Call of Duty has provided additional information regarding its forthcoming crossover with the Warhammer 40,000 franchise, following weeks of rumours and disclosures. A series of Warzone and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3-inspired aesthetics, as seen in a new trailer, are inspired by the factions and characters in action within the game.
A multitude of new games and adaptations have been released in relation to the Warhammer 40,000 series, including crossovers with other media such as special Magic: The Gathering decks and cards and Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader. With the intention of imbuing a multitude of media with the ominous gloom of the distant future, Games Workshop has been diligently striving in recent years to broaden the scope of Warhammer 40,000.
Call of Duty is the most recent game to feel the effects of the Imperium. As promised before when Activision revealed numerous Call of Duty crossover packs, gamers of Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone will be able to dress up as Space Marines and other Warhammer 40,000 characters. A new trailer showcases the cosmetics in action, including new looks for characters, weapons, and actions such as takedown.
The trailer begins with Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 characters posing in a fighting scene and framed in ’tilt shift’ way to resemble legendary Warhammer 40,000 miniatures. The figures then move, displaying clothing inspired by three prominent Imperium factions: the Space Marines of the Adeptus Astartes, troops of the Astra Militarum (commonly known as the Imperial Guard), and the Adepta Sororitas (or Sisters of Battle).
The styles featured in the film also have a specificity to them, with outfits and weapon customisations suggesting certain organisations from the Warhammer 40,000 universe. The Space Marine cosmetics include armour from the Ultramarines and Blood Angels chapters, as well as Juggernaut Skins that resemble Primaris Space Marines in power armour. The Soulrender sword may be skinned to look like an Astartes Chainsword, while the Astra Militarum skins look like historical Cadian Guard uniforms.
Despite being somewhat out of sync with Call of Duty’s modern military aesthetic sense, the idea of a Warhammer 40,000 crossover bringing the grim darkness of the far future (where there is only war) to Call of Duty’s grim darkness of the present (where there is also only war) strikes a chord. Fans of both may find it exciting to imagine modern-day soldiers fighting against caricatured warriors from the year 40,000.
