Call of Duty: Shaping Modern Pop Culture

Call of Duty is a globally renowned and beloved video game franchise. Let's explore its history chronologically, detailing each game's 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

Call of Duty
Release Date: October 29, 2003
Developer: Infinity Ward

The inaugural Call of Duty, released in 2003, featured both single-player and multiplayer modes set during World War II. The single-player campaign encompassed four distinct perspectives: American, British, Soviet, and Allied, each presenting a series of historically-inspired missions. Multiplayer focused on objective-based gameplay like capturing and holding points or flags. The game boasted 26 diverse missions, ranging from training exercises to intense urban battles.

Image: youtube.com

Call of Duty 2
Release Date: October 25, 2005
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam

Maintaining the World War II setting, Call of Duty 2 introduced automatic health regeneration while in cover and removed the health bar. The game featured American, British, and Soviet campaigns, each with varied missions based on real historical events. Multiplayer remained largely similar to the first game, concluding with a documentary about World War II.

Image: riotpixels.com

Call of Duty 3
Release Date: November 7, 2006
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Xbox

An Xbox exclusive, Call of Duty 3 streamlined the single-player campaign into a unified storyline, adding new actions like rowing a boat. Split-screen multiplayer was introduced, and the game featured improved graphics and animations. This installment notably included civilians 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

Shifting from World War II to a modern setting, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare presented an alternate reality where players prevented a nuclear catastrophe. The game featured American and British campaigns, introduced an Arcade Mode, cheat codes, and a class-based multiplayer system.

Image: polygon.com

Call of Duty: World at War
Release Date: November 11, 2008
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam

Returning to World War II with American and Soviet campaigns, Call of Duty: World at War offered improved graphics and AI. It introduced a zombie horde mode and features like enemy dismemberment and a customizable class system, laying the groundwork for the Black Ops sub-series.

Image: pinterest.com

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Release Date: November 10, 2009
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam

A sequel to Modern Warfare, this installment featured new gameplay mechanics like climbing and underwater movement. Multiplayer additions included dual-wielding pistols, new game modes, a refined perk system, and the ability to call in airstrikes.

Image: youtube.com

Call of Duty: Black Ops
Release Date: November 9, 2010
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam

Set in the Cold War era, Call of Duty: Black Ops featured a single-player campaign focusing on a CIA agent's missions. It introduced in-game currency, character and weapon skins, contracts, and a wagering game mode, alongside the familiar class system and zombie mode.

Image: moddb.com

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Release Date: November 8, 2011
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam

Continuing the Modern Warfare storyline, this game refined existing mechanics and enhanced visuals and sound, achieving record-breaking sales.

Image: youtube.com

Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Release Date: November 13, 2012
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam

The Black Ops II campaign spanned two time periods (1980s and 2020s), offering player choices impacting the storyline and multiple endings. It introduced improved AI and Strike Force missions with squad control.

Image: youtube.com

Call of Duty: Ghosts
Release Date: November 5, 2013
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam

Featuring a new protagonist and storyline, Call of Duty: Ghosts included space battles and an alien combat mode. It offered character customization, destructible environments, and a revised perk system.

Image: newsor.net

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Release Date: November 4, 2014
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam

Set in a futuristic world dominated by private military corporations, Advanced Warfare featured exoskeletons, drones, and vertical gameplay.

Image: youtube.com

Call of Duty: Black Ops III
Release Date: November 6, 2015
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam

Black Ops III featured cybernetic enhancements, jetpacks, wall-running, and underwater combat. Nine specialists expanded the class system.

Image: wsj.com

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
Release Date: November 4, 2016
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam

Set in space, Infinite Warfare introduced customizable exoskeletons in its multiplayer mode.

Image: store.steampowered.com

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered
Release Date: November 4, 2016
Developer: Raven Software
Download: Steam

A remaster of the original Modern Warfare, this version updated 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, this game featured "heroic actions," medkits, and allied NPC assistance in the campaign, along with expanded multiplayer options.

Image: youtube.com

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
Release Date: October 12, 2018
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam

Black Ops 4 omitted a traditional campaign, instead offering standalone Specialist missions. It featured increased player health, a 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 tackled contemporary social issues and featured controversial content. It introduced increased weapon recoil, bipods, and a revised Killstreaks system.

Image: youtube.com

Call of Duty: Warzone
Release Date: March 10, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam

A standalone battle royale game with classic battle royale, Rebirth (with respawns), and Plunder (money collection) modes. It introduced a "downed" state and the Gulag one-on-one combat system.

Image: youtube.com

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 improved visuals, audio, and animations.

Image: store.steampowered.com

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Release Date: November 13, 2020
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam

Set in the early 1980s, Black Ops Cold War featured a single-player campaign spanning various global locations. The zombie mode introduced player loadouts, tactical item drops, and an upgrade system.

Image: news.blizzard.com

Call of Duty: Vanguard
Release Date: November 5, 2021
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam

Returning to World War II, Vanguard featured a multi-perspective campaign and a record-breaking 20 multiplayer maps.

Image: championat.com

Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0
Release Date: November 16, 2022
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam

A sequel to Warzone, featuring ammo sharing, an updated Gulag, and a new DMZ mode.

Image: callofduty.fandom.com

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
Release Date: October 28, 2022
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam

A sequel to the 2019 Modern Warfare, focusing on the fight against terrorists and drug cartels. It featured wall-breaching, revised swimming and vehicle mechanics, and a detailed 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, featuring a large-scale campaign and a record 24 multiplayer maps, along with a new "Slaughter" mode.

Image: moddb.com

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. It introduces new mechanics such as climbing, sliding, and a smart movement system. The zombie mode is now divided into separate rounds.

The Call of Duty franchise, spanning 25 games, maintains its popularity through a balance of challenging yet rewarding gameplay, realistic elements, and engaging multiplayer experiences. Consistent improvement and innovation across its titles have cemented its place as a leading first-person shooter franchise.