Now, when we hear the magic words of Call of Duty, the Activision franchise that comes out every year and sells millions of games comes to mind. An unprecedented success within the reach of very few companies that next year, in 2023, will complete no more and no less than two decades. 20 years in which wars have accompanied us on consoles and computers with practically no rest.
A success that comes thanks to Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor was the title chosen starting in 1999 to turn the hit movie Saving Private Ryan into video games . Steven Spielberg’s film, already a classic, served as the hook for a new generation of war titles. The success of the Electronic Arts franchise (Dreamworks Interactive originally) caused part of the team that developed the games to separate and end up creating an alternative to what they called Call of Duty, or The Call of Duty . Although in those early years (2003) the competition was fierce, over time only Activision’s IP remained, which, miraculously, has survived to this day.
And although many of the games that make up the saga have been unprecedented sales successes, we have to remember the ten key moments of this franchise, for the contributions they made to the Call of Duty phenomenon that we live today. And they are these:
Call of Duty (2003)
This is the original game, released for PC and was a resounding success. Focused on events of World War II, it outlined in a very basic way some of the ingredients that Call of Duty would have in the future. At that first moment, its resemblance to the Electronic Arts Medal of Honor was more than striking , which did not prevent it from becoming a bestseller.
Call of Duty Modern Warfare (2007)
After two more games focused on World War II, Activision decides to take a radical turn and makes the first of many successful decisions. Far from the battlefields in Europe during the 40s of the last century, it focuses on the Middle East and the terrorist threat, something that in the following years would have a dramatic reflection on reality itself because of 9/11 in the US. How could it be otherwise, this game was a complete success.
Call of Duty World at War (2008)
The uproar of modern combat lasted little for Activision and at the first opportunity it had, it returned to its origins, to World War II. On this occasion, this title is important for the saga because it marks the arrival of one of the most celebrated modes of the franchise, such as the zombies. From that moment on, it became one of the players’ favourites, although it took a few more years to perfect it definitively.
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
What to say about the game that marks the before and after of the entire saga. Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 became the franchise’s best-selling game up to that point and the one that definitively catapulted the brand to almost the levels it has today. In addition, its success had an unexpected consequence because it meant the departure of Activision from Vince Zampella, one of the bosses of the study, who decided to leave quite angry for not participating financially in the success of the game. As a result of that decision, Respawn Entertainment would be created and Titanfall 1 and 2 or Apex Legends would be born .
Call of Duty Black Ops (2010)
It is, so far, the best-selling Call of Duty and the first to experiment with a new war, which is essentially covert operations during the Cold War. On this occasion, we will visit tropical lands, Vietnam or Cambodia and we will delve into those times of communist revolutions that devastated a world divided in two, with blocks on one side and the other of the famous Iron Curtain. One of the best remembered games of the entire franchise.
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 (2011)
Call of Duty dared to imagine a little more than a decade ago what a Third World War would be like, although the importance of this title comes with the multiplayer , which is what lays the foundations for what we have today. With this game the rankings begin to arrive, the multiplayer game ecosystem and the levels in the weapons or the help to the most novices to fight with other more experienced players. Spec Ops also enter the scene , which will be another attraction of the franchise.
Call of Duty Infinite Warfare (2016)
Activision, surely tired of more or less real conflicts (almost all of them), decides to travel to the future to develop a delivery in which never-before-seen weapons appear, futuristic, and that substantially modify the way of fighting in the game up to that moment. The jumps with the jet pack and other innovations do not sit well with some players who suddenly see influences from other competitors such as Titanfall (that of Vince Zameplla). In the end, by dint of playing games, the initial complaints did not reach more but with the next installment (just in case) they disappeared.
Call of Duty Black Ops III (2018)
One of the most recent installments in the series will be remembered, not so much for its technical quality or innovations, as for the fact that Call of Duty Black Ops III was the first to voluntarily decide to avoid the presence of a single player campaign. This mode had always been one of the most requested by players, which is why it caused a rejection among a good part of the gamers who only dare to enjoy each new Call of Duty just for its history. Luckily, in the following years the custom returned without problems and since then there has been no lack of a good story to enjoy.
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 Remastered (2020)
Activision wanted to celebrate ten years of the game that made Call of Duty the phenomenon it is right now by launching a remaster of the 2009 classic, with a significant improvement in graphics and wondering if the airport mission should be included. In this version, for obvious reasons, we only have the campaign mode since the entire multiplayer part was eliminated. Logically, this decision had a lot to do with the fact that it arrived the same year as Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War , which already brought its own multiplayer ecosystem to feed, not only the community that expects a new installment every year, but also that for eSports that Activision has been promoting for some time.
Call of Duty Warzone (2020)
And we come to the last turning point of the franchise. A key moment that is the launch of its own Battle Royale. A completely free, permanent game that is a service in itself and that coexisted at its launch with Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War . This time Warzone offers us a huge map and games in which a maximum of 150 players face each other to fight until there is only one left.
Another success for Activision that, after the launch of Call of Duty Vanguard last year (2021), and which marked the return of World War II to the franchise, could take a break in 2022 waiting for what they decide make their new owners next year. Remember that we come from a record purchase by Microsoft and that one of the most prolific sagas in the history of video games has to see how it focuses its next few years. Only available for Xbox and PC consoles? Or will it keep its multi-platform spirit?
