Gaming News
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Campaign Early Access Launches Today, Oct. 16, for Preorders
MW4 campaign early access went live on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, giving players who preordered Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 their first chance…
Franchise Hub
Call of Duty
Call of Duty news, releases and guides, Activision's flagship military shooter franchise.
Total Apex Take
The Xbox Game Pass day-one strategy is the real story — not whichever year's campaign reviewed well or poorly.
Since Microsoft closed the Activision Blizzard acquisition, the single biggest change to Call of Duty isn't a map or a mode, it's that mainline entries now launch directly into Game Pass, reshaping the economics of what used to be a pure full-price annual release. That's a bigger bet on subscription revenue over unit sales than any prior console-era shift this franchise has made.
Warzone remains the actual center of gravity for a huge share of the playerbase — more people experience “Call of Duty” through the free battle royale than through any single premium release, which has quietly made the annual mainline game feel more like a content pipeline for Warzone than a standalone product.
Our take: campaign quality still varies wildly year to year and always will under an annual-release model with rotating studios, so judge each entry on its multiplayer balance and Warzone integration first — that's where the franchise actually lives now.
About Call of Duty
Call of Duty is Activision's flagship first-person shooter franchise, launched in 2003 with a World War II setting before expanding into modern, near-future, and alternate-history conflicts across dozens of entries. Developed by a rotating group of studios including Infinity Ward, Treyarch, and Sledgehammer Games, the series is known for its cinematic single-player campaigns and highly competitive online multiplayer.
The free-to-play battle royale spin-off Call of Duty: Warzone significantly broadened the franchise's audience, and Call of Duty has become one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time, with annual releases a fixture of the gaming calendar.
History
2003–2007
World War II era
The series begins with WWII-set shooters before Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare shifts the franchise into contemporary settings.
2007–2010s
Modern Warfare & Black Ops eras
The Modern Warfare and Black Ops sub-series become the franchise's two dominant pillars, alternating annual releases between developers.
2020–present
Warzone & live-service era
Call of Duty: Warzone launches as a free-to-play battle royale companion, dramatically expanding the franchise's reach alongside ongoing premium releases.
Key People
Infinity Ward
Founding studio, developed the original Call of Duty and Modern Warfare sub-series
Treyarch
Developer of the Black Ops sub-series
Sledgehammer Games
Developer of WWII, Vanguard, and other mainline entries
Key Call of Duty Releases
| Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare | 2007 | Shifted the series toward contemporary combat and shaped modern shooter design |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops | 2010 | Launched the long-running Black Ops sub-series |
| Call of Duty: Warzone | 2020 | A free-to-play battle royale that broadened the franchise's audience |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II | 2022 | A modern reboot of the Modern Warfare storyline |
Financials
| Franchise lifetime revenue | Reported by Activision to exceed $31 billion |
|---|---|
| Franchise lifetime sales | Over 400 million copies sold across all titles |
| Publisher | Activision (part of Microsoft Gaming since 2023) |
How It Compares
| Compared To | Key Difference |
|---|---|
| Battlefield | Call of Duty emphasizes fast, arcade-style gunplay and a yearly release cadence, while Battlefield has leaned more on large-scale vehicle combat and destructible environments. |
| Fortnite | Call of Duty built its identity on realistic military shooting and a premium price tag, while Fortnite popularized the free-to-play battle royale model with cartoonish visuals. |
Trivia & Fan Culture
Started as a WWII shooter
The original 2003 Call of Duty was a World War II first-person shooter built by former Medal of Honor developers at the newly formed Infinity Ward.
Modern Warfare reshaped the series
2007's Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare moved the franchise into a contemporary setting and introduced the perk and killstreak systems that defined the series' multiplayer for years.
Acquired by Microsoft
Activision Blizzard, Call of Duty's publisher, was acquired by Microsoft in a deal that closed in October 2023, bringing the franchise under Xbox's parent company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Call of Duty: Warzone free to play?
