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

The Call of Duty series is a legendary franchise that has captivated gamers worldwide since its inception. Let's take a journey through the evolution of these iconic games, listed in the order of their release:

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

Image: youtube.com

Release date: October 29, 2003
Developer: Infinity Ward
The first Call of Duty game hit the shelves in 2003, long before many current fans were even born. This game introduced both multiplayer and single-player modes, focusing on World War II with four distinct single-player campaigns:

• American campaign
• British campaign
• Soviet campaign
• Allied campaign

Each campaign consisted of a series of missions reflecting real historical events, allowing players to experience the war through the eyes of soldiers from different countries and use various weapons and equipment. The game included 26 missions, ranging from training to night battles and urban warfare. The multiplayer mode featured small missions like capturing and holding points or flags, pitting teams against each other.

Call of Duty 2

Image: youtube.com

Release date: October 25, 2005
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
The second game in the series, Call of Duty 2, also centered on World War II. It introduced automatic health regeneration when players took cover, eliminating the health bar. The game featured three campaigns:

• American campaign
• British campaign
• Soviet campaign

The multiplayer mode remained similar to the first game. At the end, players could watch a documentary on World War II.

Call of Duty 3

Image: riotpixels.com

Release date: November 7, 2006
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Xbox
Call of Duty 3, released exclusively for Xbox, shifted to a single unified storyline instead of separate campaigns. New actions like rowing a boat were introduced, along with split-screen multiplayer. The game saw significant technical improvements in animation and lighting, and for the first time, included civilians in the campaign, albeit without weapons.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Image: blog.activision.com

Release date: November 5, 2007
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
With Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, the series ventured into the modern era, setting events in 2011 to prevent a nuclear catastrophe. The game featured two campaigns:

• American campaign
• English campaign

It introduced an Arcade Mode for high scores, cheat codes for varied gameplay, and a class system in multiplayer that became a staple for the series.

Call of Duty: World at War

Image: polygon.com

Release date: November 11, 2008
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: World at War returned to World War II, despite some player fatigue. The game included two campaigns:

• American campaign
• Soviet campaign

It introduced a Nazi zombies mode, body dismemberment, flamethrowers, and character class customization, setting the stage for the Black Ops subseries.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Image: pinterest.com

Release date: February 11, 2009
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 continued the story from the previous game, set in 2016. The single-player campaign added features like climbing and underwater movement. Multiplayer saw new modes, dual-wielding pistols, a deeper perk system, and the ability to call in artillery and airstrikes.

Call of Duty: Black Ops

Image: youtube.com

Release date: November 9, 2010
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops shifted the focus to post-World War II espionage, with players undertaking missions as a CIA agent. The game introduced in-game currency, skins, contracts, and a wagering mode. It also retained familiar elements like classes and zombies mode.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Image: moddb.com

Release date: November 8, 2011
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 continued directly from its predecessor, enhancing existing mechanics and setting a new record for the most successful entertainment launch at the time.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II

Image: youtube.com

Release date: May 2, 2012
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops II introduced dual timelines and player-driven story consequences, with multiple endings. It also featured Strike Force missions where players could switch between squad members.

Call of Duty: Ghosts

Image: youtube.com

Release date: May 1, 2013
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Ghosts brought new settings, including space battles and alien encounters. It allowed character customization, female playable characters, and introduced destructible environments.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

Image: newsor.net

Release date: November 4, 2014
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare took players to a futuristic world with advanced technology and exoskeletons. Despite mixed reception, it introduced vertical gameplay and new gadgets.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III

Image: youtube.com

Release date: November 6, 2015
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops III set in a future with cybernetic enhancements, introduced jetpacks and wall-running, along with underwater combat capabilities.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare

Image: wsj.com

Release date: November 4, 2016
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare took place on Mars, introducing new exoskeletons and customization options in its multiplayer mode.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered

Image: store.steampowered.com

Release date: November 4, 2016
Developer: Raven Software
Download: Steam
The remastered version of Modern Warfare kept the core game intact, focusing on enhanced audio, visuals, and animations.

Call of Duty: WWII

Image: store.steampowered.com

Release date: November 3, 2017
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: WWII returned to the roots with a World War II setting, introducing heroic actions and medkits. The multiplayer mode expanded to 48 players and added new game modes.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

Image: youtube.com

Release date: October 12, 2018
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 shifted to a futuristic setting without a traditional campaign, focusing on standalone missions and a 100-player battle royale mode.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

Image: store.steampowered.com

Release date: May 30, 2019
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
The reboot of the Modern Warfare subseries tackled modern issues like terrorism, introducing heavy content and new mechanics like increased recoil and bipods.

Call of Duty: Warzone

Image: youtube.com

Release date: March 10, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Warzone introduced a new battle royale experience with three modes: classic battle royale, Rebirth, and Plunder. It featured the Gulag for second chances and a large map requiring vehicles.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered

Image: youtube.com

Release date: March 31, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: callofduty.com
The remastered version of Modern Warfare 2 focused on improved sound, animations, and visuals, allowing players to relive the classic campaign.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

Image: store.steampowered.com

Release date: November 13, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War set in the early 1980s, offered varied missions across multiple continents. It introduced new mechanics in the zombies mode, including loadouts and armor upgrades.

Call of Duty: Vanguard

Image: news.blizzard.com

Release date: November 5, 2021
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Vanguard returned to World War II, focusing on a short storyline and multiple backstories. It set a new record with 20 multiplayer maps.

Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0

Image: championat.com

Release date: November 16, 2022
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 was released as part of Modern Warfare II, introducing new features like shared ammo and an updated Gulag.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II

Image: callofduty.fandom.com

Release date: October 28, 2022
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II continued the fight against terrorism, introducing new mechanics like breaching walls and revised swimming and vehicle mechanics.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

Image: store.steampowered.com

Release date: November 2, 2023
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III combined the best elements from its predecessors, offering 24 multiplayer maps and a new "Slaughter" mode.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Image: moddb.com

Release date: October 25, 2024
Developer: Treyarch and Raven Software
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 continued the story from Cold War, set in the 1990s. It introduced new movement mechanics and changes to the zombies mode.

The Call of Duty franchise now boasts 25 games, with a new installment released annually, eagerly awaited by fans. The series has found a perfect balance between difficulty, realism, and player interaction, continuously improving while adding fresh elements. This balance has won the hearts of gamers worldwide, making Call of Duty one of the most popular shooter franchises in gaming history.