The Volatile History of Call of Duty | MojoPlays
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VOICE OVER: Adrian Sousa
WRITTEN BY: Nathan Sharp
The “Call of Duty” series, despite a few missteps along the way, remains one of the most popular and critically acclaimed FPSs of the modern era. Some people may scream “franchise fatigue” whenever the name pops up, but the fact remains that the series remains one of the most critically revered and commercially successful on the market. But how did we get to this awkward place between weariness and popularity? Let's take a look at the history of the “Call of Duty” series.
The “Call of Duty” series, despite a few missteps along the way, remains one of the most popular and critically acclaimed FPSs of the modern era. Some people may scream “franchise fatigue” whenever the name pops up, but the fact remains that the series remains one of the most critically revered and commercially successful on the market. But how did we get to this awkward place between weariness and popularity? Let’s take a look at the history of the “Call of Duty” series.
Before “Call of Duty,” there was “Medal of Honor.” The third game in the series, “Allied Assault,” was designed by Vince Zampella and Jason West and written by Zied Rieke. Not long after that game’s release, a new studio called Infinity Ward was formed, and many of those who worked on “Allied Assault,” including Zampella, West, and Rieke, made the transfer.
The small team of 20-odd people began working with the id Tech 3 engine and sought to create their own World War II video game in the vein of “Medal of Honor.” However, there was going to be one key difference – a major emphasis on squad-based gameplay. Whereas other war games contained more traditional first-person shooter mechanics, “Call of Duty” aimed to provide a more authentic war experience. To do this, they created a dynamic artificial intelligence component that would see AI-controlled squad mates clearing obstacles, suppressing fire, moving between cover, and flanking the enemy. This situational awareness ensured that the experience would be a little bit different every time you replayed a level, whereas in past games an action sequence would be entirely scripted and planned.
This emphasis on squad-based gameplay was seen in the game’s marketing campaign. The slogan proclaimed, “In war, no one fights alone,” and the trailer stated, “In the war that changed the world, victory was not achieved by one man, but by the lives of many”. This major change to the war shooter genre was critically acclaimed, and many mainstream outlets proclaimed that “Call of Duty” was one of the best WWII shooters of all time. It won numerous industry awards, including the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences’ Game of the Year, and it eventually sold 4.5 million copies. This may sound like a lot, but it is peanuts compared to where the series was heading.
A sequel followed in 2005, earning equal acclaim and selling 200,000 copies in its first week, becoming the most popular launch title for the Xbox 360. That same year, an expansion titled “Call of Duty 2: Big Red One” was released, a game that had been developed by Activision subsidiary Treyarch. It received good reviews, although many saw it as a disappointment following the stellar quality of the previous entries. At E3 2006, one year after the release of “Call of Duty 2” and “Big Red One,” Activision announced that Treyarch would be helming the third major entry in the series, an announcement that didn’t sit particularly well for some, considering “Big Red One’s” noticeable dip in quality. Unfortunately, their fears were realized. “Call of Duty 3” was released on November 7, 2006 to good reviews, but it was again compared unfavorably to both of its predecessors. A senior producer named Noah Heller later revealed that the team only had eight months to develop the entire game and claimed that it wasn’t “the game this team could have made if it had the time to polish to the level they needed to”. And despite selling well, some people began to feel like the franchise, and particularly the World War II setting, was running out of steam.
Luckily, Infinity Ward was there to pick up the pieces. They too had thought that the World War II setting was old hat, and they decided to bring the “Call of Duty” series to modernity. The result was “Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare,” an instant classic that both revitalized interest in the series and revolutionized the way multiplayer FPSs were played.
This game introduced a host of new concepts to the series, including the obvious switch in setting. Killstreaks were introduced, a gameplay element that rewarded players for killing a certain number of opponents in a row. These included the famous UAV, air strikes, and helicopter support, the latter of which could greatly change the tide of a game. The game also placed a major emphasis on XP and unlocking various perks like increasing your rate of fire and increasing hip-fire accuracy. Classes could also be customized, allowing for a far-greater degree of complexity and freedom in how you approach a given game mode or situation. On top of all that was a magnificent campaign that features some of the most iconic levels and sequences in gaming history, like dying in a nuclear wasteland and exploring the abandoned city of Pripyat.
