The phenomenon of modern pop culture: the formation of Call of Duty

Call of Duty is a globally renowned and beloved video game franchise. Let's explore its history, game by game, in chronological order.

Table of Contents

• Call of Duty
• Call of Duty 2
• Call of Duty 3
• Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
• Call of Duty: World at War
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
• Call of Duty: Black Ops
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
• Call of Duty: Black Ops II
• Call of Duty: Ghosts
• Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
• Call of Duty: Black Ops III
• Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered
• Call of Duty: WWII
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
• Call of Duty: Warzone
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered
• Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
• Call of Duty: Vanguard
• Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Call of Duty

Release Date: October 29, 2003 Developer: Infinity Ward

The original Call of Duty, released in 2003, introduced players to a World War II setting with both single-player and multiplayer modes. The single-player campaign featured four distinct perspectives: American, British, Soviet, and Allied, each offering a series of historically-inspired missions. Multiplayer focused on objective-based gameplay like capturing flags or control points. The game included diverse missions, from training exercises and night battles to naval sabotage and large-scale urban combat, totaling 26 missions.

Call of Duty 2

Release Date: October 25, 2005 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

Maintaining the World War II theme, Call of Duty 2 refined the gameplay of its predecessor. A key change was the automatic health regeneration while in cover, eliminating the traditional health bar. The game featured American, British, and Soviet campaigns, each with varied missions based on historical events. Multiplayer remained largely similar to the first game. A post-game documentary provided historical context.

Call of Duty 3

Release Date: November 7, 2006 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Xbox

Call of Duty 3, an Xbox exclusive, continued the World War II setting but with a unified storyline instead of separate campaigns. New actions, such as rowing a boat, were introduced, and split-screen multiplayer was added. The game featured improved graphics and animations compared to its predecessors. This was also the first game to include civilians, although handguns were absent from the campaign.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Release Date: November 5, 2007 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

Call of Duty 4 marked a significant shift, moving away from World War II to a modern setting in 2011. Players faced a global threat of nuclear catastrophe across American and British campaigns. New features included an Arcade Mode, cheat codes, and the introduction of classes in multiplayer, each with unique strengths and weaknesses.

Call of Duty: World at War

Release Date: November 11, 2008 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

Returning to World War II, Call of Duty: World at War offered American and Soviet campaigns. While improving graphics and AI, the core gameplay remained similar to previous WWII titles. However, it introduced a popular new mode: Nazi Zombie hordes, playable solo or cooperatively. Features like enemy dismemberment and the flamethrower were also added.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Release Date: November 10, 2009 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

A sequel to Modern Warfare, this game continued the modern conflict in 2016. New gameplay elements like climbing and underwater movement were introduced, though limited to specific missions. Multiplayer expanded with features like dual-wielding pistols, new modes, a deeper perk system, and the ability to call in airstrikes and artillery.

Call of Duty: Black Ops

Release Date: November 9, 2010 Developer: Treyarch Download: Steam

Black Ops shifted the setting to the Cold War era. The single-player campaign focused on a CIA agent's missions. New additions included in-game currency, character and weapon skins, contracts, a wagering mode, and visual character changes based on perk upgrades. Multiplayer retained classes and perks, and Zombies mode made its return.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Release Date: November 8, 2011 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

Modern Warfare 3 directly followed Modern Warfare 2, continuing the story and characters. The developers focused on refining existing mechanics and enhancing visuals and sound, resulting in a highly successful launch.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II

Release Date: November 13, 2012 Developer: Treyarch Download: Steam

Black Ops II featured a unique campaign spanning two time periods (1980s and 2020s), with player choices impacting the narrative. New features included multiple endings, pre-battle equipment selection, and improved AI.

Call of Duty: Ghosts

Release Date: November 5, 2013 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

Ghosts introduced a new protagonist and storyline, featuring combat in both terrestrial and space settings, including a mode against alien enemies. Character customization and destructible environments were also added.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

Release Date: November 4, 2014 Developer: Sledgehammer Games Download: Steam

Advanced Warfare took players to a technologically advanced future, controlled by private military corporations. The game featured exoskeletons, drones, and other futuristic weaponry.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III

Release Date: November 6, 2015 Developer: Treyarch Download: Steam

Black Ops III continued the Black Ops storyline in a futuristic setting, featuring cybernetic enhancements and wall-running abilities.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare

Release Date: November 4, 2016 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

Infinite Warfare offered a standalone storyline set on Mars, introducing new exoskeletons in multiplayer.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered

Release Date: November 4, 2016 Developer: Raven Software Download: Steam

A remaster of the original Modern Warfare, focusing on updated visuals and audio.

Call of Duty: WWII

Release Date: November 3, 2017 Developer: Sledgehammer Games Download: Steam

A return to the World War II setting, featuring updated gameplay mechanics and a larger multiplayer map capacity.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

Release Date: October 12, 2018 Developer: Treyarch Download: Steam

Black Ops 4 featured a battle royale mode and removed the traditional single-player campaign.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)

Release Date: October 25, 2019 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

A reboot of the Modern Warfare series, featuring a controversial storyline and updated gameplay mechanics.

Call of Duty: Warzone

Release Date: March 10, 2020 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

A standalone battle royale game.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered

Release Date: March 31, 2020 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: callofduty.com

Another remastered title, focusing on visual and audio improvements.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

Release Date: November 13, 2020 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

Set during the Cold War era, with a focus on the 1980s.

Call of Duty: Vanguard

Release Date: November 5, 2021 Developer: Sledgehammer Games Download: Steam

A return to the World War II setting.

Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0

Release Date: November 16, 2022 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

An updated version of Warzone with new features.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II

Release Date: October 28, 2022 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

A sequel to the 2019 Modern Warfare.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

Release Date: November 2, 2023 Developer: Sledgehammer Games Download: Steam

The third installment in the rebooted Modern Warfare series.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Release Date: October 25, 2024 Developer: Treyarch and Raven Software Download: Steam

A continuation of the Black Ops storyline, set in the 1990s.

The Call of Duty franchise, spanning 25 games, continues to captivate players with its blend of challenging gameplay, realistic settings, and engaging multiplayer experiences. The series' enduring success stems from its consistent evolution, incorporating the best aspects of previous installments while introducing fresh elements to maintain its appeal across generations of gamers.