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"Modern Pop Culture Phenomenon: Call of Duty's Formation"

By NoraMar 26,2025

The Call of Duty series has captivated gamers worldwide since its inception, with each installment offering thrilling experiences and evolving gameplay. Here's a brief journey through the entire series 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

Call of DutyImage: youtube.com

Release date: October 29, 2003
Developer: Infinity Ward

The inaugural game in the series, released in 2003, set the stage for what would become a legendary franchise. It features both multiplayer and single-player modes, with a focus on World War II. The game offers four campaigns: American, British, Soviet, and Allied, each comprising a series of missions based on historical events. The multiplayer mode involves tactical objectives like capturing points or flags.

Call of Duty 2

Call of Duty 2Image: youtube.com

Release date: October 25, 2005
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam

Continuing the World War II theme, Call of Duty 2 introduced automatic health regeneration and removed the health bar. The game retained the three campaigns from the first installment: American, British, and Soviet, and its missions were inspired by real events. A documentary video at the end of the game provided insight into the war's historical context.

Call of Duty 3

Call of Duty 3Image: riotpixels.com

Release date: November 7, 2006
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Xbox

Exclusively released for Xbox, Call of Duty 3 shifted to a unified single-player storyline. New gameplay mechanics included rowing a boat, and split-screen multiplayer was introduced. The game boasted enhanced graphics and animations, and it was the first to feature civilians in the campaign.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Call of Duty 4 Modern WarfareImage: blog.activision.com

Release date: November 5, 2007
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam

Marking a significant shift from WWII, Modern Warfare introduced a modern-day setting with a narrative centered around preventing a nuclear catastrophe. It featured American and English campaigns, introduced Arcade Mode, cheat codes, and class-based multiplayer, setting new standards for the series.

Call of Duty: World at War

Call of Duty World at WarImage: polygon.com

Release date: November 11, 2008
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam

Returning to WWII, this installment offered American and Soviet campaigns with enhanced graphics and AI. It introduced the iconic Nazi Zombies mode and allowed for character class customization and body dismemberment effects.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2Image: pinterest.com

Release date: February 11, 2009
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam

A sequel to Modern Warfare, this game continued the narrative in 2016. It introduced new gameplay elements like climbing and underwater movement, and expanded the multiplayer with new modes, dual-wielding, and a deeper perk system.

Call of Duty: Black Ops

Call of Duty Black OpsImage: youtube.com

Release date: November 9, 2010
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam

Set post-WWII, Black Ops featured a CIA agent's missions to avert global disaster. It introduced in-game currency, character and weapon skins, contracts, and a wagering game mode, alongside the traditional classes and zombies mode.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3Image: moddb.com

Release date: November 8, 2011
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam

Continuing the Modern Warfare saga, this game focused on refining existing mechanics and enhancing visuals and sound. It achieved the most successful launch in entertainment history at the time.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II

Call of Duty Black Ops IIImage: youtube.com

Release date: May 2, 2012
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam

Set in dual timelines, Black Ops II allowed player actions to influence the storyline and introduced multiple endings. It featured enhanced AI and new mission types like Strike Force, where players could switch between squad members.

Call of Duty: Ghosts

Call of Duty GhostsImage: youtube.com

Release date: May 1, 2013
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam

Ghosts introduced a new narrative involving space battles and alien encounters. It offered character customization, including playing as a female character, and introduced destructible environments.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

Call of Duty Advanced WarfareImage: newsor.net

Release date: November 4, 2014
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam

Set in a futuristic world dominated by corporations, Advanced Warfare introduced exoskeletons, drones, and vertical gameplay. However, it received mixed reactions from players.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III

Call of Duty Black Ops IIIImage: youtube.com

Release date: November 6, 2015
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam

Set in a future with cybernetic enhancements, Black Ops III featured jetpacks, wall-running, and underwater combat. It introduced nine specialists to enhance the class and perk system.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare

Call of Duty Infinite WarfareImage: wsj.com

Release date: November 4, 2016
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam

Set on Mars, Infinite Warfare focused on a standalone narrative. It introduced new exoskeletons for multiplayer, customizable with various upgrades.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered

Call of Duty Modern Warfare RemasteredImage: store.steampowered.com

Release date: November 4, 2016
Developer: Raven Software
Download: Steam

This remaster enhanced the original Modern Warfare with improved audio, visuals, and animations while keeping the core gameplay intact.

Call of Duty: WWII

Call of Duty WWIIImage: store.steampowered.com

Release date: November 3, 2017
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam

Returning to WWII, this game introduced "heroic actions" and medkits, alongside new multiplayer modes and a larger lobby size.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

Call of Duty Black Ops 4Image: youtube.com

Release date: October 12, 2018
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam

Set between Black Ops II and III, Black Ops 4 featured standalone missions instead of a traditional campaign. It introduced a 100-player battle royale mode and increased player health.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

Call of Duty Modern WarfareImage: store.steampowered.com

Release date: May 30, 2019
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam

A reboot of the Modern Warfare subseries, this game addressed modern societal issues with a heavy narrative. It introduced increased recoil, bipods, and a revamped Spec Ops mode.

Call of Duty: Warzone

Call of Duty WarzoneImage: youtube.com

Release date: March 10, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam

A standalone battle royale experience, Warzone offered three modes: classic battle royale, Rebirth, and Plunder. It introduced the Gulag and a "downed" state for tactical revivals.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2Image: youtube.com

Release date: March 31, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: callofduty.com

This remaster focused on enhancing the visuals, audio, and animations of the iconic Modern Warfare 2 campaign, receiving positive feedback from fans.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

Call of Duty Black Ops Cold WarImage: store.steampowered.com

Release date: November 13, 2020
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam

Set between Black Ops and Black Ops II, Cold War offered a diverse set of missions across various global locations. It focused on refining existing mechanics, with notable changes in the zombies mode.

Call of Duty: Vanguard

Call of Duty VanguardImage: news.blizzard.com

Release date: November 5, 2021
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam

Returning to WWII, Vanguard featured a short overarching storyline with individual backstories for each squad member. It set a record with 20 multiplayer maps.

Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0

Call of Duty Warzone 2.0Image: championat.com

Release date: November 16, 2022
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam

Integrated with Modern Warfare II, Warzone 2.0 introduced new features like ammo sharing, an updated Gulag, and a new DMZ mode for faction-based tasks.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II

Call of Duty Modern Warfare IIImage: callofduty.fandom.com

Release date: October 28, 2022
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam

A sequel to Modern Warfare, this game focused on combating terrorism and drug trafficking. It introduced new mechanics like breaching walls and revised swimming and vehicle systems.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

Call of Duty Modern Warfare IIIImage: store.steampowered.com

Release date: November 2, 2023
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam

Combining elements from its predecessors, Modern Warfare III offered more combat-focused missions and introduced a new "Slaughter" mode for multiplayer, with a record 24 maps.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Call of Duty Black Ops 6Image: 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 introduced new mechanics like obstacle climbing, slide tackles, and a smart movement system. It also revamped the zombies mode into separate rounds.

The Call of Duty series continues to thrive, with each game building on the successes of its predecessors while introducing fresh elements. The franchise's ability to balance difficulty, realism, and engaging gameplay has cemented its status as a beloved series among gamers worldwide.

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