The results were extraordinary. The game was showered with awards, it outsold “Super Mario Galaxy” (which was released in the same month), and it even managed to draw attention away from “Halo 3,” arguably becoming the quintessential console shooter in the process.
The “Call of Duty” series subsequently took the world by storm. In four straight, incredible years, the series broke the record for the biggest entertainment launch in history. “Modern Warfare 2” set the record by pushing $310 million worth of games in its first 24 hours of availability. This was subsequently beaten by “Black Ops,” which pushed $360 million in the same time period. The following year saw the release of “Modern Warfare 3,” which served as the conclusion to the iconic “Modern Warfare” series. It went on break two major records – not only did it become the biggest entertainment launch in history by pushing $400 million in 24 hours, it broke “Avatar’s” record to become the fastest piece of entertainment to reach $1 billion in revenue. It did so in just sixteen days, compared to “Avatar’s” nineteen. The streak was capped with “Black Ops II,” which grossed $500 million in 24 hours and reached $1 billion in fifteen days, breaking both of the records set by “Modern Warfare 3”.
Suffice it to say, the “Call of Duty” series was back, it was bigger than ever, and it was arguably the most popular piece of entertainment in the entire world.
Unfortunately, that all came crashing down in 2013, and the “Call of Duty” series entered a dark age. By the time “Ghosts” rolled around in November of 2013, franchise fatigue was most definitely settling in, and this could be seen in both the sales and the game’s critical reception. The game was averaging scores of 7/10, and the Metacritic user scores were plummeting to unforeseen depths. Players complained about the persistent lack of innovation in the series, the subpar campaign, and the general feeling of sameness. This was reflected in the game’s sales. For the first time in five years, sales were down, which Activision blamed on the awkward transition between console generations.
The following year saw the release of “Advanced Warfare,” which many saw as a notable improvement over “Ghosts.” However, that didn’t translate to the sales, as they were down 27% on “Ghosts,” which was already significantly down on “Black Ops II”. It also became the subject of the famous “F to pay respects” meme, a meme which is still going strong to this day. In just two years, “Call of Duty” plummeted from record-breaking heights to literal laughingstock of the internet.
Luckily, “Black Ops III” served as a bit of a resurgence. It received good reviews (despite being criticized for its lack of innovation and ridiculous campaign), grossed $550 million in its first three days, and became the best selling game of 2015, despite being released in November.
And, much like a roller coaster, the series’ reputation went right back down again with “Infinite Warfare.” The infamous reveal trailer was released on May 2, 2016, and it quickly became one of the most disliked videos in the history of YouTube. Many reasons were given to explain its failure, including franchise fatigue and a huge disinterest in the futuristic setting. To absolutely no one’s surprise, the game was a commercial failure, selling 50% less than “Black Ops III.” Even Activision admitted that the game was a commercial disappointment, stating that it “didn’t resonate with fans”. Well yeah, a simple glance at the trailer’s reception could have told you that!
The roller coaster went back up with “Call of Duty: WWII,” which both brought the series back to its roots and directly competed with “Battlefield 1.” It earned strong reviews despite some controversy, and it was a strong seller, earning $500 million in three days.
And finally we come to “Black Ops 4.” This game introduced many new mechanics to the series, for both good and bad. For one thing, the campaign was completely abandoned so the team could allocate all their attention and resources to creating a stellar multiplayer experience. It also eliminated health regeneration, introduced predictive recoil patterns, and both hitscan and projectile damage are employed in the ballistics system. And of course, it also features Blackout, a popular battle royale mode meant to capitalize on the genre’s continuing success.
Despite the changes, the game was not without criticism. Many lamented the lack of a campaign, and many more chastised the game’s use of overpriced microtransactions and loot boxes. Regardless, the game grossed $500 million in three days, indicating that not everyone was troubled by the game’s direction.
