Why Does Call of Duty Keep Making Games?
The straightforward answer to the question of why Call of Duty (CoD) keeps churning out new titles year after year is simple: profitability. The franchise has consistently demonstrated its ability to generate enormous revenue for its publisher, Activision, making it a business imperative to maintain its annual release schedule. However, the story behind the annual CoD release goes deeper than simple greed. It’s a complex interplay of market demand, established development pipelines, and strategic business decisions.
The Engine of Annual Releases: Profit and Market Demand
At the core of the matter is consumer demand. Call of Duty has built a massive and dedicated fanbase, eagerly awaiting the next iteration in the franchise. Every year, millions of players purchase the latest CoD title, contributing to sales that consistently rank among the top in the gaming industry. This established demand acts as a powerful motivator for Activision to continue its annual release schedule.
The sheer numbers demonstrate the financial incentive: new CoD titles sell exceptionally well. This generates a substantial revenue stream for Activision, enabling further investment in future games and cementing the franchise’s position as a gaming behemoth. In a profit-driven market, this cycle is crucial for maintaining market dominance. This desire for profit is what drives Activision to maximize the Call of Duty brand using its three different studios, Treyarch, Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer, as the means to achieve it.
The Triple Threat: How Development Cycles Work
Creating a modern AAA title typically takes several years of dedicated work. So how does Call of Duty manage to release a new game every single year? The answer lies in a clever studio rotation strategy. Activision utilizes three primary studios: Treyarch, Infinity Ward, and Sledgehammer Games. These studios operate in a rotating cycle, each studio leading development on a new Call of Duty title every three years.
This system allows each studio approximately three years to work on their respective projects. This provides the necessary time to create the campaign, multiplayer modes and other in-game content needed for a full game release, while still ensuring an annual release for the brand. This established cycle reduces the pressure on any single team and allows for more efficient development, with each studio operating in a pipeline designed for an annual release with the expectation of profitability.
Evolving Beyond Annual Releases?
While the annual release schedule has been the norm for nearly two decades, recent news suggests a potential shift. Rumors and confirmations hint that Activision is looking to move away from a strict annual cycle and explore different approaches to the franchise. There was a previous attempt to skip the 2023 release in order to give Treyarch more time to work on the game, however, Activision quickly backtracked on this decision.
The upcoming title for 2023, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, is said to be a continuation of the previous year’s rebooted sequel, Modern Warfare II. This unusual development strategy of using a previous title’s “bones” to create a new and familiar experience demonstrates Activision is aware that some change is required. It might be hinting towards a future where Call of Duty releases are not as strictly year-on-year as they once were, and this change may be due to reports of slumping popularity.
This shift also comes after Microsoft completed its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, meaning that Microsoft may choose to alter the franchise’s structure as a whole.
The Importance of Community and Consistent Updates
Beyond the annual releases, Call of Duty maintains its popularity with consistent updates and community engagement. The success of Call of Duty: Warzone, for example, demonstrates that live-service models can keep players engaged long after the initial game release. By continuously introducing new maps, weapons, and game modes, Activision ensures there’s always fresh content to draw players back into the game.
This constant updating also allows for a continued revenue stream through microtransactions, further incentivizing the studio to push these changes. In short, it’s an ecosystem built to retain player interest and maximize profitability, regardless of what the next main title release holds.
The Challenges and Criticisms
The annual release model isn’t without its drawbacks. Some critics argue that the constant cycle can lead to a lack of innovation and can cause burnout among developers, though the three-year development cycle is designed to alleviate that burden. There is also a concern that annual releases dilute the overall quality of each game and can cause fatigue among players, with players being expected to buy a new title every year when they may not have had time to complete the previous year’s title.
Despite these criticisms, the numbers don’t lie; Call of Duty remains one of the most successful franchises in gaming history. This cycle, while criticized, still provides a consistently successful revenue stream and a highly-engaged player base.
In Conclusion
Ultimately, Call of Duty keeps making new games due to its proven profitability and continued market demand. Activision’s strategic use of multiple studios working on a rotating schedule ensures an annual release while providing enough development time to develop content. The franchise’s continuous updates and community engagement strategies further contribute to its long-term success. While there are valid concerns and criticisms about the yearly release cycle, there is no indication the series will drop it, and it may, in fact, be shifting its model. The future of Call of Duty may see variations on the annual release theme, but one thing remains clear: as long as the games are profitable, new titles will continue to appear for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is there a Call of Duty game every year?
Yes, typically there is a new Call of Duty game released every year. This has been the trend since 2003, with the franchise utilizing a multi-studio approach to maintain this annual cycle.
Why does Call of Duty have multiple studios developing games?
Call of Duty uses three main studios – Treyarch, Infinity Ward, and Sledgehammer Games – working on a rotating three-year cycle to ensure there is a new release each year. This allows for sufficient development time for each studio, while maintaining the annual schedule.
Will Call of Duty stop making games?
It’s highly unlikely that Call of Duty will stop making games anytime soon. The franchise is exceptionally profitable, and there is a continuous demand for the series by its massive player base. However, the series may shift its current annual release model in the future.
Has Call of Duty ever skipped a year?
While it was initially speculated that Call of Duty would skip 2023, a new standalone title, Modern Warfare III was released. Thus, the series has maintained its annual release schedule.
Is Call of Duty losing popularity?
There have been reports of a decline in monthly active users on titles like Call of Duty: Warzone. However, the franchise as a whole remains exceptionally popular, with new releases consistently achieving strong sales.
What is the reason for the cheating bans in Call of Duty?
Players who use unauthorized software for cheating, modding, or hacking can face permanent suspension from online play, a reset of their stats, emblems, and weapon customizations, and will be blocked from leaderboards.
What is the next Call of Duty game in 2024?
The main character’s name suggests that the Call of Duty 2024 game will take place during the Gulf War and is speculated to be a sequel to Black Ops: Cold War, titled Black Ops: Gulf War.
Which studio developed the 2023 Call of Duty game?
Sledgehammer Games led the development of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, with support from Infinity Ward.
Is Call of Duty Mobile shutting down?
No. Despite rumors that COD Mobile was to be phased out following the release of Warzone Mobile, a public statement was made reassuring players that the game is not going anywhere.
Is Xbox taking over Call of Duty?
Yes. Microsoft has completed its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which includes the Call of Duty franchise.
Will PlayStation stop getting Call of Duty games?
No. Microsoft and PlayStation have signed a binding agreement to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
What content will carry over to Modern Warfare III?
All unlocked Operators and Operator Skins from Modern Warfare II will carry over to Modern Warfare III.
Why was Call of Duty skipping 2023?
Call of Duty was originally rumored to skip 2023, but the studio then released a full game called Modern Warfare III, which is a continuation of Modern Warfare II.
What will Call of Duty 2025 be?
Leaked information suggests that the Call of Duty title for 2025 will feature a comprehensive collection of remastered maps from Black Ops 2.
Which countries have banned Call of Duty?
Call of Duty is banned in Belgium due to the use of loot boxes, and it’s also banned in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, with restrictions in Russia and Cuba.