Table of Contents

How Many People Are Playing Call of Duty in 2023?

The Call of Duty franchise remains a juggernaut in the gaming world, but pinning down an exact number of active players in 2023 is like trying to nail jelly to a wall. It’s a moving target, fluctuating based on new releases, seasonal events, and even the time of day. However, based on available data, we can piece together a comprehensive picture. While precise real-time figures are closely guarded by Activision, we can say with reasonable certainty that millions of players are engaging with the Call of Duty ecosystem across various platforms daily in 2023. Here’s why:

Multiple Platforms: Call of Duty isn’t confined to a single platform. It thrives on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and even mobile (Call of Duty: Mobile). Tracking player counts across all these avenues requires access to Activision’s internal data, which isn’t publicly available.
Game Variety: The “Call of Duty” umbrella encompasses multiple titles, including Modern Warfare II (MWII), Warzone 2.0, and soon, Modern Warfare III (MWIII). Each game attracts a distinct (though sometimes overlapping) player base.
Data Limitations: While Steam provides some insight into PC player numbers, it only represents a fraction of the overall picture. Console numbers are largely opaque, and mobile data is also difficult to acquire comprehensively.

With these caveats in mind, let’s examine the available information:

PC (Steam) Figures:

Modern Warfare II (including Warzone 2.0): As of June 2023, Modern Warfare II on Steam averaged around 65,000 concurrent players. This figure includes players engaging in the Campaign, Multiplayer, Warzone 2.0, and DMZ modes. By July 2023, this average dipped slightly to 60,512.
Decline from Earlier Months: The peak PC player count reached 156,956 in March and a high of 308,833 in December, indicating a decline throughout 2023, although this is a natural trend for most games as they age.
Warzone 2.0 Decline: Specifically, Warzone 2.0 on Steam saw a significant drop, from an average monthly player count of 223,897 in May to approximately 73,000 – a 67% decrease.

Overall Player Base:

100 Million Monthly Active Users: Activision reported 100 million monthly active users of Call of Duty at the end of 2020. This number likely fluctuated, and precise 2023 data hasn’t been officially released.
250 Million Players in 2020: By the end of 2020, the series had over 250 million players, a substantial increase from the 70 million in 2018.

Conclusion:

While a precise number for the total number of people actively playing Call of Duty in 2023 remains elusive, we can infer that millions are still engaged across various platforms and titles within the franchise. PC data shows some decline throughout the year, which isn’t unusual, and the release of Modern Warfare III in November 2023 will undoubtedly revitalize the player base. Remember to follow the GamesLearningSociety.org to stay updated on the latest research and discussions on video games and learning.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Call of Duty Player Base

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to provide additional valuable information about the Call of Duty player base:

1. Is the Call of Duty player base dropping?

Yes, data from platforms like Steam suggests a decline in the PC player base for Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0 since early 2023. This is a normal trend for games after their initial launch period. The release of new titles and content updates often lead to temporary surges in player count.

2. What age group plays Call of Duty?

Call of Duty attracts a diverse audience, but the primary age group is 21 to 35 years old. However, a significant portion of players are aged 10 to 20. The player base skews male.

3. What is the most played Call of Duty game?

While individual game popularity fluctuates, the Black Ops series is generally considered the most consistently popular within the Call of Duty franchise.

4. What will Call of Duty 2023 be?

Call of Duty 2023 is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (MWIII), set to launch globally on November 10, 2023.

5. Will Call of Duty weapons carry over to MWIII?

Yes, Activision confirmed that weapons and other content from Modern Warfare II will carry over to Modern Warfare III.

6. Is Call of Duty going away?

No. Microsoft and PlayStation have a binding agreement to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation following Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

7. Is Call of Duty OK for a 12-year-old?

Call of Duty is rated M for Mature (17+) by the ESRB, citing intense violence, blood, drug references, and strong language. However, some parents allow children 12+ to play, especially with the Graphic Content filter enabled in the game settings, which removes blood, gore, and explicit language. Parental discretion is advised.

8. What is the best-selling video game of all time?

Minecraft is the best-selling video game of all time, with over 300 million copies sold across all platforms.

9. What is the most played video game right now?

As of August 2023, Minecraft was the most played PC game.

10. What is the number one mobile game?

Royal Match, Roblox, and Candy Crush Saga are among the top mobile games of 2023.

11. What is Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera?

Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera was a free-to-play battle royale game that was shut down on September 21, 2023, as Activision focused on future Call of Duty content, including the current Warzone free-to-play experience.

12. How many people play Fortnite?

According to third-party sources, Fortnite has an average of 239 million monthly players and a peak of 15 million players in a day.

13. What caused the decline in Warzone 2.0 players on Steam?

Several factors could contribute to the decline in Warzone 2.0 players, including:

The release of new games.
Player fatigue after extended play.
Balancing issues or disliked gameplay changes.
Increased popularity of other battle royale games.

14. Does Call of Duty have a large esports scene?

Yes, Call of Duty has a significant and well-established esports scene, known as the Call of Duty League (CDL). The league features professional teams competing for substantial prize pools.

15. Where can I learn more about the impact of gaming on society?

You can learn more about the impact of gaming on society by visiting the Games Learning Society website. The Games Learning Society is an organization dedicated to understanding the intersection of games, learning, and culture. Visit them at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ to delve deeper into research and discussions on these topics.

By understanding these aspects of the Call of Duty franchise, one can form a comprehensive picture of its massive and ever-evolving player base in 2023.

How many people are playing Call of Duty 2023?