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Call of Duty: Shaping Modern Pop Culture

Authore: EllieUpdate:May 14,2025

Call of Duty

Call of DutyImage: youtube.com

Release date: October 29, 2003
Developer: Infinity Ward

The first Call of Duty game was released in 2003, introducing players to a thrilling World War II experience. This iconic title featured both multiplayer and single-player modes, allowing players to engage in historical battles from multiple perspectives. The game included four distinct single-player campaigns, each representing different Allied forces:

  • American campaign
  • British campaign
  • Soviet campaign
  • Allied campaign

These campaigns were composed of 26 diverse missions, ranging from training to night battles and urban combat. The multiplayer mode focused on small, team-based missions such as capturing and holding strategic points.

Call of Duty 2

Call of Duty 2Image: youtube.com

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

Call of Duty 2 continued the series' focus on World War II, maintaining the essence of its predecessor while introducing key changes. The most notable was the automatic regeneration of the player's health when taking cover, alongside the removal of the health bar. The game retained the same structure with three campaigns:

  • American campaign
  • British campaign
  • Soviet campaign

The multiplayer mode remained similar to the original, while the game concluded with a documentary video on World War II's hardships.

Call of Duty 3

Call of Duty 3Image: riotpixels.com

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

Call of Duty 3 shifted to a unified storyline for its single-player mode, departing from separate campaigns. Notable additions included new player actions like rowing a boat and the introduction of split-screen multiplayer. The game saw significant technical improvements in animation and lighting, and was the first to feature civilians in the series, although without weapons.

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

With Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, the series transitioned to a modern setting, focusing on preventing a nuclear catastrophe in 2011. The game introduced two campaigns:

  • American campaign
  • English campaign

It also added Arcade Mode, cheat codes, and a class system for multiplayer, setting new standards for the franchise.

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 World War II, Call of Duty: World at War featured campaigns for American and Soviet forces. While the campaigns were familiar, the game introduced a popular Nazi Zombies multiplayer mode. Other innovations included enemy dismemberment, flamethrowers, and customizable character classes, marking the beginning of the Black Ops subseries.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2Image: pinterest.com

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

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 continued the narrative from its predecessor, introducing new gameplay mechanics like climbing and underwater movement. The multiplayer mode was enhanced with dual-wielding pistols, new modes, a deeper perk system, and the ability to call in support strikes.

Call of Duty: Black Ops

Call of Duty Black OpsImage: youtube.com

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

Call of Duty: Black Ops shifted the setting post-World War II, focusing on CIA operations. It introduced in-game currency, skins, contracts, and a wagering game mode. The zombies mode continued to be a popular feature.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3Image: moddb.com

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

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 directly followed its predecessor, refining existing mechanics and enhancing graphics and sound. Its launch set a new record for entertainment sales 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

Call of Duty: Black Ops II introduced a dual-timeframe narrative, with events in 2025-2026 and 1986-1989. The campaign allowed for player choices affecting the storyline and multiple endings, alongside improved AI and new mission types.

Call of Duty: Ghosts

Call of Duty GhostsImage: youtube.com

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

Call of Duty: Ghosts introduced a new storyline with battles in space and against aliens. Players could customize their characters, including playing as a female, and the game featured destructible environments and a revamped perk system.

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 future dominated by corporations, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare introduced exoskeletons and advanced technology. Despite these innovations, the game 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: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam

Call of Duty: Black Ops III set its events forty years after its predecessor, introducing cybernetic enhancements and jetpacks. The game added specialists, wall-running, and underwater combat.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare

Call of Duty Infinite WarfareImage: wsj.com

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

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare took players to Mars, focusing on resource exploration. The multiplayer mode introduced unlockable exoskeletons with customizable 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

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered retained the original's core gameplay, enhancing audio, visuals, and animations while adding new achievements and cheat codes.

Call of Duty: WWII

Call of Duty WWIIImage: store.steampowered.com

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

Returning to World War II, Call of Duty: WWII introduced "heroic actions," medkits, and NPC support requests. The multiplayer mode expanded with new game modes and larger lobbies.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

Call of Duty Black Ops 4Image: youtube.com

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

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 shifted to a futuristic setting, replacing the traditional campaign with standalone missions. It introduced a 100-player battle royale mode and new mechanics like increased player HP and a "fog of war" system.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

Call of Duty Modern WarfareImage: store.steampowered.com

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

The 2019 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare rebooted the subseries, focusing on modern societal issues like terrorism. It introduced heavier content and gameplay changes such as increased recoil and the return of the Killstreaks system.

Call of Duty: Warzone

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

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

Call of Duty: Warzone introduced a standalone battle royale experience with three distinct modes: classic battle royale, Rebirth, and Plunder. It featured new mechanics like the "downed" state and the Gulag system.

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

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered focused on enhancing the original's sound, animations, and visuals, allowing players to relive the iconic campaign.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

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

Release date: November 13, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War set its events in 1981, offering a variety of missions across different continents. It maintained familiar gameplay in the campaign and multiplayer, with significant updates to the zombies mode.

Call of Duty: Vanguard

Call of Duty VanguardImage: news.blizzard.com

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

Call of Duty: Vanguard returned to World War II, featuring a short overall storyline and multiple backstories. It set a new 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

Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 was released as part of Modern Warfare II, introducing new features like ammo sharing, an updated Gulag, and a new DMZ mode.

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

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II continued the fight against terrorism, introducing minimal gameplay changes like wall breaching and revised swimming mechanics. It also featured a new progression system for detailed character customization.

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

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III combined the best elements from its predecessors, offering a more combat-focused campaign and introducing a new "Slaughter" multiplayer mode. It set a new record with 24 multiplayer 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

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 continued the narrative from Cold War, set during the 1990s Persian conflict. It introduced new mechanics like climbing, sliding, and a smart movement system, alongside changes to the zombies mode.

The Call of Duty franchise, now spanning 25 games, continues to captivate players worldwide with its balance of difficulty, realism, and engaging gameplay. Each installment builds on the success of its predecessors, ensuring a thrilling experience that unites players across generations.