Call of Duty: Shaping Modern Pop Culture Phenomenon

The Call of Duty franchise has captivated gamers worldwide since its debut, evolving through numerous titles that have become staples in the gaming community. Let's take a journey through the series, highlighting each game in the order of their release.

Table of Content

• 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

Release date: October 29, 2003
Developer: Infinity Ward
The inaugural Call of Duty game, released in 2003, set the stage for what would become a legendary series. It introduced players to both multiplayer and single-player modes, focusing on World War II with four distinct campaigns: American, British, Soviet, and Allied. Each campaign featured a series of missions based on historical events, totaling 26 diverse missions that ranged from training to large-scale urban battles. The multiplayer mode involved small missions like capturing points or flags, pitting teams against each other.

Call of Duty 2

Image: youtube.com

Release date: October 25, 2005
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
The sequel, Call of Duty 2, continued the World War II theme with minor updates. A significant change was the introduction of automatic health regeneration when players stayed in cover. The game retained the three campaigns from its predecessor: American, British, and Soviet, and concluded with a documentary video about World War II.

Call of Duty 3

Image: riotpixels.com

Release date: November 7, 2006
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Xbox
Call of Duty 3 shifted to a unified storyline instead of separate campaigns, introducing new actions like rowing a boat. It was the first to feature split-screen multiplayer and included civilians in the game world, though without weapons. The game saw significant technical improvements in animation and lighting.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Image: blog.activision.com

Release date: November 5, 2007
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Moving away from World War II, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare introduced a modern setting with an alternate reality. The game featured two campaigns: American and English, and introduced Arcade Mode, cheat codes, and a class system in multiplayer, setting a new standard for the series.

Call of Duty: World at War

Image: polygon.com

Release date: November 11, 2008
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Returning to World War II, Call of Duty: World at War introduced the iconic Nazi Zombies mode. It featured American and Soviet campaigns, with enhancements in graphics, AI, and special effects. Innovations included dismemberment, flamethrowers, and customizable character classes.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

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Release date: February 11, 2009
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
A direct sequel to Modern Warfare, this game continued the story five years later. It introduced new gameplay elements like climbing and underwater movement, and enhanced the multiplayer with dual-wielding pistols, new modes, and a deeper perk system.

Call of Duty: Black Ops

Image: youtube.com

Release date: November 9, 2010
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
Set post-World War II, Black Ops followed a CIA agent on dangerous missions. It introduced in-game currency, skins, contracts, and a wagering mode, alongside the familiar classes, perks, and zombies mode.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Image: moddb.com

Release date: November 8, 2011
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Continuing the Modern Warfare saga, this game refined existing mechanics and enhanced sound and graphics. It set a record for the most successful entertainment launch at the time.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II

Image: youtube.com

Release date: May 2, 2012
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
Black Ops II featured a dual-timeline campaign set in 2025-2026 and 1986-1989. It introduced player-driven story consequences, multiple endings, and enhanced AI, with the ability to switch between squad members in Strike Force missions.

Call of Duty: Ghosts

Image: youtube.com

Release date: May 1, 2013
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Ghosts introduced a new story with battles in space and against aliens. It featured character customization, the option to play as a female character, and destructible environments.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

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Release date: November 4, 2014
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Set in a future dominated by corporations, Advanced Warfare introduced exoskeletons, drones, and vertical gameplay. Despite these innovations, it received a lukewarm reception.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III

Image: youtube.com

Release date: November 6, 2015
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Set forty years after Black Ops II, this game featured cybernetic soldiers with transformable limbs and hacking abilities. It introduced jetpacks, wall-running, and underwater shooting.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare

Image: wsj.com

Release date: November 4, 2016
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Set on Mars, Infinite Warfare introduced new exoskeletons with customizable upgrades in multiplayer, while the single-player mode remained largely unchanged.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered

Image: store.steampowered.com

Release date: November 4, 2016
Developer: Raven Software
Download: Steam
This remaster kept the core game intact, focusing on enhanced audio, visuals, and animations, with minor changes to the campaign and new achievements.

Call of Duty: WWII

Image: store.steampowered.com

Release date: November 3, 2017
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Returning to World War II, this game introduced "heroic actions," medkits, and NPC assistance in the campaign. Multiplayer saw new modes, larger lobbies, and special classes.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

Image: youtube.com

Release date: October 12, 2018
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
Set between Black Ops II and III, Black Ops 4 replaced the traditional campaign with standalone missions. It introduced a 150 HP system, stimulants, a "fog of war" system, and a 100-player battle royale mode.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

Image: store.steampowered.com

Release date: May 30, 2019
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
A reboot of the Modern Warfare subseries, this game focused on modern societal issues like terrorism, featuring heavy content and new mechanics like increased recoil and bipods.

Call of Duty: Warzone

Image: youtube.com

Release date: March 10, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
A standalone battle royale game, Warzone introduced three modes: classic battle royale, Rebirth, and Plunder. It featured a "downed" state, the Gulag, and extensive vehicle use.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered

Image: youtube.com

Release date: March 31, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: callofduty.com
This remaster focused on enhancing sound, animations, and visuals, allowing players to relive the iconic campaign.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

Image: store.steampowered.com

Release date: November 13, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Set in 1981, Cold War offered a variety of missions across different continents. It introduced loadouts, tactical items, and armor upgrades in zombies mode.

Call of Duty: Vanguard

Image: news.blizzard.com

Release date: November 5, 2021
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Returning to World War II, Vanguard featured a short main storyline and backstories for each group member. It set a new record with 20 multiplayer maps.

Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0

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Release date: November 16, 2022
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Part of Modern Warfare II, Warzone 2.0 introduced new features like ammo sharing, an updated Gulag, and a new DMZ mode.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II

Image: callofduty.fandom.com

Release date: October 28, 2022
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
A sequel to Modern Warfare, this game focused on fighting a terrorist organization and drug traffickers. It introduced wall breaching, revised swimming and vehicle mechanics, and a detailed progression system.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

Image: store.steampowered.com

Release date: November 2, 2023
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Combining the best elements from its predecessors, Modern Warfare III offered more combat-focused missions and introduced a new "Slaughter" mode in multiplayer, alongside a record 24 maps.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Image: moddb.com

Release date: October 25, 2024
Developer: Treyarch and Raven Software
Download: Steam
Set in the 1990s during the Persian conflict, Black Ops 6 reintroduced new mechanics like obstacle climbing, smart movement, and different hit reactions. The zombies mode was divided into separate rounds.

The Call of Duty franchise, now spanning 25 games, continues to evolve, balancing difficulty, realism, and player interaction. Each year, new releases are eagerly anticipated, maintaining the series' status as one of the most popular shooters globally.