Yes, Warzone is free to play, while mainline numbered Call of Duty titles are sold as premium releases.
Which studios make Call of Duty games?
Development rotates primarily among Infinity Ward, Treyarch, and Sledgehammer Games, with additional support studios contributing to each release.
Who publishes Call of Duty?
Activision publishes the Call of Duty series; Activision Blizzard became part of Microsoft Gaming after a 2023 acquisition.
Which studio makes Call of Duty games?
Development rotates primarily among Infinity Ward, Treyarch, and Sledgehammer Games, with other Activision studios contributing support.
Latest Coverage
Latest
Gaming
Activision Gives Call of Duty a Brand New Lease With New Sub-Franchise
Activision confirmed a new Call of Duty sub-franchise is in development, moving beyond Black Ops and Modern Warfare formulas that have defined the series.
Gaming
Call of Duty Finally Cuts Last-Gen Cord in 2026
Activision finally pulled the plug on last-generation consoles, confirming that the next Call of Duty will skip the PlayStation 4 entirely after more than…
Gaming
Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Reloaded Packs Ridiculous New Stuff
Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Season 3 Reloaded details just dropped, and the mid-season update packs a ridiculous amount of new stuff across…
Gaming News
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Unveils Totenreich: A Bold New Zombies Map
The wait is over for Call of Duty Zombies fans. Developers just revealed Totenreich, the highly anticipated new map coming to Black Ops 7.…
Gaming
Call of Duty Arrives Late To Game Pass Party
Call of Duty will no longer hit Xbox Game Pass on day one, ending a two-year run of launch-day access for subscribers. Xbox CEO…
Gaming
Call of Duty Brings Killstreaks To Theaters in 2028
Call of Duty finally stomps onto the big screen with a live-action movie arriving June 30, 2028, and the announcement alone probably caused a…
Gaming News
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Bleeds Players Faster Than Zombies
Call of Duty has done it again, or rather, it has done the same thing it always does. The latest seasonal content drop for…
Entertainment
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Hits Historic Low Player Numbers on Steam, Raising Big Questions for the Franchise
The Call of Duty series has survived just about everything over the past two decades — rival shooters, yearly fatigue, controversial design pivots, and…
Entertainment
Call of Duty for Nintendo Switch Is “Nearly Done,” Targeting 2026 Release
Call of Duty on a Nintendo platform has been the gaming equivalent of Bigfoot for more than a decade—everyone talks about it, nobody sees…
Gaming News
Call of Duty Breaks Back‑to‑Back Release Cycle
Call of Duty just broke its own cycle. No more rinse‑and‑repeat Modern Warfare then Black Ops launches. Instead, Activision is promising unique annual experiences,…
E-Sports
Call of Duty League 2026 Opening Weekend Schedule Revealed
The Call of Duty League (CDL) has officially unveiled the schedule for its highly anticipated opening weekend, set to kick off the 2026 season…
Gaming News
Gaming News
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Campaign Early Access Launches Today, Oct. 16, for Preorders
MW4 campaign early access went live on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, giving players who preordered Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 their first chance…
Gaming
Call of Duty Finally Cuts Last-Gen Cord in 2026
Activision finally pulled the plug on last-generation consoles, confirming that the next Call of Duty will skip the PlayStation 4 entirely after more than…
Gaming
Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Reloaded Packs Ridiculous New Stuff
Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Season 3 Reloaded details just dropped, and the mid-season update packs a ridiculous amount of new stuff across…
Gaming News
