Call of Duty: A legendary franchise captivating gamers worldwide. 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
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Call of Duty
Release Date: October 29, 2003 Developer: Infinity Ward
Launched in 2003, the original Call of Duty offered both single-player and multiplayer experiences set during World War II. The single-player campaign featured four distinct perspectives: American, British, Soviet, and Allied, each showcasing historically-inspired missions. Multiplayer focused on objective-based gameplay like capturing flags and control points. The game included 26 diverse missions, ranging from training exercises to intense urban battles.
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Call of Duty 2
Release Date: October 25, 2005 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
Call of Duty 2 remained in the World War II setting, refining the original formula. Key improvements included automatic health regeneration while in cover and the removal of a visible health bar. The game maintained the multiple campaign structure, each offering varied missions based on real historical events. The American, British, and Soviet campaigns offered diverse gameplay experiences. Multiplayer largely mirrored the first game. 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
Call of Duty 3, an Xbox exclusive, marked a shift. The single-player campaign featured a unified storyline rather than separate campaigns, introducing new actions like rowing a boat. Split-screen multiplayer was added, allowing for local co-op. Technically, the game boasted improved visuals and animations compared to its predecessors. This installment notably included civilians (non-playable) and omitted handguns from the campaign.
Image: blog.activision.com
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Release Date: November 5, 2007 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare dramatically changed the series' setting, moving to a modern-day conflict. Set in 2011, the game presented an alternate reality where players must prevent a nuclear catastrophe. Two campaigns, American and British, offered distinct perspectives. New features included Arcade Mode, cheat codes, and the introduction of player classes in multiplayer, laying the foundation for future installments.
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Call of Duty: World at War
Release Date: November 11, 2008 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
Call of Duty: World at War returned to the World War II setting, featuring American and Soviet campaigns. While graphically improved, the core gameplay remained similar to previous WWII titles. However, it introduced the popular Nazi Zombies mode, a cooperative horde mode that would become a staple of the series. Other innovations included enemy dismemberment, the flamethrower, and further character class customization.
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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, this installment continued the modern-day storyline set in 2016. New gameplay mechanics, such as climbing and underwater sequences, were introduced, though limited to specific missions. Multiplayer received enhancements, including dual-wielding pistols, new modes, a deeper perk system, and the ability to call in airstrikes and artillery.
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Call of Duty: Black Ops
Release Date: November 9, 2010 Developer: Treyarch Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops, while a continuation of the World at War storyline, shifted the setting to the Cold War era. Players take on the role of a CIA agent, engaging in various missions to avert a global crisis. The single-player campaign received incremental improvements, while multiplayer introduced in-game currency, character skins, contracts, and a wagering system. The popular Zombies mode returned.
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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 story from Modern Warfare 2, retaining popular characters and focusing on refinement rather than radical changes. The game's success set a new record for entertainment launches 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 experimented with a dual-timeline campaign, showcasing events in both 1980s and 2020s. The campaign featured player choices affecting the storyline and multiple endings. Multiplayer enhancements included improved AI and the ability to choose equipment and weapons before battles.
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Call of Duty: Ghosts
Release Date: November 5, 2013 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Ghosts introduced new characters and a new storyline, expanding the setting to include space combat and an alien-themed mode. Character customization options, including a female playable character, were added, along with destructible environments and a revised perk system.
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Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Release Date: November 4, 2014 Developer: Sledgehammer Games Download: Steam
Advanced Warfare took the series to a futuristic setting, featuring advanced technology, exoskeletons, and corporations controlling private military companies. The game introduced exoskeleton-based movement and combat, vertical gameplay, and a new alien-themed mode.
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Call of Duty: Black Ops III
Release Date: November 6, 2015 Developer: Treyarch Download: Steam
Black Ops III continued the futuristic Black Ops storyline, featuring cybernetic enhancements, jetpacks, wall-running, and underwater combat. Nine specialists were added, 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 presented a standalone storyline set on Mars, focusing on resource acquisition and colonization. Multiplayer introduced customizable exoskeletons with upgradeable abilities.
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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered
Release Date: November 4, 2016 Developer: Raven Software Download: Steam
A remaster of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, this version updated the 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, WWII featured a focus on historical accuracy and squad-based combat. New features included "heroic actions" and the return of medkits. Multiplayer expanded the player count and introduced new game modes and classes.
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Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
Release Date: October 12, 2018 Developer: Treyarch Download: Steam
Black Ops 4 omitted a traditional single-player campaign, instead offering standalone Specialist missions. Multiplayer featured increased 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, this installment presented a new storyline focusing on modern terrorism and controversial themes. Gameplay changes included increased weapon recoil, the addition of bipods, and a revised Killstreaks system.
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Call of Duty: Warzone
Release Date: March 10, 2020 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
Warzone introduced a free-to-play battle royale mode, featuring classic battle royale, Rebirth (with respawns), and Plunder (money-based) modes. New mechanics included the "downed" state and the Gulag 1v1 system.
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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered
Release Date: March 31, 2020 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: callofduty.com
Another remaster, focusing on visual and audio improvements to Modern Warfare 2.
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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 during the Cold War, Black Ops Cold War featured a single-player campaign spanning various global locations. Zombies mode received significant updates, including customizable loadouts and upgraded armor.
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Call of Duty: Vanguard
Release Date: November 5, 2021 Developer: Sledgehammer Games Download: Steam
A return to World War II, Vanguard featured a multi-perspective campaign and a record-breaking 20 multiplayer maps.
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Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0
Release Date: November 16, 2022 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
Warzone 2.0, integrated with Modern Warfare II, introduced 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 sequel to the 2019 Modern Warfare, this game focused on the fight against terrorism and drug cartels. Gameplay refinements included wall breaching, revised swimming and vehicle mechanics, and an enhanced character customization system.
Image: store.steampowered.com
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, offering a campaign with increased combat focus and a record 24 multiplayer maps. A new "Slaughter" mode was also introduced.
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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 War. New mechanics include climbing, sliding, slide tackles, and improved movement and aiming systems. Zombies mode is restructured into separate rounds.
The Call of Duty franchise, spanning 25 games, continues to thrive by balancing challenge, realism, and player interaction. Its consistent evolution and engaging gameplay have secured its place as a leading first-person shooter franchise.
