Summary
On June 17, 2025, the world was introduced toCall of Duty. Taking the form of a World War 2 shooter, this initial entry in the franchise was, like several other games in the series, a critical darling. Praised for everything from its action-packed campaign to its visuals, as well as an ambitious campaign that highlighted each member of The Allies, there was plenty to love about the game. However, while concepts like a campaign offering multiple perspectives and a leader figure namedCaptain Pricestuck around, many other features from the originalCall of Dutydid not. While it may seem odd to see concepts from a Game of the Year-winning title left in the past, it isCall of Duty’s willingness to shake things up that has allowed it to endure.
If players return to the originalCall of Dutyon its 20th anniversary, or the updated version dubbedCall of Duty Classic, they may be surprised by how different the first game in the series was. While it still offered satisfying first-person shooting, a lack of over-the-top setpieces and the use of a proper health system where players have to gather medpacks will make for quite the shock. Add on the use of saving and loading as opposed to the modern checkpoint system, objectives being marked on a compass, and the strange sight of a World War 2 game developed by Infinity Ward, and fans will likely be stunned to see how Activision’s flagship IP has evolved. Had it not done so, though, it would likely not be the household name it is today.
The Keys to Call of Duty’s 20-Year-Long Success
Contrary to Popular Belief, Call of Duty is Willing to Take Risks
While there are parts of the originalCall of Dutythat continue to be felt in the series’ campaigns to this day, like its clever use of AI soldiers to add immersion, newerCall of Dutygames still look startlingly different from the title that started it all. However, that is ultimately a good thing. In several ways,Call of Dutyhas taken risks, and in doing so has managed to evolve with the gaming industry while keeping fans on their toes.
Call of Duty’s golden era, which ranged fromCall of Duty 4toBlack Ops 2, would not have been possible had the series not risked it all withModern Warfare. WithCall of Dutyknown only for its enjoyable World War 2 experiences up until 2007,Modern Warfarewas an ambitious concept, yet it turned out to be another award-winning step forward for the series. However, instead of staying comfortable with World War 2 and modern games, the series continued to test out new eras. Some settings were majorly successful, like the Cold War and near future, while others like the distant future proved largely unpopular due to mechanics like advanced movement. Still, theCall of Dutyspanning hundreds of years and highlighting wars both real and fictional was a boon. The games felt different from each other, as weapons, killstreaks, maps, and overall aesthetics shifted to match whichever era was being focused on.
Call of Duty’s risks did not stop with covering different settings, either. On a small scale, there were major campaign deaths that took away beloved characters, but on a large scale, the series gambled on concepts that many would have laughed at on paper. The biggest success in this area is undoubtedlyCall of DutyZombies, a mode that now has its own dedicated fan base that obsesses over its lore and craves its gameplay. While not everything is a success, as there have been numerous one-off multiplayer modes that do not catch on and divisive co-op attempts likeCall of Duty: Ghosts’ Extinction, eachCall of Dutygame offers at least one new mode or game-changing gimmick.
Call of Duty: World at War’s Death Cards,Call of Duty: WW2’s Headquarters hub area,Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare’s customizable streaks,Call of Duty: Black Ops 3’s Cyber Cores - the list of unique experiments goes on and on. In addition to all of this risk-taking,Call of Dutyhas always been willing to embrace video game trends so it does not get left behind. Crossovers have grown in popularity over the last decade, and have steadily become more common sinceCall of Duty: Ghostsfirst embraced the idea. When loot boxes were big,Call of Dutyhad supply drops, and when battle passes became the ideal live service style,CoDstarted to be built around them. And perhaps most notable of all, when the battle royale genre took off, Blackout was released, withWarzonetaking the world by storm soon after thanks to its free-to-play approach.
Call of Duty has taken risks, and in doing so has managed to evolve with the gaming industry while keeping fans on their toes.
Call of Duty Doesn’t Forget Its Older Players
While nostalgia can certainly be taken too far, and many have argued thatCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s launch map lineupbeing entirely composed of remakes is an example of that, it is an important concept to keep in mind. AsCall of Dutyshifted to and from futuristic settings, or switched to a tactical gameplay style like the rebootedModern Warfareseries, it could have been easy to abandon the things that players love. Instead,Call of Dutyhas constantly catered to a fan base that has stuck by it for 20 years.
