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Call of Duty is a globally renowned and beloved video game franchise. Let's explore its history, chronologically examining each game's release.
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
Released in 2003, the original Call of Duty offered both single-player and multiplayer experiences set during World War II. The single-player campaign featured four distinct perspectives – American, British, Soviet, and Allied – each presenting a series of historically-inspired missions. Multiplayer focused on objective-based gameplay, such as capturing and holding points or flags. The game featured 26 diverse missions, encompassing training, night battles, sea-based sabotage, pursuits, and large-scale urban combat.
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Call of Duty 2
Release Date: October 25, 2005 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
Call of Duty 2, a World War II title, built upon its predecessor. A key change was the automatic health regeneration while in cover, eliminating the traditional health bar. The game maintained multiple campaigns (American, British, and Soviet) with varied missions based on real historical events. Multiplayer remained largely similar to the first game, concluding with a documentary about World War II.
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Call of Duty 3
Release Date: November 7, 2006 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Xbox
Initially released exclusively for Xbox, Call of Duty 3 retained the World War II setting but introduced a unified storyline instead of separate campaigns. New actions, such as rowing a boat, were added, along with split-screen multiplayer. Technical improvements were significant, enhancing animation, lighting, and overall visuals. This installment notably introduced civilians (non-combatants) to the game world, while omitting handguns from the campaign.
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Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Release Date: November 5, 2007 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
Shifting away from World War II, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare introduced a modern setting, creating an alternate reality. Set in 2011, the game tasked players with preventing a nuclear catastrophe across American and British campaigns. New features included Arcade Mode (a high-score challenge), cheat codes, and the introduction of classes in multiplayer, each with unique strengths and weaknesses.
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Call of Duty: World at War
Release Date: November 11, 2008 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
Returning to World War II with American and Soviet campaigns, Call of Duty: World at War focused on refinements rather than revolutionary changes. Improved graphics, AI, and special effects were key enhancements. This game introduced a zombie horde mode, playable solo or cooperatively. Other additions included enemy dismemberment, the flamethrower weapon, and further character class customization options.
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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Release Date: November 10, 2009 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
A sequel to Call of Duty 4, Modern Warfare 2 (2009) continued the modern warfare storyline, set in 2016. New gameplay mechanics, such as climbing and underwater scuba movement, were introduced in specific missions. Multiplayer additions included dual-wielding pistols, new game modes, an enhanced perk system, and the ability to call in artillery and airstrikes.
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Call of Duty: Black Ops
Release Date: November 9, 2010 Developer: Treyarch Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010), a continuation of the World at War sub-series, shifted the setting to the Cold War era. Players took on the role of a CIA agent, undertaking missions to avert a global crisis. The single-player campaign saw refinements, primarily in the variety of vehicles available. New features included in-game currency, character and weapon skins, contracts (in-game tasks), and a wagering game mode.
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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Release Date: November 8, 2011 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
Modern Warfare 3 (2011) directly followed Modern Warfare 2, continuing the storyline and familiar characters. Focusing on iterative improvements rather than drastic changes, the game enhanced existing mechanics, sound, and graphics. Its successful launch set a new world record at the time.
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Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Release Date: November 13, 2012 Developer: Treyarch Download: Steam
Black Ops II (2012) featured a dual-timeline campaign set in 1980s and 2020s, exploring the consequences of player actions and offering multiple endings. Improvements included player equipment selection before battles and enhanced AI. The game’s performance, while strong, didn't match the explosive success of Modern Warfare 3.
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Call of Duty: Ghosts
Release Date: November 5, 2013 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
Ghosts (2013) introduced a new protagonist and storyline, expanding the setting to include space and alien combat. Character customization, including playable female characters, and destructible environments were key features. The perk system also underwent revision.
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Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Release Date: November 4, 2014 Developer: Sledgehammer Games Download: Steam
Advanced Warfare (2014) projected players into a technologically advanced future dominated by private military corporations. The game featured exoskeletons, drones, and other futuristic weaponry, alongside vertical gameplay and an alien combat mode. Reception was mixed, with the storyline and new elements proving divisive.
