Annual Call of Duty Announcement Cycle and Slipstream Leak
It’s typically around this time of year when fans expect to hear news about the upcoming Call of Duty game. This year, a leak has surfaced on Battle.net in the form of an encrypted build, intriguingly named ‘Slipstream’. This has sparked speculation that an official announcement could be imminent.
(Image credit: Activision)
Leak Source and Details
The leak regarding the ‘Slipstream’ build was brought to light by BlizzTrack, an independent site that monitors updates on the Battle.net client. The site’s owner, Helba, reported the discovery of the Slipstream logo alongside Call of Duty 2021 assets within Battle.net’s database.
Helba said on Twitter that they discovered the Slipstream logo “right alongside Call of Duty 2021 assets in Battle.net.”
Further digging into the backend code by Helba suggests that ‘Slipstream’, also internally referred to as ‘Fore’, is likely to have an alpha release, which aligns with the typical pre-launch pattern for Call of Duty titles.
Logo Analysis and Speculation
The ‘Slipstream’ logo has been analyzed for clues about the upcoming Call of Duty game’s setting. The design elements of the logo seem to support the strong rumors that the game will be set during World War 2. This speculation is further bolstered by potential connections to other media, such as a 2008 World War 2 radio drama that shares the same name, ‘Slipstream’.
- Possible World War 2 setting
- References to historical media
Codenames and Branding
During the development process, studios often use codenames for games before their official titles are announced or decided. The codename ‘Slipstream’ may or may not have a significant connection to the final branding of the game. Below is a table comparing the codenames to their potential final names.
| Codename | Potential Final Name |
|---|---|
| Slipstream | Call of Duty: Vanguard |
| Fore | Call of Duty 2021 |
Anticipation for Official Reveal
The multiple codenames, including ‘Slipstream’, ‘Fore’, and the last known ‘Call of Duty: Vanguard’, have created a sense of confusion and anticipation among fans. The community is eagerly awaiting an official reveal from Activision to clarify the details and set the record straight about the next installment in the Call of Duty series.