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Unveils Totenreich: A Bold New Zombies Map
The wait is over for Call of Duty Zombies fans. Developers just revealed Totenreich, the highly anticipated new map coming to Black Ops 7.…
Gaming
Call of Duty Arrives Late To Game Pass Party
Call of Duty will no longer hit Xbox Game Pass on day one, ending a two-year run of launch-day access for subscribers. Xbox CEO…
Gaming
Call of Duty Brings Killstreaks To Theaters in 2028
Call of Duty finally stomps onto the big screen with a live-action movie arriving June 30, 2028, and the announcement alone probably caused a…
Gaming News
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Bleeds Players Faster Than Zombies
Call of Duty has done it again, or rather, it has done the same thing it always does. The latest seasonal content drop for…
Entertainment
Call of Duty for Nintendo Switch Is “Nearly Done,” Targeting 2026 Release
Call of Duty on a Nintendo platform has been the gaming equivalent of Bigfoot for more than a decade—everyone talks about it, nobody sees…
Gaming News
Call of Duty Breaks Back‑to‑Back Release Cycle
Call of Duty just broke its own cycle. No more rinse‑and‑repeat Modern Warfare then Black Ops launches. Instead, Activision is promising unique annual experiences,…
Gaming News
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Leak Teases Return of Iconic Maps in Season 2
A new leak suggests that the roster of classic maps in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is set to expand once again in…
Gaming News
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Is a Dumpster Fire, and I’m Here for the Show
Another year, another Call of Duty. This time, Treyarch decided to bless us with Black Ops 7, a game that feels less like a…
Entertainment
Battlefield 6 Declares War on Call of Duty Black Ops 7 in 2025
Ahead of Black Ops 7, Sony is betting big on Battlefield 6 with a huge ad campaign. Explore why PlayStation is backing the rival…
Reviews
Reviews
Call Of Duty’s Insane 100GB Reduction Is Good, Right?
When I excitedly bought Call of Duty Black Ops 6 after not playing the games since Black Ops 2, I was DUMBFOUNDED by the…
Gaming
Blood Reaver Review: A Fierce, Gothic Wave Shooter Packed With Magic, Mayhem, and Early 2000s Nostalgia
If you spent entirely too many late nights in the late 2000s screaming at your friends to revive you because you got trapped in…
Entertainment
Permadeath Comes To Resident Evil Finally
Look, I gotta be honest with you—I have no clue how anyone survives Resident Evil on the highest difficulty without cheating. We’re talking about…
Entertainment
Synthesis of Corruption Review: A Love Letter Written in Polygon Blood
Let’s be honest for a second. We have all seen the memes. You know the ones. Mom says we have Half-Life at home, and…
Entertainment
Geometry Dash Reaches Peak Performance on a Retro Beat While Soaring Up the Player Charts
Geometry Dash, the iconic rhythm-based obstacle course from a bygone era, has just shattered expectations. The twelve-year-old indie game has broken its own Steam…
Entertainment
Black Ops 7 Season 01 Reloaded Brings Fallout, New Maps, and Total Chaos
Call of Duty is easing into 2026 like it’s kicked the door off the hinges. Season 01 Reloaded for Black Ops 7 and Warzone…
Entertainment
100 Thieves | The Silent Release of Ghosty and Envoy
Who Are 100 Thieves? Founded in 2017 by former Call of Duty pro Matthew “Nadeshot” Haag, 100 Thieves quickly grew into one of the…
Reviews
Ghost of Yotei PS5 Game Size and Pre-Load Date
Ghost of Tsushima’s sequel, Ghost of Yotei, will come out on October 2. Those who preordered the game can expect to pre-load the game…
Reviews
Success Or Fail? Battlefield 6 Devs Are Already Making Changes to Rush – Because Let’s Face it, Nobody Asked for This
Look who’s scrambling to fix their shiny new toy before it completely implodes. The Battlefield 6 devs at DICE have already started tweaking Rush…
Reviews
Is the MSI Raider 18 HX Worth $4,000?
