In recent years, Call of Duty has felt like it was floundering for ideas a bit. The franchise had extreme early success with its initial World War II setting, but fatigue set in as every other major and minor game developer threw their lot into the Nazi shooting escapades of the 1940s. After their initially successful modern pivot, the franchise seemed to lose its footing and quickly became the shorthand for dismissing gamers as immature online trolls who are somehow sexually prolific with each and every mother on Earth. But there’s hope thanks to Call of Duty: WWII, 2017’s upcoming release. All signs point to a respectful, impactful game, where the developer aimed less for the demigod status of previous entries and more for the terrifying randomness of the actual war. The main single player experience follows a young private on his first experience of warfare during the invasion of Europe and early gameplay emphasizes the fear and overwhelming anxiety of the Western Front. It’s the first time in nearly a decade we’ve really cared about what Call of Duty is doing, so here’s hoping they don’t fall into old bad habits.
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Huckberry’s Essential Holiday Gift Guide
Unzip your coat and have some mulled wine on the house—you’ve arrived at your final gifting destination: The Holiday Gift Guide. It’s like your friendly neighborhood one-stop holiday shop, except instead of balsa wood ornaments, ours is packed with thoughtful gifts for everyone on your list. Future heirlooms, small-but-significant stocking stuffers, and gear for getting out there (or staying in)—are all right here. There’s no music playing in the background though, so you’ll just have to hum Bing Crosby while you click around instead.
