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…
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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
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