This focus on nostalgia can be seen across the board in each ofCall of Duty’s three pillars. For campaigns, theCall of Dutyseries has been quick to reference its brightest moments, be it through the originalModern Warfare 3showing a different angle onMW2’s No Russian mission or the Numbers haunting Alex Mason in his other campaign appearances. Additionally, all theBlack OpsandModern Warfarecampaigns feature figures like Frank Woods andTask Force 141, even when new characters become the focus. For Zombies, characters like Samantha Maxis and the original map Nacht Der Toten continue to appear, transcending timelines so that connections to the original storyline remain. And for multiplayer, timeless maps like Nuketown and Shipment have been remade again and again, getting visual reworks to suit whatever setting a game has.
Outside of tributes to older titles, reappearances of iconic weapons, and features like thePrestige Shop,Call of Dutyhas built entire projects around nostalgia. The upcomingModern Warfare 3bringing back Makarov as a villain and the launch maps from 2009’sModern Warfare 2make it an example of this, but it is hardly the only one. 2016’sCall of Duty: Modern Warfare Remasteredgave the hugely influential game a fresh coat of paint, whileMW2’s beloved campaign received a separate remaster a few years later.Black Ops 3’s Zombies Chronicles is one of the most successful DLCs in gaming, as it offered eight faithful remakes of maps fromWorld at War,Black Ops, andBlack Ops 2. While it is true that the series has shifted constantly to incorporate successful business practices and test the waters on new features, it has been careful to provide just enough nostalgia-heavy content to keep old fans hooked.
Call of Duty has constantly catered to a fan base that has stuck by it for 20 years.
Why Call of Duty’s Divisive Yearly Releases Matter
Today,Call of Dutyfans will often be seen asking for an end to the yearly release cycle, as there are many valid points to be made about the practice being detrimental to the newer releases. After all, there have been multiple times now where several studios had to come together to get a game out the door in time, as well asgames likeBlack Ops Cold Warthat released with less content and a lack of polish. However, for Activision the pros of this approach undoubtedly outweigh the cons, as though it would be nice if eachCall of Dutygame was supported for longer and had more time in development, yearly releases mean that the series is always relevant.
Not only were yearly releases in place back whenCall of Dutywas dropping hit after hit from 2007-2012, butCall of Duty’s sales numbers continue to impress. For all the complaints fans have about the newer entries, they are still selling, withCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s dazzling salesonly being the latest evidence that the yearly release schedule still works. Yearly premium games provide content to feed into the all-importantCall of Duty: Warzone, but even more crucial is that they ensureCall of Dutyis always a name being spoken by gamers. As soon as one title begins to feel a bit old, a reveal event for a new game takes place, and the hype begins all over again. Every single year, fans can expect a decent-at-worstCall of Dutygame to release sometime in October or December, which essentially allows the series to keep the FPS market cornered. No other shooter can matchCall of Duty’s consistency, and when coupled with a willingness to try new things while still paying homage to old content, the series continues to be unstoppable.
Call of Duty
Call of Duty (2003)
Call of Duty delivers the gritty realism and cinematic intensity of World War II’s epic battlefield moments like never before - through the eyes of citizen soldiers and unsung heroes from an alliance of countries who together helped shape the course of modern history.Play through the chaos of battle as part of a well-trained squad, that lays down covering fire and pulls its wounded to safety. In addition to authentic squad movements and tactics, each soldier’s distinct personality and training comes out on the battlefield. No one soldier or nation single-handedly won the war.For the first time, Call of Duty captures the war from multiple perspectives, through the eyes of American, British and Russian soldiers. Battle through 24 missions spanning 4 interconnected historical campaigns. Take on mission objectives ranging from sabotage and all-out assault to stealth, vehicle combat and rescue. Authentic weapons, locations, vehicles and sounds of war all contribute to the realism, immersing you in the most intense World War II experience yet.
