# Captain Price
**Captain John Price**, callsign **Bravo Six**, is a fictional British Special Air Service officer and one of the central characters of the *Call of Duty* franchise, introduced in the World War II timeframe in the original *Call of Duty* and subsequently featured in *Call of Duty 2* as a World War II captain and redefined as the lead of the *Modern Warfare* subseries from 2007 onward.[1](https://callofduty.fandom.com/wiki/John_Price) • [2](https://www.gamesradar.com/best-game-characters/) • [18](https://blog.activision.com/call-of-duty/archives/call-of-duty-and-world-war-ii-a-brief-history) In the rebooted continuity that began with *Call of Duty: Modern Warfare* (2019), he leads Task Force 141 alongside Lieutenant Simon "Ghost" Riley, Sergeant Kyle "Gaz" Garrick, and Sergeant Johnny "Soap" MacTavish.[3](https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/call-of-duty/early-access-for-the-call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-campaign-is-live-heres-our-spoiler-free-first-impressions)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Rank and unit | Captain, 22nd Regiment SAS; aliases include Old Man, Prisoner 627, and Black Viking[4](https://www.callofduty.com/uk/en/modern-warfare-remastered/landing/play-the-price) |
| Callsign | Bravo Six[1](https://callofduty.fandom.com/wiki/John_Price) |
| Earliest confirmed operation | 1996, Pripyat Exclusion Zone, with Captain MacMillan, against arms dealer Imran Zakhaev[4](https://www.callofduty.com/uk/en/modern-warfare-remastered/landing/play-the-price) |
| Command | Took charge of the multinational special operations unit Task Force 141[4](https://www.callofduty.com/uk/en/modern-warfare-remastered/landing/play-the-price) |
| Portrayal | Billy Murray voiced Price in *Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare*, *Modern Warfare 2*, and *Modern Warfare 3*; Barry Sloane portrays him in the rebooted series[1](https://callofduty.fandom.com/wiki/John_Price) • [5](https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/call-of-duty/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-reveal) |
| First Modern Warfare appearance | 2007, in *Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare*[2](https://www.gamesradar.com/best-game-characters) |
| Current status | A wanted fugitive at the start of *Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4* (2026), after shooting US General Shepherd[5](https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/call-of-duty/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-reveal) • [6](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/call-of-duty/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-review-in-progress-a-campaign-you-shouldnt-skip/) |
## Character background
Price's in-universe file is heavily redacted, and the official character biography presents several conflicting origin stories: that he was an orphan in [Aldershot](https://www.edgepedia.org/aldershot) taken in by an elderly [Bernard Montgomery](https://www.edgepedia.org/bernard-montgomery), that he was born at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, or that he was the grandson of a 7th Armored Division member who died sabotaging the Tirpitz in World War II.[4](https://www.callofduty.com/uk/en/modern-warfare-remastered/landing/play-the-price) His earliest confirmed operation was in 1996, when, as a lieutenant, he deployed with his commanding officer Captain MacMillan to the Exclusion Zone around Pripyat, Ukraine, on a mission to intercept and eliminate the Russian ultranationalist arms dealer Imran Zakhaev. The attempt failed, and the pair fought their way out through the radioactive ghost town; the failure to kill Zakhaev was later described as costly.[4](https://www.callofduty.com/uk/en/modern-warfare-remastered/landing/play-the-price)
The official biography describes him as an elite seek-and-strike expert, an excellent sniper and saboteur, and a soldier whose second skill is developing relationships with top-tier operators across the globe.[7](https://blog.activision.com/call-of-duty/2020-06/Command-the-field-of-battle-with-Captain-Price-Available-in-the-Season-Four-Battle-Pass) Commentators have noted that the character design draws on real-world sources; it is widely stated that SAS soldier [John McAleese](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-mcaleese), known for his role in the [Iranian Embassy siege](https://www.edgepedia.org/iranian-embassy-siege), was a key inspiration, though the character's survival of repeated near-death experiences places him firmly in the action-hero rather than documentary tradition.[8](https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/wiki/how-realistic-is-captain-price/)