And that just about sums up where “Call of Duty” is in 2019. It’s clear that the series sells well and remains popular, and it continuously generates controversy, which at least indicates that players are interested in the series’ direction and devoted to its quality. However, it also indicates that they are not happy with the specific direction the series is headed in, and it is no longer the pop culture behemoth that it once was. Perhaps that will change with the release of “Modern Warfare.” Maybe the game’s name is an indication of its return to full, commanding glory. We can only hope.
Before “Call of Duty,” there was “Medal of Honor.” The third game in the series, “Allied Assault,” was designed by Vince Zampella and Jason West and written by Zied Rieke. Not long after that game’s release, a new studio called Infinity Ward was formed, and many of those who worked on “Allied Assault,” including Zampella, West, and Rieke, made the transfer.
The small team of 20-odd people began working with the id Tech 3 engine and sought to create their own World War II video game in the vein of “Medal of Honor.” However, there was going to be one key difference – a major emphasis on squad-based gameplay. Whereas other war games contained more traditional first-person shooter mechanics, “Call of Duty” aimed to provide a more authentic war experience. To do this, they created a dynamic artificial intelligence component that would see AI-controlled squad mates clearing obstacles, suppressing fire, moving between cover, and flanking the enemy. This situational awareness ensured that the experience would be a little bit different every time you replayed a level, whereas in past games an action sequence would be entirely scripted and planned.
This emphasis on squad-based gameplay was seen in the game’s marketing campaign. The slogan proclaimed, “In war, no one fights alone,” and the trailer stated, “In the war that changed the world, victory was not achieved by one man, but by the lives of many”. This major change to the war shooter genre was critically acclaimed, and many mainstream outlets proclaimed that “Call of Duty” was one of the best WWII shooters of all time. It won numerous industry awards, including the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences’ Game of the Year, and it eventually sold 4.5 million copies. This may sound like a lot, but it is peanuts compared to where the series was heading.
A sequel followed in 2005, earning equal acclaim and selling 200,000 copies in its first week, becoming the most popular launch title for the Xbox 360. That same year, an expansion titled “Call of Duty 2: Big Red One” was released, a game that had been developed by Activision subsidiary Treyarch. It received good reviews, although many saw it as a disappointment following the stellar quality of the previous entries. At E3 2006, one year after the release of “Call of Duty 2” and “Big Red One,” Activision announced that Treyarch would be helming the third major entry in the series, an announcement that didn’t sit particularly well for some, considering “Big Red One’s” noticeable dip in quality. Unfortunately, their fears were realized. “Call of Duty 3” was released on November 7, 2006 to good reviews, but it was again compared unfavorably to both of its predecessors. A senior producer named Noah Heller later revealed that the team only had eight months to develop the entire game and claimed that it wasn’t “the game this team could have made if it had the time to polish to the level they needed to”. And despite selling well, some people began to feel like the franchise, and particularly the World War II setting, was running out of steam.
Luckily, Infinity Ward was there to pick up the pieces. They too had thought that the World War II setting was old hat, and they decided to bring the “Call of Duty” series to modernity. The result was “Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare,” an instant classic that both revitalized interest in the series and revolutionized the way multiplayer FPSs were played.
This game introduced a host of new concepts to the series, including the obvious switch in setting. Killstreaks were introduced, a gameplay element that rewarded players for killing a certain number of opponents in a row. These included the famous UAV, air strikes, and helicopter support, the latter of which could greatly change the tide of a game. The game also placed a major emphasis on XP and unlocking various perks like increasing your rate of fire and increasing hip-fire accuracy. Classes could also be customized, allowing for a far-greater degree of complexity and freedom in how you approach a given game mode or situation. On top of all that was a magnificent campaign that features some of the most iconic levels and sequences in gaming history, like dying in a nuclear wasteland and exploring the abandoned city of Pripyat.
The results were extraordinary. The game was showered with awards, it outsold “Super Mario Galaxy” (which was released in the same month), and it even managed to draw attention away from “Halo 3,” arguably becoming the quintessential console shooter in the process.
