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Call of Duty: Shaping Modern Pop Culture

Author : Savannah

May 04,2025

The Call of Duty franchise has captivated gamers worldwide since its inception, with each installment bringing unique elements to the table. Let's take a journey through the series, highlighting key features and changes over the years.

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

Call of Duty
Image: youtube.com

Release date: October 29, 2003
Developer: Infinity Ward
The inaugural Call of Duty game, released in 2003, introduced players to the intensity of World War II through four distinct single-player campaigns: American, British, Soviet, and Allied. Each campaign offered a series of missions based on historical events, showcasing the war from different perspectives. The multiplayer mode featured small missions like capturing points or flags, setting the stage for the series' competitive edge.

Call of Duty 2

Call of Duty 2
Image: youtube.com

Release date: October 25, 2005
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty 2 continued the WWII theme, introducing automatic HP regeneration when players stayed in cover. The game retained the multi-campaign structure with American, British, and Soviet campaigns, and concluded with a documentary video about the war's end.

Call of Duty 3

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 across its single-player mode, introducing new actions like rowing boats. It was the first to include split-screen multiplayer and civilians in the game world, though handguns were absent from the campaign.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare
Image: blog.activision.com

Release date: November 5, 2007
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
A significant shift occurred with Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, moving to a modern setting in 2011. The game introduced Arcade Mode, cheat codes, and a class system in multiplayer, setting new standards for future titles.

Call of Duty: World at War

Call of Duty World at War
Image: polygon.com

Release date: November 11, 2008
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Returning to WWII, Call of Duty: World at War introduced the iconic Nazi Zombies mode alongside improved graphics and AI. It also featured dismemberment and flamethrowers, marking the beginning of the Black Ops subseries.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2
Image: pinterest.com

Release date: February 11, 2009
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 continued the Modern Warfare saga, introducing new gameplay mechanics like climbing and underwater movement. Its multiplayer mode expanded with new features like dual-wielding pistols and a deeper perk system.

Call of Duty: Black Ops

Call of Duty Black Ops
Image: youtube.com

Release date: November 9, 2010
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops shifted to a post-WWII setting, introducing in-game currency, skins, and contracts. The game also featured a zombies mode and a wagering system, enhancing player engagement.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3
Image: moddb.com

Release date: November 8, 2011
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 continued the story from its predecessor, focusing on improving existing mechanics and enhancing graphics and sound. It achieved a record-breaking launch in entertainment history.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II

Call of Duty Black Ops II
Image: youtube.com

Release date: May 2, 2012
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops II featured a dual-timeline campaign set in 2025-2026 and 1986-1989, with player choices impacting the storyline. It introduced Strike Force missions and improved AI.

Call of Duty: Ghosts

Call of Duty Ghosts
Image: youtube.com

Release date: May 1, 2013
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Ghosts brought a new story and setting, including space battles and fights against aliens. It introduced character customization and destructible environments.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

Call of Duty Advanced Warfare
Image: newsor.net

Release date: November 4, 2014
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Set in a futuristic world, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare introduced exoskeletons, drones, and vertical gameplay. Despite these innovations, it received a lukewarm reception from players.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III

Call of Duty Black Ops III
Image: youtube.com

Release date: November 6, 2015
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops III continued the futuristic theme, introducing cybernetic limbs, jetpacks, and specialists. It also allowed for wall-running and underwater shooting.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare

Call of Duty Infinite Warfare
Image: wsj.com

Release date: November 4, 2016
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Set on Mars, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare introduced new exoskeletons in multiplayer mode, allowing for extensive customization.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered

Call of Duty Modern Warfare Remastered
Image: store.steampowered.com

Release date: November 4, 2016
Developer: Raven Software
Download: Steam
The remastered version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare kept the core game intact, focusing on enhancing audio, visual effects, and animations.

Call of Duty: WWII

Call of Duty WWII
Image: store.steampowered.com

Release date: November 3, 2017
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Returning to WWII, Call of Duty: WWII introduced "heroic actions" and medkits, along with new multiplayer modes and an increased lobby size.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

Call of Duty Black Ops 4
Image: youtube.com

Release date: October 12, 2018
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 shifted to a futuristic setting without a traditional campaign, focusing on standalone missions and introducing a 100-player battle royale mode.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

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, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare addressed modern societal issues, introducing heavy content and new mechanics like increased recoil and bipods.

Call of Duty: Warzone

The phenomenon of modern pop culture the formation of Call of Duty
Image: youtube.com

Release date: March 10, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Warzone introduced a standalone battle royale experience with modes like Classic, Rebirth, and Plunder, and new mechanics like the Gulag and vehicle use.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2
Image: youtube.com

Release date: March 31, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: callofduty.com
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered focused on enhancing the original's audio, animations, and visuals, receiving positive feedback from players.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War
Image: store.steampowered.com

Release date: November 13, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War set in 1981, offered diverse missions across multiple continents. It introduced new features in the zombies mode, such as loadouts and armor upgrades.

Call of Duty: Vanguard

Call of Duty Vanguard
Image: news.blizzard.com

Release date: November 5, 2021
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Returning to WWII, Call of Duty: Vanguard maintained a familiar formula with a new record of 20 multiplayer maps.

Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0

Call of Duty Warzone 2.0
Image: championat.com

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

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II

Call of Duty Modern Warfare II
Image: callofduty.fandom.com

Release date: October 28, 2022
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II continued the fight against terrorism, introducing new gameplay elements like breaching walls and revised swimming mechanics.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

Call of Duty Modern Warfare III
Image: store.steampowered.com

Release date: November 2, 2023
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III combined the best elements from its predecessors, offering more combat-focused missions and a new "Slaughter" multiplayer mode.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Call of Duty Black Ops 6
Image: moddb.com

Release date: October 25, 2024
Developer: Treyarch and Raven Software
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 continues the story from Black Ops Cold War, introducing new mechanics like obstacle climbing, smart movement, and different hit reactions.

The Call of Duty franchise has consistently delivered thrilling experiences, balancing difficulty, realism, and player interaction. With 25 games spanning over two decades, the series continues to evolve, keeping players engaged with new mechanics and compelling narratives.