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 chronologically.

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

Call of Duty

Release Date: October 29, 2003 Developer: Infinity Ward

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

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Call of Duty 2

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

Call of Duty 2 continued the World War II setting, largely mirroring its predecessor. Key improvements included automatic health regeneration while in cover and the removal of the health bar. The game maintained multiple campaigns (American, British, and Soviet) with varied missions based on real historical events. Multiplayer remained similar to the first game, and a post-game documentary provided historical context.

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Call of Duty 3

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

An Xbox exclusive, Call of Duty 3 shifted the World War II narrative to a unified storyline rather than separate campaigns. New actions like rowing were introduced, and split-screen multiplayer allowed for simultaneous gameplay. Technical improvements enhanced graphics, lighting, and animations. Civilians were introduced as non-combatants, a notable addition, while handguns were absent from the campaign.

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Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

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

Call of Duty 4 marked a significant shift to a modern-day setting, creating an alternate reality. Set in 2011, the game tasked players with preventing a nuclear catastrophe through American and British campaigns. New features included Arcade Mode, cheat codes, and the introduction of player classes in multiplayer, each with unique strengths and weaknesses.

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Call of Duty: World at War

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

Returning to the World War II setting, Call of Duty: World at War offered American and Soviet campaigns with improved graphics and AI. A notable addition was the Nazi Zombie horde mode, playable solo or cooperatively. Other innovations included enemy dismemberment, the flamethrower as a weapon, and further customization of character classes.

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

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

A direct sequel to Modern Warfare, set in 2016, Modern Warfare 2 expanded gameplay with features like climbing and underwater movement. Multiplayer enhancements included dual-wielding pistols, new game modes, a deeper perk system, and the ability to call in artillery and airstrikes.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops

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

Black Ops shifted the setting to the Cold War era, following a CIA agent on dangerous missions. While the single-player campaign maintained a similar structure, it introduced in-game currency, character and weapon skins, contracts, and a wagering game mode. Multiplayer retained the class system and zombie mode.

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

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

Modern Warfare 3 continued the Modern Warfare storyline, focusing on refining existing mechanics and enhancing visuals and audio. Its successful launch set a new record at the time.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops II

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

Black Ops II presented a unique campaign spanning two time periods (2025-2026 and 1986-1989), impacting the storyline and offering multiple endings. Improvements included player equipment selection, improved AI, and Strike Force missions with squad control.

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Call of Duty: Ghosts

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

Ghosts introduced a new protagonist and storyline, expanding the setting to include space and alien encounters. Character customization, destructible environments, and perk system changes were also implemented.

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Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

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

Advanced Warfare featured a futuristic setting with advanced technology and exoskeletons. Gameplay changes included vertical movement, the use of drones and other gadgets, and a new alien-fighting mode.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops III

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

Black Ops III, set in the future, featured cybernetic limbs and hacking capabilities. Jetpacks, wall-running, and underwater combat were added, along with nine specialists expanding the class system.

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Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare

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

Infinite Warfare offered a space-based setting on Mars, introducing customizable exoskeletons in multiplayer.

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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 improved visuals, audio, and animations while largely preserving the original gameplay.

Image: store.steampowered.com

Call of Duty: WWII

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

A return to the World War II setting, featuring a focus on heroic actions, the return of medkits, and allied NPC assistance in the campaign. Multiplayer included new modes, larger lobbies, and specialized classes.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

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

Black Ops 4 featured specialist-focused missions replacing the traditional campaign. Multiplayer included increased player health, a new fog-of-war system, and a 100-player battle royale mode.

Image: store.steampowered.com

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)

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

A reboot of the Modern Warfare series, focusing on contemporary conflicts and featuring controversial content. Gameplay changes included increased recoil, bipods, and a revised Killstreaks system.

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Call of Duty: Warzone

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

A standalone battle royale game featuring classic battle royale, Rebirth (with respawns), and Plunder (money collection) modes. New mechanics included a downed state and the Gulag one-on-one arena.

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered

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

A remaster of Modern Warfare 2, focusing on visual and audio enhancements.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

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

Set in the early 1980s, Black Ops Cold War featured a single-player campaign across various global locations. The zombies mode received significant updates.

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Call of Duty: Vanguard

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

Another World War II installment, featuring a multi-perspective campaign and a record number of multiplayer maps.

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Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0

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

An updated version of Warzone, included with Modern Warfare II, featuring ammo sharing, an updated Gulag, and a new DMZ mode.

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)

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

A direct sequel to the 2019 Modern Warfare, focusing on the fight against terrorism and drug cartels. Gameplay refinements included wall breaching and revised swimming and vehicle mechanics.

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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, combining elements from its predecessors and introducing a new "Slaughter" mode.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

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

A sequel to Black Ops Cold War, set in the 1990s during the Persian Gulf conflict, introducing new movement mechanics and changes to the zombies mode.

The Call of Duty franchise has consistently balanced challenge, realism, and player interaction, resulting in its enduring popularity. For over two decades, each iteration has built upon the strengths of its predecessors while incorporating innovative elements, captivating players worldwide.