About 20 years ago, I made a huge mistake as a budding video game critic – I underestimated the future potential of “Call of Duty”. Back in 2003, at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, I was approached by a soldier who asked if I wanted to play the game. I thought it looked like a copycat of the already-established “Medal of Honor” series and didn’t see much promise in it. Little did I know, the creators of “Medal of Honor” had actually joined forces with Activision to develop “Call of Duty”. And little did I know, “Call of Duty” would go on to become one of the most successful and highest-grossing video game franchises in the world.
“Call of Duty” was originally released on Oct. 29, 2003, for PC platforms. It was an ambitious game created by a team of 27 people, aiming to replicate the intense action of infantry combat. Today, “Call of Duty” is produced by a team of over 3,000 people and has become a franchise with incredible earning power. The latest installment, “Modern Warfare II”, generated over $1 billion in revenue within just 10 days. With over 425 million copies sold in 20 years, “Call of Duty” is the fourth best-selling game franchise in history, behind only Mario, Tetris, and Pokémon. Since 2009, a “Call of Duty” game has been the best-selling game almost every year.
The upcoming release of “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III” in November is highly anticipated. This will be the first title released by Activision Blizzard under its new owners, Microsoft. The acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft for $69 billion was the result of a lengthy legal battle. Sony PlayStation executives fought to keep the franchise on their platform due to its massive popularity among PlayStation players. The franchise is estimated to have generated at least $1 billion in sales for Sony in 2021.
Despite its success, the “Call of Duty” franchise has had to adapt its business model over the years due to competition. According to franchise general manager Johanna Faries, the gaming industry is constantly evolving, with different genres and platform dynamics to consider. She emphasizes that the core of the gaming experience is amazing gameplay, but the franchise also aims to expand its reach and partner with different entertainment mediums.
The success of “Call of Duty” can be attributed to its groundbreaking entry, “Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare”, released in 2007. This game not only became a hit but also revolutionized the design, engineering, and monetization of online multiplayer games. Its influence can be seen in numerous modern online games, from “Fortnite” to “Apex Legends”. It introduced fast-paced gameplay, easy team matchmaking, and incentivized replayability with new weapons and medals.
The impact of “Call of Duty” extended beyond gaming itself. It inspired the creation of online businesses dedicated to covering news and updates about a single game franchise. One example is CharlieIntel.com, founded by a 14-year-old boy named Keshav Bhat in 2011. The website and its associated social media account, CharlieIntel on X, now have 3.6 million followers. Bhat believes that “Call of Duty” has brought friends together and created a strong online community.
Another unique aspect of “Call of Duty” is its annual release schedule, similar to sports games such as Madden or NBA 2K. This frequent release schedule has contributed to the game’s immense popularity, with around 100 million players each month in recent years. The franchise has also continued to sell new content like maps and modes separately, while exploring different settings and narratives.
In recent years, “Call of Duty” has expanded its reach by entering the smartphone space with “Call of Duty: Mobile”, which was downloaded 250 million times in its first year. Additionally, the introduction of “Warzone” on PC and consoles brought the free-to-play model to the franchise, similar to “Fortnite”.
Celebrity tie-ins have also played a role in broadening the appeal of “Call of Duty”. A-list celebrities like Kit Harington have starred in the series, and “Warzone” is now populated with players pretending to be famous figures like Nicki Minaj, Snoop Dogg, and Bruce Willis. The franchise aims to provide entertainment and joy, offering a creative outlet after a long day.
In conclusion, “Call of Duty” has come a long way since its humble beginnings, defying expectations and becoming a global phenomenon. It has shaped the gaming industry and created a strong community of players. With its latest release and constant innovation, there seems to be no end in sight for the success of “Call of Duty”.
