Call of Duty: Shaping Modern Pop Culture

The Call of Duty series, a cornerstone of the gaming world, has captivated players globally since its inception. Let's dive into the journey of this iconic franchise, exploring 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

Call of Duty

Release date: October 29, 2003
Developer: Infinity Ward
The inaugural Call of Duty game, launched in 2003, set the stage for the series' success. It offered both multiplayer and single-player experiences, focusing on World War II with four distinct campaigns: American, British, Soviet, and Allied. Each campaign featured missions rooted in historical events, showcasing diverse perspectives and weaponry from different nations. The multiplayer mode included team-based objectives like capturing points or flags.

Call of Duty 2

Release date: October 25, 2005
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Staying true to its World War II roots, Call of Duty 2 introduced automatic health regeneration and removed the health bar. The game continued with three campaigns: American, British, and Soviet. The multiplayer mode remained similar to its predecessor, while a documentary video at the end highlighted the war's real-life impact.

Call of Duty 3

Release date: November 7, 2006
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Xbox
Exclusive to Xbox, Call of Duty 3 shifted to a single unified storyline, introducing new actions like rowing boats. It enhanced split-screen multiplayer, improved animations and lighting, and included civilians in the campaign, though handguns were absent.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Release date: November 5, 2007
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Moving into the modern era, this game introduced an alternate reality set in 2011, focusing on preventing a nuclear catastrophe. It featured American and English campaigns, introduced Arcade Mode, cheat codes, and a class system for multiplayer that would become a series staple.

Call of Duty: World at War

Release date: November 11, 2008
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Returning to World War II, this installment introduced a Nazi Zombies mode, alongside American and Soviet campaigns. Innovations included dismemberment, flamethrowers, and character class customization, marking it as the first in the Black Ops subseries.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Release date: February 11, 2009
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Continuing from Modern Warfare, this game expanded gameplay with features like climbing and underwater movement. Multiplayer saw additions like dual wielding, new modes, a deeper perk system, and a combo-kill reward system.

Call of Duty: Black Ops

Release date: November 9, 2010
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
Set post-World War II, players undertake missions as a CIA agent. The game introduced in-game currency, skins, contracts, and a wagering mode. It also featured the Zombies mode, classes, and perk leveling.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Release date: November 8, 2011
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
A direct sequel, this game focused on refining existing mechanics, enhancing sound and graphics. Its launch set a new record for entertainment sales at the time.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II

Release date: May 2, 2012
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
This sequel featured dual timelines and player actions influencing the storyline. It included multiple endings, equipment selection, and enhanced AI, introducing Strike Force missions.

Call of Duty: Ghosts

Release date: May 1, 2013
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Introducing a new narrative, this game allowed battles in space and against aliens. It featured character customization, female playable characters, destructible environments, and a revamped perk system.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

Release date: November 4, 2014
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Set in a future dominated by corporations, this game introduced exoskeletons, drones, and vertical gameplay. However, the new storyline and mechanics received mixed reactions.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III

Release date: November 6, 2015
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Set decades after Black Ops II, this game introduced cybernetic enhancements, jetpacks, and specialists. It featured wall-running and underwater combat.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare

Release date: November 4, 2016
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
This standalone game took place on Mars, with multiplayer featuring new exoskeletons and customizable upgrades.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered

Release date: November 4, 2016
Developer: Raven Software
Download: Steam
This remaster retained the original game's core while enhancing audio, visuals, and animations, adding new achievements and cheat codes.

Call of Duty: WWII

Release date: November 3, 2017
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Returning to World War II, this game introduced "heroic actions," medkits, and NPC assistance. Multiplayer saw new modes and increased lobby sizes.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

Release date: October 12, 2018
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
Set between Black Ops II and III, this game omitted a traditional campaign, focusing on standalone Specialist missions. It introduced a 100-player battle royale mode and increased player health.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

Release date: May 30, 2019
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
A reboot of the Modern Warfare series, this game tackled contemporary issues like terrorism, featuring heavy content and gameplay changes like increased recoil and the return of Killstreaks.

Call of Duty: Warzone

Release date: March 10, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
A standalone battle royale game, Warzone introduced modes like Classic, Rebirth, and Plunder, along with new mechanics such as the "downed" state and Gulag fights.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered

Release date: March 31, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: callofduty.com
This remaster focused on improving sound, animations, and visuals while retaining the beloved campaign from the original game.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

Release date: November 13, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Set between Black Ops and Black Ops II, this game offered a varied single-player campaign and revamped Zombies mode with loadouts and tactical items.

Call of Duty: Vanguard

Release date: November 5, 2021
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Returning to World War II, Vanguard focused on a unified storyline with multiple backstories and introduced a record number of multiplayer maps.

Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0

Release date: November 16, 2022
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
An evolution of Warzone, this version added new features like ammo sharing, an updated Gulag, and the new DMZ mode.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II

Release date: October 28, 2022
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
A sequel to Modern Warfare, this game focused on combating terrorism and drug trafficking, introducing minimal gameplay changes like wall breaching and revised swimming mechanics.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

Release date: November 2, 2023
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Combining the best of its predecessors, this game offered more combat-focused missions and a new "Slaughter" multiplayer mode.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Release date: October 25, 2024
Developer: Treyarch and Raven Software
Download: Steam
Set during the Persian conflict in the 1990s, this game reintroduces significant gameplay changes like climbing, sliding, and a revamped Zombies mode.

The Call of Duty franchise, spanning 25 games over 21 years, has consistently evolved while maintaining a balance of difficulty, realism, and player engagement. Each game builds on the successes of its predecessors, adding fresh elements that keep the series at the forefront of the gaming world. The series' enduring popularity stems from its ability to unite players across different ages and interests, cementing its place as one of the most beloved shooter franchises globally.