

On June 19, 2018, Activision announced the third downloadable content pack, United Front, containing three multiplayer maps: "Monte Cassino", "Market Garden", and "Stalingrad"; one new War map: "Operation Supercharge"; and three new Nazi Zombies maps: "Into the Storm", "Across the Depth", and "Beneath the Ice", referred to collectively as "The Tortured Path". The map pack was released on June 26, 2018, first on PlayStation 4, and on July 26 for Xbox One and Steam.

On August 23, 2018, Activision announced the fourth and final downloadable content pack, Shadow War, containing three multiplayer maps: "Airship", "Chancellery", and "Excavation"; one new War map: "Operation Arcane"; and one new Nazi Zombies map: "The Frozen Dawn". The map pack was released on August 28, 2018, first on PlayStation 4, and on September 27 for Xbox One and Steam.

In addition to the map packs, the game also received several free multiplayer maps as part of seasonal events. On December 7, 2017, Sledgehammer released "Winter Carentan", a winter-themed version of the "Carentan" map, to all players as part of the Winter Siege event. On March 13, 2018, "Shipment 1944", a remake of the map "Shipment" from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was released to all season pass holders, and to all players three days after. On April 17, Sledgehammer Games introduced a new map, HQ, based on the same Headquarters social hub, as a playable map in several party modes. On May 29, the Nazi Zombies map "Gröesten Haus" was brought into multiplayer as a playable map for zombie-themed game modes as part of the Attack of the Undead event. On July 30, a new map, "Sandbox", was added for free to all PlayStation 4 players as part of the Days of Summer event, and on August 30 for Xbox One and Steam players.

Reception

Pre-release

Before the game's release, its sparse use of the Swastika symbol, as well as the diversity of playable German soldiers in the online multiplayer, drew some criticism. During E3 2017, Sledgehammer co-founder Michael Condrey explained that swastikas were removed from the multiplayer and Zombies modes as "Including Nazi symbols wouldn't bring honor, nor be appropriate, without the rich history of a WW2 story to ground their context in Multiplayer" and that the multiplayer experiences were "shared, global ones, so we needed to adhere to local laws and regulations", referring to Germany's censorship laws on the imagery of swastikas. On the other hand, swastikas would be included in the campaign, stemming from wanting to be "historically accurate and tell the story we wanted to tell ... the best way to represent history, which was very important to us." Condrey also empathized with complaints that including black and female German soldiers in the multiplayer was historically inaccurate (as in reality Nazi Germany never recruited people from such denominations), saying he wanted the game to appeal to a diverse audience and being reflected in their player avatar: "it's also about putting you - this is about you - in World War 2 ... that evolution of your character means it's important for us to allow you to choose to be you, and to have a hero that represents who you are, whomever you choose that to be."

Post-release

Call of Duty: WWII received "generally favorable" reviews from critics for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, while the PC version received "mixed or average" reviews, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.

Miguel Concepcion of GameSpot awarded the game a 9/10, writing that the campaign was "moving" and "salutes the brotherhood that grows and strengthens on the battlefield" with "a supporting cast of well-crafted personalities", as well as praising the game's "excellent visuals and sound design". In his 8.5/10 review for EGMNow, Nick Plessas similarly wrote that the campaign's protagonists were "well characterized and [...] the cause for the game's most impactful conflicts". He praised the lack of regenerating health which gave the game "new levels of strategy and exploration, ultimately adding more entertainment than frustration", and that the reliance on fellow soldiers "necessitates more strategic positioning and resource management".

IGN's Miranda Sanchez awarded the game 8/10, saying the campaign was a "more human perspective than we've seen in recent years", with interesting and diverse characters. However, she criticized some action sequences for conflicting with the game's serious tone, as well as several repetitive and frustrating missions. She wrote that the Zombies was the standout mode in the game, which helped strike "a rewarding balance for the diehard zombies fans [...] and those that just want to jump in and have a good time", although criticized that the experience suffered when playing with other people. Daniel Tack from Game Informer gave the game an 8.75/10, stating that he felt the campaign was the only drawback overall; despite capturing a "signature explosive feel through various adrenaline-fueled moments", he thought progression felt tedious as a result of "standard gunplay and endless killing fields". He praised the multiplayer as the "shining star of the three modes", especially enjoying the game's new War mode in terms of its variety, and highlighted the return to the traditional gameplay and range of customization options.

GameRevolution's Jason Faulkner complained that storming German emplacements from the sea was already in Medal of Honor: Frontline, Call of Duty 2 and Battlefield 1942 and similar mission in Call of Duty: WWII had "a very “been there done that” feel". However, he notes that some missions in the game "stand out among the best in the series". Also, he agrees that "The production quality is excellent".

Sales

The game earned over US$500 million within its first three days of release. On December 20, 2017, it was announced that the game had generated over $1 billion in worldwide revenue, and was the highest-grossing console game of the year in North America and second highest in the United Kingdom. By the end of 2017, the game had over 20.7 million players, 12.1 million players on PlayStation 4, 7.8 million players on Xbox One, and 825,000 players on Steam.

The PlayStation 4 version sold 168,234 copies within its first week on sale in Japan, making it the best-selling game of that week in the country.

Swatting incident

Not long after WWII was released, a fatal incident occurred in which Ohio resident Casey Viner, angered over friendly fire that ruined an online match in a tournament that cost $1.50 in betting, threatened to swat his teammate, Wichita resident Shane Gaskill. Gaskill posted his previous home address in McCormick and challenged Viner to swat him. Viner contacted Los Angeles resident Tyler Barriss, who called the Wichita Police Department (WPD) claiming to have murdered his father and taken his mother and sibling hostage. He provided them with the McCormick address used by Gaskill. WPD officers arrived at the address, now occupied by 28-year-old Andrew Finch. A single officer, Justin Rapp, shot and killed Finch, claiming he believed Finch reached for his waistband.