The “Call of Duty” series subsequently took the world by storm. In four straight, incredible years, the series broke the record for the biggest entertainment launch in history. “Modern Warfare 2” set the record by pushing $310 million worth of games in its first 24 hours of availability. This was subsequently beaten by “Black Ops,” which pushed $360 million in the same time period. The following year saw the release of “Modern Warfare 3,” which served as the conclusion to the iconic “Modern Warfare” series. It went on break two major records – not only did it become the biggest entertainment launch in history by pushing $400 million in 24 hours, it broke “Avatar’s” record to become the fastest piece of entertainment to reach $1 billion in revenue. It did so in just sixteen days, compared to “Avatar’s” nineteen. The streak was capped with “Black Ops II,” which grossed $500 million in 24 hours and reached $1 billion in fifteen days, breaking both of the records set by “Modern Warfare 3”.
Suffice it to say, the “Call of Duty” series was back, it was bigger than ever, and it was arguably the most popular piece of entertainment in the entire world.
Unfortunately, that all came crashing down in 2013, and the “Call of Duty” series entered a dark age. By the time “Ghosts” rolled around in November of 2013, franchise fatigue was most definitely settling in, and this could be seen in both the sales and the game’s critical reception. The game was averaging scores of 7/10, and the Metacritic user scores were plummeting to unforeseen depths. Players complained about the persistent lack of innovation in the series, the subpar campaign, and the general feeling of sameness. This was reflected in the game’s sales. For the first time in five years, sales were down, which Activision blamed on the awkward transition between console generations.
The following year saw the release of “Advanced Warfare,” which many saw as a notable improvement over “Ghosts.” However, that didn’t translate to the sales, as they were down 27% on “Ghosts,” which was already significantly down on “Black Ops II”. It also became the subject of the famous “F to pay respects” meme, a meme which is still going strong to this day. In just two years, “Call of Duty” plummeted from record-breaking heights to literal laughingstock of the internet.
Luckily, “Black Ops III” served as a bit of a resurgence. It received good reviews (despite being criticized for its lack of innovation and ridiculous campaign), grossed $550 million in its first three days, and became the best selling game of 2015, despite being released in November.
And, much like a roller coaster, the series’ reputation went right back down again with “Infinite Warfare.” The infamous reveal trailer was released on May 2, 2016, and it quickly became one of the most disliked videos in the history of YouTube. Many reasons were given to explain its failure, including franchise fatigue and a huge disinterest in the futuristic setting. To absolutely no one’s surprise, the game was a commercial failure, selling 50% less than “Black Ops III.” Even Activision admitted that the game was a commercial disappointment, stating that it “didn’t resonate with fans”. Well yeah, a simple glance at the trailer’s reception could have told you that!
The roller coaster went back up with “Call of Duty: WWII,” which both brought the series back to its roots and directly competed with “Battlefield 1.” It earned strong reviews despite some controversy, and it was a strong seller, earning $500 million in three days.
And finally we come to “Black Ops 4.” This game introduced many new mechanics to the series, for both good and bad. For one thing, the campaign was completely abandoned so the team could allocate all their attention and resources to creating a stellar multiplayer experience. It also eliminated health regeneration, introduced predictive recoil patterns, and both hitscan and projectile damage are employed in the ballistics system. And of course, it also features Blackout, a popular battle royale mode meant to capitalize on the genre’s continuing success.
Despite the changes, the game was not without criticism. Many lamented the lack of a campaign, and many more chastised the game’s use of overpriced microtransactions and loot boxes. Regardless, the game grossed $500 million in three days, indicating that not everyone was troubled by the game’s direction.
And that just about sums up where “Call of Duty” is in 2019. It’s clear that the series sells well and remains popular, and it continuously generates controversy, which at least indicates that players are interested in the series’ direction and devoted to its quality. However, it also indicates that they are not happy with the specific direction the series is headed in, and it is no longer the pop culture behemoth that it once was. Perhaps that will change with the release of “Modern Warfare.” Maybe the game’s name is an indication of its return to full, commanding glory. We can only hope.
