Call of Duty is a globally renowned and beloved video game franchise. Let's explore its history through a chronological overview of each game.
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
The original Call of Duty, released in 2003, features both single-player and multiplayer modes set during World War II. The single-player campaign comprises four distinct storylines: American, British, Soviet, and Allied. Each campaign unfolds through a series of historically-inspired missions, offering diverse gameplay experiences and showcasing the weaponry and equipment of various armies. The multiplayer mode focused on objective-based gameplay, such as capturing and holding points or flags.
Call of Duty 2
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Release Date: October 25, 2005 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
Maintaining the World War II setting, Call of Duty 2 built upon its predecessor. Key improvements included automatic health regeneration while in cover and the removal of the traditional 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.
Call of Duty 3
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Release Date: November 7, 2006 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Xbox
Released exclusively for Xbox, Call of Duty 3 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, and the game boasted improved graphics, animation, and lighting. This installment also notably included civilians and omitted handguns from the campaign.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Image: blog.activision.com
Release Date: November 5, 2007 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare ventured into a modern setting, shifting the series' focus to a contemporary conflict. Set in 2011, the game tasked players with preventing a nuclear catastrophe through American and British campaigns. New additions included Arcade Mode, cheat codes, and the introduction of character classes in multiplayer, a feature that would become a staple of the series.
Call of Duty: World at War
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Release Date: November 11, 2008 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
A return to World War II, Call of Duty: World at War featured American and Soviet campaigns. While retaining the core gameplay, the game boasted improved graphics, AI, and special effects. Significantly, it introduced a Nazi zombie horde mode, playable solo or cooperatively, and incorporated features like enemy dismemberment and the flamethrower.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
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Release Date: November 10, 2009 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
A direct sequel to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, this installment continued the modern warfare storyline. Set in 2016, the single-player campaign introduced new gameplay elements like climbing and underwater scuba diving, while the multiplayer mode added features such as dual-wielding pistols, new game modes, an enhanced perk system, and the ability to call in airstrikes.
Call of Duty: Black Ops
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Release Date: November 9, 2010 Developer: Treyarch Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops marked the beginning of the Black Ops sub-series, shifting the setting to the Cold War era. Players took on the role of a CIA agent, engaging in dangerous missions to prevent global catastrophe. The game introduced in-game currency, character and weapon skins, contracts, and a wagering game mode.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
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Release Date: November 8, 2011 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
Modern Warfare 3 continued the Modern Warfare storyline, retaining familiar characters and refining existing mechanics. The game focused on enhancing existing features rather than introducing radical changes, resulting in a highly successful launch.
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
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Release Date: November 13, 2012 Developer: Treyarch Download: Steam
Black Ops II presented a unique narrative structure, spanning two distinct time periods (2025-2026 and 1986-1989). The campaign featured player choices impacting the storyline and multiple possible endings. Improvements included pre-battle equipment selection, Strike Force missions with character switching, and significantly improved AI.
Call of Duty: Ghosts
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Release Date: November 5, 2013 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Ghosts introduced a new protagonist and storyline, expanding the setting to include space battles and alien encounters. Character customization options, including a female playable character, were added, along with destructible environments and a revised perk system.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
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Release Date: November 4, 2014 Developer: Sledgehammer Games Download: Steam
Advanced Warfare projected the series into a futuristic setting dominated by private military corporations. The game featured exoskeletons, drones, and other advanced technology. Vertical gameplay was incorporated, and the game also included an alien combat mode.
Call of Duty: Black Ops III
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Release Date: November 6, 2015 Developer: Treyarch Download: Steam
Black Ops III continued the Black Ops storyline, set approximately forty years after Black Ops II. Cybernetic enhancements, including transformable limbs and hacking capabilities, were central to the gameplay. Jetpacks, wall-running, and underwater combat were also incorporated.
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
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Release Date: November 4, 2016 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
Infinite Warfare presented a standalone storyline set on Mars, focusing on the search for resources and habitable locations. While the single-player campaign didn't introduce major mechanical changes, the multiplayer mode featured customizable exoskeletons with upgradeable features.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered
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Release Date: November 4, 2016 Developer: Raven Software Download: Steam
A remaster of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, this version focused on enhanced audio, visuals, and animations while largely preserving the original gameplay. New achievements and cheat codes were added.
Call of Duty: WWII
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Release Date: November 3, 2017 Developer: Sledgehammer Games Download: Steam
A return to the World War II setting, Call of Duty: WWII featured a campaign with "heroic actions" and the return of medkits. Multiplayer included new game modes, larger lobbies (up to 48 players), and specialized classes.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
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Release Date: October 12, 2018 Developer: Treyarch Download: Steam
Black Ops 4 omitted the traditional single-player campaign, instead offering standalone Specialist missions. The game featured increased player health, stimulant-based healing, a new "fog of war" system, and a 100-player battle royale mode.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
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Release Date: October 25, 2019 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
A reboot of the Modern Warfare sub-series, this installment presented a new storyline focusing on contemporary terrorism. The game featured increased weapon recoil, the introduction of bipods, and the return of the Killstreaks system. Spec Ops mode included both new and classic missions.
Call of Duty: Warzone
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Release Date: March 10, 2020 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
Warzone was 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, a 1v1 arena for a second chance.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered
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Release Date: March 31, 2020 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: callofduty.com
Similar to the Modern Warfare remaster, this version updated the visuals, sound, and animations of Modern Warfare 2.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
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Release Date: November 13, 2020 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
Set in 1981, Black Ops Cold War featured a single-player campaign spanning various global locations. The zombies mode received significant updates, including player loadouts, tactical item drops, upgradeable armor, and a mini-map.
Call of Duty: Vanguard
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Release Date: November 5, 2021 Developer: Sledgehammer Games Download: Steam
Another World War II entry, Vanguard featured a campaign divided into an overarching storyline and individual character backstories. Multiplayer boasted a record-breaking 20 maps.
Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0
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Release Date: November 16, 2022 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
Warzone 2.0, integrated with Modern Warfare II, featured ammo sharing, an updated Gulag (supporting up to 4 players), and a new DMZ mode with faction-based tasks.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
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Release Date: October 28, 2022 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
A direct sequel to the 2019 Modern Warfare, Modern Warfare II focused on combating terrorism and drug trafficking. Gameplay refinements included wall breaching, revised swimming and vehicle mechanics, and a detailed character customization system.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
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Release Date: November 2, 2023 Developer: Sledgehammer Games Download: Steam
Modern Warfare III combined elements from the previous two Modern Warfare titles. The campaign offered a combat-focused experience with more freedom of approach. Multiplayer featured a record 24 maps and a new "Slaughter" mode.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
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Release Date: October 25, 2024 Developer: Treyarch and Raven Software Download: Steam
Set in the 1990s during the Persian Gulf conflict, Black Ops 6 reintroduced significant gameplay changes, including climbing, sliding, slide tackles, improved movement systems, and updated hit reactions. The zombies mode was restructured into separate rounds.
The Call of Duty franchise currently boasts 25 games, consistently delivering a compelling blend of challenging gameplay, realistic settings, and engaging multiplayer experiences. For over two decades, the series has refined its mechanics while introducing innovative features, captivating players worldwide.