## The original Modern Warfare trilogy (2007–2011)
Price became the unofficial face of the *Modern Warfare* brand from his zip-lining introduction in *Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare* (2007).[9](https://www.psu.com/news/in-the-spotlight-captain-price/) In *Modern Warfare 2* (2009) he spends the first half of the story imprisoned in a Russian gulag under the designation Prisoner 627, until a rescue led by Soap MacTavish extricates him; after his rescue he is reinstated into the task force and resumes his role as a captain.[9](https://www.psu.com/news/in-the-spotlight-captain-price/) • [1](https://callofduty.fandom.com/wiki/John_Price)
A 2011 quote from the character, "Have to trust someone to be betrayed. I never did.", was used by [Activision](https://www.edgepedia.org/activision) in promotional material for his later return as an Operator.[7](https://blog.activision.com/call-of-duty/2020-06/Command-the-field-of-battle-with-Captain-Price-Available-in-the-Season-Four-Battle-Pass)
## The rebooted continuity (2019–present)
The 2019 reboot of the subseries again centers Task Force 141, with Price, Ghost, Gaz, and Soap conducting clandestine global counter-terrorism work.[3](https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/call-of-duty/early-access-for-the-call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-campaign-is-live-heres-our-spoiler-free-first-impressions) In the campaign, Price partners with the CIA and the Urzikstani Liberation Force to retrieve stolen chemical weapons from the terrorist organization Al-Qatala, while the former [British Army](https://www.edgepedia.org/british-army) officer Kyle Garrick joins him in a widening series of clandestine operations.[10](https://blog.activision.com/call-of-duty/2020-05/Call-of-Duty-Modern-Warfare-The-Story-So-Far) After the campaign's events, Price gathers dossiers to recruit Task Force 141 to counter the terrorist threat in Verdansk and the remnants of Al-Qatala.[7](https://blog.activision.com/call-of-duty/2020-06/Command-the-field-of-battle-with-Captain-Price-Available-in-the-Season-Four-Battle-Pass) He was also made available as a playable Operator in the Season Four Battle Pass of *Modern Warfare* (2020), with skins referencing the campaign missions "The Embassy" and "Clean House".[7](https://blog.activision.com/call-of-duty/2020-06/Command-the-field-of-battle-with-Captain-Price-Available-in-the-Season-Four-Battle-Pass)
**Modern Warfare 4.** The last players saw of Price before *Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4* was a post-credit scene in *Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3* (2023) in which he shot US General Shepherd in his office.[5](https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/call-of-duty/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-reveal) The new game opens with the ramifications of that action: Price is on the run and short on allies, and his story runs parallel to that of a second squad of young Korean soldiers and US Marines stationed in Seoul, where a full-scale invasion on the Korean Peninsula drives the plot.[5](https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/call-of-duty/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-reveal) • [11](https://www.techradar.com/gaming/price-returns-in-modern-warfare-4-for-a-call-of-duty-campaign-that-feels-both-blockbuster-in-scale-and-grounded-in-authenticity) The game, which launched on October 23 for current-gen consoles including [Nintendo Switch 2](https://www.edgepedia.org/nintendo-switch-2), features a 13-mission campaign across three acts taking players to New York City, Paris, and Mumbai.[11](https://www.techradar.com/gaming/price-returns-in-modern-warfare-4-for-a-call-of-duty-campaign-that-feels-both-blockbuster-in-scale-and-grounded-in-authenticity) • [5](https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/call-of-duty/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-reveal) Reviewers noted a change in the character: after years as the series' most recognizable good guy, Price is written as harsher here, with the game treating the tension in his conduct as part of the point.[6](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/call-of-duty/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-review-in-progress-a-campaign-you-shouldnt-skip/) • [12](https://www.gamesradar.com/games/call-of-duty/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-review/) During the game's beta, his hair rendered incorrectly at the lowest level of detail, prompting viral mockery under the nickname "Lieutenant Cost" and a promised fix from [Infinity Ward](https://www.edgepedia.org/infinity-ward).[13](https://www.gamesradar.com/games/call-of-duty/after-call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-beta-devs-promise-to-fix-captain-prices-hair-as-his-unexpected-balding-goes-viral/)
## Reception and cultural presence
GamesRadar's list of the most iconic video game characters describes Price as "as cockney as a plate of gun-toting jellied eels" and the breakout star of *Call of Duty: Modern Warfare*, dating his first appearance to 2007.