Title: “Call of Duty: From Underestimated Game to Billion-Dollar Franchise”
Subtitle: How a small team of developers turned a military shooter into a global phenomenon
By [Your Name]
[date]
[location] – Twenty years ago, a video game called “Call of Duty” was released and quickly became one of the biggest surprises in the gaming industry. As a budding video game critic at the time, I made the mistake of underestimating its potential. Little did I know that “Call of Duty” would go on to become one of the most successful and highest-grossing entertainment franchises in history.
Back in 2003, at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, I was approached by a uniformed Army soldier who asked me if I wanted to play “Call of Duty.” My first impression was not the best – the game seemed like a copycat of the already established “Medal of Honor” series. But what I didn’t know then was that the creators of “Medal of Honor” had actually moved to publisher Activision to create “Call of Duty.”
“Call of Duty” was released on October 29, 2003, for PC platforms. It was developed by a team of only 27 people who aimed to capture the feeling of boots-on-the-ground infantry action. Little did they know that their ambition would lead to the creation of a franchise that would gross over $1 billion in just 10 days with its 2021 release of “Modern Warfare II.”
With over 425 million copies sold in 20 years, “Call of Duty” now holds the title of the fourth best-selling game franchise in history, following only Mario, Tetris, and Pokémon. Since 2009, a “Call of Duty” game has consistently been the best-selling game of the year.
Recently, the franchise made headlines again as publisher Activision Blizzard was acquired by tech giant Microsoft for a whopping $69 billion. Sony PlayStation executives fought to keep the franchise on their platform due to its immense popularity among PlayStation players. In 2021 alone, “Call of Duty” accounted for at least $1 billion in sales for Sony.
Over the years, “Call of Duty” has evolved its business model to keep up with the changing landscape of the gaming industry. According to franchise general manager Johanna Faries, “There are so many different genres, so many different platform dynamics to consider.” Faries emphasizes that the core of the experience is amazing gameplay, but the franchise also focuses on partnerships across different entertainment mediums.
The influence of “Call of Duty” extends beyond the gaming community. It has inspired the creation of dedicated websites and social media accounts, such as CharlieIntel.com, which covers “Call of Duty” news and boasts 3.6 million followers. The series’ annual release schedule has helped it snowball to around 100 million players a month.
Throughout its history, “Call of Duty” has introduced new content, settings, and gameplay modes to keep players engaged. It has ventured into the smartphone space with “Call of Duty: Mobile,” and introduced the free-to-play model with “Warzone,” following the success of games like “Fortnite.”
“Call of Duty” has also managed to appeal to a wider audience by incorporating A-list celebrities into its stories and allowing players to embody famous figures like Nicki Minaj, Snoop Dogg, and Bruce Willis in “Warzone.” These celebrity tie-ins reflect the franchise’s shift towards providing entertainment and joy to players beyond the confines of a wartime simulator.
As the latest installment, “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III,” prepares to release in November, it is clear that the franchise’s legacy is far from over. With its continued innovation, strategic partnerships, and devoted fanbase, “Call of Duty” is poised to dominate the gaming industry for years to come.
In a world where video games have become the highest grossing entertainment business, “Call of Duty” stands tall as a testament to the power of immersive gameplay, community engagement, and adaptability. It is a reminder that even the biggest miscalculations can lead to remarkable success in the dynamic world of gaming.