For years, Call of Duty campaigns have established a narrative in which the United States acts as the agent of order against foreign enemies. From the battlefields of World War II to the complexities of contemporary conflicts, this narrative has been a fundamental pillar of the franchise. However, the rise of a more nuanced global landscape has led key thinkers within the series to reconsider this representation.
With escort just in case
Glen Schofield, former director of Call of Duty, revealed that his decision not to point to a specific country as an enemy began after a disturbing experience during a press tour for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. After receiving an offer to travel to Russia with an escort, Schofield felt a deep discomfort. “I don’t feel better about it,” he commented, reflecting on the insecurity that this type of environment could represent. This episode led him to commit to changing the focus in future games, preferring antagonists that were not nations, but corporate entities and private military companies.
The impact of this narrative choice was clearly felt in the production of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, where the antagonists are portrayed as corporations instead of countries. Schofield, at a dinner with journalists, articulated his desire to be able to visit different territories without the fear of being labeled as an enemy, which drove him to transform the representation of the villain in the series.
This evolution in the narrative approach reflects an adaptation not only to the perception of war today, but also to concerns about how nations are represented in video games, a topic that has gained critical relevance in contemporary culture.
