One way thatCall of Duty: WarzoneandModern Warfarerewards players for tackling achievements andplaying through the campaignis a number of unique operators that can be used in the online multiplayer of both games. However, it would seem that the origins of one of those operators may lead all the way back to the originalModern Warfare, as a reference to one particular character from that game’s opening.
The operator in question is Yegor and his iconic tracksuit, who’s windbreaker can be seen across the map ofCall of Duty: Warzonethanks to the vibrant colors that he often sports. Infinity Ward Art Director, Joel Emslie, claims that the character’s iconic tracksuit is a reference to a character he created all the way back in the originalModern Warfare, although he said nothing about Yegor’s shirtless outfit from the3rd season’s Battle Pass.
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According to Emslie, Yegor’s original look is based off of Imran Zakheav’s son, Victor, fromCall of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, the original game in the trilogy. At the time, tracksuits were a huge look, especially for depictions of Russian characters, and so Emslie decided to through a windbreaker and matching pants on Victor. Yegor’s look is somewhat of a “love letter,” in Emslie’s own words, to Victor’s character, who had only previously made it to the second act of the originalModern Warfare’s campaign.
Yegor’s tracksuit is a love letter to a character that I created 13 years ago for Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. It was for Zakeav’s son, one of the guys that you ride in a car with in the beginning of the game. For some reason tracksuits were big that year. - Joel Emslie
The face and overall physique of Yegor don’t match much to Victor, but for anyone curious about why he would be running into combat with a vibrant tracksuit, this is the reason. This isn’t the first time that Infinity Ward has taken a look at past games to influence the currentModern WarfareandWarzone, with characters returning through the game likeRiley’s cameo in the Battle Pass. It’s likely that there are even more references and Easter eggs that players still haven’t found yet hidden somewhere in the two games.
With some of the most noticeable outfits and more than a few amazing finishing moves, Yegor has become a popular character in his own right, even if his bright colors make him a bit of a hazard forgetting kills inWarzone. However, this clearly won’t stop riskier players from putting on a bright blue, green, or maroon tracksuit and jumping into the fight like they don’t have a huge target on their back. Clearly there is a place among the community for a character that stands out so drastically against the regularly muted colors of the more realisticCall of Dutygame modes.
Call of Duty: Modern WarfareandWarzoneare available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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