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Call of Duty: Black Ops III
Release Date: November 6, 2015 Developer: Sledgehammer Games Download: Steam
Black Ops III (2015), set forty years after Black Ops II, featured cybernetically enhanced soldiers with transformable limbs and hacking capabilities. Jetpacks, nine specialists (expanding the class system), wall-running, and underwater combat were among the notable additions.
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Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
Release Date: November 4, 2016 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
Infinite Warfare (2016) offered a standalone storyline set on Mars, focusing on resource acquisition and habitable locations. Multiplayer introduced customizable exoskeletons with upgradeable features.
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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered
Release Date: November 4, 2016 Developer: Raven Software Download: Steam
A remaster of the original Modern Warfare, this version focused on visual and audio enhancements, while largely preserving the core gameplay.
Image: store.steampowered.com
Call of Duty: WWII
Release Date: November 3, 2017 Developer: Sledgehammer Games Download: Steam
Returning to the World War II setting, WWII (2017) emphasized a return to core gameplay mechanics, introducing "heroic actions" and the return of medkits. Multiplayer featured expanded lobbies (up to 48 players) and specialized classes.
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Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
Release Date: October 12, 2018 Developer: Treyarch Download: Steam
Black Ops 4 (2018) omitted a traditional campaign, instead featuring standalone Specialist missions. Multiplayer saw increased player health, a new fog-of-war system, and the introduction of a 100-player battle royale mode.
Image: store.steampowered.com
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
Release Date: October 25, 2019 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
A reboot of the Modern Warfare sub-series, this 2019 installment presented a new storyline focusing on contemporary terrorism, featuring mature content. Changes included increased weapon recoil, the addition of bipods, the return of Killstreaks, and a revised Spec Ops mode.
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Call of Duty: Warzone
Release Date: March 10, 2020 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
Warzone (2020) was a standalone battle royale title, featuring classic battle royale, Rebirth (with respawns), and Plunder (money-collecting) modes. New mechanics included a "downed" state and the Gulag (one-on-one combat arena).
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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered
Release Date: March 31, 2020 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: callofduty.com
Another remaster, focusing on visual and audio improvements to Modern Warfare 2.
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Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Release Date: November 13, 2020 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
Set in the early 1980s, Black Ops Cold War (2020) featured a single-player campaign spanning various global locations. The zombies mode received significant updates, including loadout creation, tactical item drops, and an upgraded armor system.
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Call of Duty: Vanguard
Release Date: November 5, 2021 Developer: Sledgehammer Games Download: Steam
A World War II title, Vanguard (2021) offered a campaign divided into an overarching storyline and individual character backstories. Multiplayer boasted a record-breaking 20 maps.
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Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0
Release Date: November 16, 2022 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
Integrated with Modern Warfare II, Warzone 2.0 (2022) introduced ammo sharing, an updated Gulag (supporting up to four players), and a new DMZ mode.
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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
Release Date: October 28, 2022 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam
A sequel to the 2019 Modern Warfare, Modern Warfare II (2022) focused on combating terrorism and drug cartels. Key changes included wall breaching, revised swimming and vehicle mechanics, and an enhanced character customization system.
Image: store.steampowered.com
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
Release Date: November 2, 2023 Developer: Sledgehammer Games Download: Steam
Modern Warfare III (2023) combined elements from its predecessors, featuring a combat-focused campaign and a record-breaking 24 multiplayer maps. A new "Slaughter" mode was also introduced.
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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Release Date: October 25, 2024 Developer: Treyarch and Raven Software Download: Steam
Set in the 1990s during the Persian Gulf conflict, Black Ops 6 (2024) introduced new mechanics such as climbing, sliding, and slide tackles, along with a refined movement system and varied hit reactions. The zombies mode was restructured into separate rounds.
The Call of Duty franchise, encompassing 25 games, continues to captivate players with its blend of challenging gameplay, realistic settings, and engaging multiplayer experiences. The series’ enduring success stems from its consistent evolution, building upon past successes while introducing fresh elements with each new installment.
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