Alright, let’s talk gaming laptops. You want power, portability, and a showstopper with specs that’ll make your gamer friends weep with jealousy, right? Well,…
Gaming
Enshrouded: How the ‘Forging the Path’ Update Transforms the Flameborn
With the game Enshrouded headed to leave Early Access, their most recent update launched on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, and unleashed a brand new…
Gaming
Restore Your Island: The Ultimate Tropical Cleanup Simulator for Relaxing, Satisfying Gameplay in 2026
Let us be completely honest for a second, we all have that weird, inexplicable urge to clean up massive virtual messes instead of tackling…
Guides
Guides
How To Unlock Every Zombies Mastery Camo In Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
The camo grind is a core part of the Call of Duty experience, and for Zombies fans, Black Ops 7 offers a deep and…
Guides
How to Defeat The Nightmare Boss in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
The campaign in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 introduces several new challenges, including a series of intense boss battles. One of the most…
Gaming
Will Modern Warfare 4 Be On Game Pass? What Fans Should Know
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will not be part of the Modern Warfare 4 Game Pass release when the shooter launches globally on…
Gaming
Hajin map guide: every confirmed MW4 DMZ location
The Hajin map anchors Modern Warfare 4's DMZ mode launching Oct. 23, 2026. Here's what Infinity Ward confirmed about layout, POIs and how to…
Entertainment
Overwatch Season 1 Hero Guide: How To Be Lethal as Emre
Emre is a former Overwatch agent and friend of Freja. Now he returns to the fold, corrupted, but clinging to the last shreds of…
Entertainment
The Best Way to Get Point Blank Kills in Black Ops 7
Point blank kills get you up close and personal when it comes to eliminations. This just means you kill your enemies from extremely close…
Entertainment
How to Successfully Exfil in Black Ops 7 Zombies
In Call of Duty Zombies, there is a mechanic that lets you exit a Zombies match without having to die or quit called exfil.…
Guides
Best M4 Loadout in COD Mobile – Strongest Attachments to Use
COD Mobile is the official Call of Duty game designed exclusively for mobile phones. This free-to-play mobile game offers many different multiplayer maps and…
Guides
How GobbleGums Work In Black Ops 7 Zombies
Black Ops 7 is the newest installment in the popular FPS Shooter franchise, and with every COD game, you have zombie mode, where you…
Guides
Black Ops 7 Zombies Camo Challenges—How To Get Every Unique BO7 Zombies Camos
Black Ops 7 was released a couple of days ago, and it’s been an unfortunate start for the newest installment to the franchise. However,…
Guides
Marvel Rivals Zombie Mode: The Complete Guide
Just in time for Halloween, Marvel Rivals has unleashed its most ambitious limited-time event yet: Zombie Mode. This wave-based, cooperative PvE experience throws players…
Guides
Battlefield 6’s Campaign Tells You To Uninstall When You’re Done
Battlefield 6 was released a few days ago, and it’s been a pretty successful launch so far. From dominating the Steam charts, having the…
More From Total Apex Entertainment
Hobbies & Interests
From Seatbelts to Kill Switches: Evolution of Automotive Safety Part 1
The first in a two-part look at the evolution of automotive safety, looking into innovation and the vehicle patents that became mandates.
Horoscopes
Scorpio Horoscope Oct. 27, 2026: Truth Rises to the Surface
You are two days into Scorpio season, one day out from a Full Moon that lit up your opposing sign, and Mercury is retrograde…
Hobbies & Interests
Ford F-Series Recall: Can You Trust Your Speedometer?
Ford is recalling 102,159 F-Series trucks because a faulty instrument cluster module can cause the analog speedometer and tachometer to stick or swing on...
Movies
Kid Cudi Basquiat Film ‘Jean’: Why He Finally Wrote It
Kid Cudi will write, direct and star as Jean-Michel Basquiat in 'Jean,' filming in 2027. He announced the project Wednesday on social media.
Travel
Airbnb Checkout Chores Ban Has Hosts Fighting Over Dishes
Airbnb will stop hosts from demanding guests do major cleaning work before checkout under a new house rules policy taking effect Nov. 20, 2026.
Gaming News
Modern Warfare 4 Honors Infinity Ward’s Vince Zampella
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 includes a dedication screen in its credits honoring Vince Zampella, the Infinity Ward co-founder who helped create the…