Leaked Advanced Warfare prototype shows off a very different Call of Duty
While we all know the story of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, how many of you know about Call of Duty: Phantom?
09th Sep 2024 12:55
Images via Activision
Leaked Advanced Warfare prototype shows off a very different Call of Duty
While we all know the story of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, how many of you know about Call of Duty: Phantom?
09th Sep 2024 12:55
Images via Activision
As a new Call of Duty rises, the old one fades away. With players enjoying the Black Ops 6 Beta, it's time to accept that Modern Warfare 3's time on this mortal coil is running out. Although a new CoD is coming, fans seem suddenly impressed with the games that could've been.
We only recently covered the canned Call of Duty: Future Warfare, which joins other cancelled projects like Treyarch's Zombies standalone and the third-person Call of Duty: Devil's Brigade. One game that made it through the trenches was 2014's Advanced Warfare, although that was nearly a very different story.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare was nearly Call of Duty: Phantom
A prototype build of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare has leaked
byu/LitheBeep inGamingLeaksAndRumours
Infamous for kickstarting the "jet pack era", Sledgehammer Games took flight with the 11th mainline Call of Duty game in the aftermath of Ghosts. Although Sledgehammer was originally working on a Vietnam-set game, it soon changed over to this futuristic adventure.
With the success of Infinity Ward's Ghosts, you might not be surprised to learn Advanced Warfare was originally called Call of Duty: Phantom. An early prototype of the game has made its way online, showing off the CoD we could've had back in 2014.
This playable build showcases Call of Duty: Phantom in all its glory, including an early mission called Fusion. For those who've played Advanced Warfare, you'll know this eventually became the mission known as Fission.
Using leftovers from Modern Warfare 2 and 3 as placeholders, this build reportedly predates Advanced Warfare by a full 18 months. Fans can clearly see how things evolved, and many are fascinated by this glimpse behind the curtain of how the CoDverse works.
One fan said, "Ngl I'm more interested in these leaked alternate universe games and prototypes than I am with BO6 right now. Also surprised me how it resembled the final product." Another joked, "What this tells me is fundamentally COD has looked and played the same since X360."
It's no secret that Call of Duty hit a crossroads around the time of Advanced Warfare, with Infinity Ward facing its own civil war during the development of Modern Warfare 3. Despite us continuing with annual releases, Advanced Warfare was Sledgehammer's first solo gig.
Advanced Warfare is far from the 'worst' CoD, and where would we be without the "Press ‘F’ to pay respects" meme? Still, the idea of it being called Phantom is an interesting one that suggests we could've got a more Ghosts-esque outing. As for the influx of leaks, we say the more, the merrier when it comes to forgotten CoD games.
About The Author
Tom Chapman
Tom is Trending News Editor at GGRecon, with an NCTJ qualification in Broadcast Journalism and over seven years of experience writing about film, gaming, and television. With bylines at IGN, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, and more, Tom’s love of horror means he's well-versed in all things Resident Evil, with aspirations to be the next Chris Redfield.
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