[2](https://www.gamesradar.com/best-game-characters) [PC Gamer](https://www.edgepedia.org/pc-gamer)'s survey of the series' characters observes that Price "shouldn't be likeable", given his conduct across the campaigns, yet exudes the demeanor of an endearingly drunk uncle.[14](https://www.pcgamer.com/call-of-duty-best-characters/) [Academic writing](https://www.edgepedia.org/academic-writing) on the series has treated him as the character through whom the games' political positions are rationalized, and as a mentor figure and narrative driver rather than a conventional player avatar.[15](https://www.scss.tcd.ie/publications/theses/diss/2021/TCD-SCSS-DISSERTATION-2021-006.pdf) • [16](https://dl.digra.org/index.php/dl/article/download/2480/2473/2509)
The character has also appeared outside the main campaigns: as a playable character in *Call of Duty Online*, *Call of Duty: Heroes*, *Call of Duty: Mobile*, and *Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War*, as a customization option in *Call of Duty: Ghosts*, and as a Blackout playable character in *Call of Duty: Black Ops 4* for players who preordered *Modern Warfare* (2019).[1](https://callofduty.fandom.com/wiki/John_Price) A tie-in with the watchmaker Hamilton, whose Khaki Field model Price wears throughout the *Modern Warfare 4* campaign, released a matching watch alongside the game.[17](https://www.techradar.com/gaming/gaming-accessories/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-x-hamilton-interview)
## References
1. [John Price, Call of Duty Wiki](https://callofduty.fandom.com/wiki/John_Price)
2. [The 50 most iconic video game characters of all time, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/best-game-characters/)
3. ['Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4' story campaign first impressions, Windows Central](https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/call-of-duty/early-access-for-the-call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-campaign-is-live-heres-our-spoiler-free-first-impressions)
4. [Play The Price, Call of Duty (Activision)](https://www.callofduty.com/uk/en/modern-warfare-remastered/landing/play-the-price)
5. [Infinity Ward has officially unveiled Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, Windows Central](https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/call-of-duty/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-reveal)
6. [Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 review-in-progress: A campaign you shouldn't skip, PC Gamer](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/call-of-duty/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-review-in-progress-a-campaign-you-shouldnt-skip/)
7. [Command the field of battle with Captain Price, Season Four Battle Pass, Activision blog](https://blog.activision.com/call-of-duty/2020-06/Command-the-field-of-battle-with-Captain-Price-Available-in-the-Season-Four-Battle-Pass)
8. [How realistic is Captain Price?, Games Learning Society](https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/wiki/how-realistic-is-captain-price/)
9. [In the Spotlight: Captain Price, PlayStation Universe](https://www.psu.com/news/in-the-spotlight-captain-price/)
10. [Call of Duty: Modern Warfare – The Story So Far, Activision blog](https://blog.activision.com/call-of-duty/2020-05/Call-of-Duty-Modern-Warfare-The-Story-So-Far)
11. [Captain Price returns in Modern Warfare 4, TechRadar](https://www.techradar.com/gaming/price-returns-in-modern-warfare-4-for-a-call-of-duty-campaign-that-feels-both-blockbuster-in-scale-and-grounded-in-authenticity)
12. [Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 review-in-progress, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/games/call-of-duty/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-review/)
13. [After the Modern Warfare 4 beta, devs promise to fix Captain Price's hair, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/games/call-of-duty/after-call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-beta-devs-promise-to-fix-captain-prices-hair-as-his-unexpected-balding-goes-viral/)
14. [The best and worst Call of Duty characters, PC Gamer](https://www.pcgamer.com/call-of-duty-best-characters/)
15. [Understanding Politics in Video Game Narratives, Trinity College Dublin dissertation](https://www.scss.tcd.ie/publications/theses/diss/2021/TCD-SCSS-DISSERTATION-2021-006.pdf)
16. [DiGRA paper on Modern Warfare's narrative](https://dl.digra.org/index.php/dl/article/download/2480/2473/2509)
17. [Hamilton CEO on the Modern Warfare 4 special edition, TechRadar](https://www.techradar.com/gaming/gaming-accessories/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-x-hamilton-interview)
18. [Call of Duty and World War II: A Brief History](https://blog.activision.com/call-of-duty/archives/call-of-duty-and-world-war-ii-a-brief-history)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license