The Unspoken Story of the Cancelled Call of Duty Game
A new video has recently surfaced on Xwitter, showcasing footage from a cancelled Call of Duty game called “NX1” from the early 2000s. The videos feature classic COD elements such as explosions and a first-person perspective, as the character navigates through a disaster. While the accounts sharing these videos remain anonymous, a former Neversoft developer has confirmed their authenticity and shared some details about the project, which was a “futuristic CoD” concept developed even before Call of Duty: Ghosts in 2013.
In the first clip, we get a glimpse of the “Moonbase Assault” level, where, as expected, a portion of the action takes place on a moon base. The video effectively captures the essence of COD gameplay, with intense moments, an astronaut exclaiming, “Let’s get inside!”, and a series of shocks and explosions. The material appears to be of high quality, indicating that the level was already quite advanced in development.
Former Neversoft developer, Brian Bright, provided some context surrounding the leaked footage. He mentioned that Neversoft was experimenting with “low gravity” and the “learning of the engine” after transitioning from the Guitar Hero series to NX1. “I believe it was intended to be a replacement for Ghosts, although I’m not certain,” he said. “We had 2-3 campaign missions and a lot of work on the multiplayer mode (which I was responsible for) before the project was cancelled.”
Another post showcased the game’s multiplayer mode, with a player running around a sandy map in a “free-for-all” mode. It seems like this was an early stage of the game’s development compared to the campaign footage. Once again, the interesting aspects lie in the features surrounding the gameplay. Bright mentioned a map called “Sandstorm” and a mode called “Escort.” According to Bright, Neversoft experimented with both ground vehicles and a “lift” mechanism. Perhaps NX1 had some elements reminiscent of Battlefield?
To conclude the article, it is worth mentioning that Microsoft recently announced nearly two thousand layoffs, affecting Call of Duty developers within Activision. According to reports, 30% of the Sledgehammer Games team lost their jobs. At Infinity Ward, the studio that absorbed Neversoft in 2014, there were also departures. It is possible that the individuals sharing NX1 material are former developers who decided to showcase their work as a rebellious gesture toward the corporation. However, there is no concrete evidence to support this theory.
In terms of the ranking of the best COD campaigns, Call of Duty: Ghosts sits at a relatively low position. If NX1 had a similar style, one can only wonder where it would place. Regardless, it would signify bold experimentation, and in the author’s opinion, that is always a positive aspect in gaming.
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