Activision

Activision and the Call of Duty Franchise

Activision is one of the most influential publishers in the gaming industry, particularly renowned for its leadership in the Call of Duty (CoD) franchise. Since the series debut in 2003, Call of Duty has become a hallmark of the first-person shooter (FPS) genre, delivering fast-paced action, realistic warfare settings, and a strong multiplayer component that has continuously expanded its player base. Activision oversees the development and release of CoD games, working with multiple studios like Infinity Ward, Treyarch, Sledgehammer Games, and Raven Software to keep the franchise fresh, releasing annual instalments, new game modes, and massive online updates.

Call of Duty: Warzone 2 and 3

Warzone represents a major milestone in the Call of Duty series, offering a free-to-play battle royale experience that has reshaped the franchise. Initially launched in 2020, Warzone brought large-scale, open-world combat with up to 150 players in a single match. Its success quickly established it as one of the most-played battle royale games, drawing millions of players and generating massive revenue for Activision.

Warzone 2.0, released in November 2022, further built on this success by introducing a new map (Al Mazrah), updated gameplay mechanics, and a refined engine shared with Modern Warfare II, which improved graphical fidelity and gameplay fluidity. This iteration added new features such as swimming, proximity chat, and enhanced AI-controlled enemies, alongside continued seasonal updates that include new weapons, operators, and in-game events to maintain engagement.

Warzone 3 is anticipated as a continuation and refinement of the Warzone experience. Though Activision hasn’t publicly shared many details about Warzone 3, it is expected that the game will build on the previous titles’ foundation, likely introducing new maps, refined gameplay mechanics, and deeper integrations with future Call of Duty mainline games to enhance player immersion and cross-platform progression.

Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies

Activision’s Call of Duty: Vanguard introduced a Zombies mode developed by Treyarch, the studio behind the fan-favorite Zombies experiences in Black Ops. In Vanguard, Zombies took a unique approach with a mode called “Der Anfang,” which brought WWII-era supernatural horror elements into the Call of Duty universe. While traditional Zombies modes often focus on round-based survival, Vanguard attempted to innovate by blending the gameplay with objectives and open-world elements, expanding on the lore established in previous Zombies storylines.

Despite these efforts, Vanguard Zombies received mixed reviews, as some players felt it lacked the depth and charm of earlier Zombies modes. Activision and Treyarch addressed these critiques by releasing updates, adding more traditional, round-based content, and expanding the narrative to provide fans with the rich, dark storytelling they had come to love.

Microsoft’s Acquisition of Activision and Its Impact

In January 2022, Microsoft announced its planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, one of the largest acquisitions in tech and gaming history. The move signalled Microsoft’s commitment to bolstering its gaming portfolio and integrating high-profile franchises like Call of Duty, Overwatch, and Diablo into the Xbox ecosystem. The acquisition, finalized in October 2023, has had significant implications for Call of Duty and Activision’s ongoing projects.

1. Access and Availability: Microsoft’s acquisition has opened the door to making Call of Duty titles more widely available on platforms like Xbox Game Pass, increasing accessibility for players across the Xbox and PC platforms. However, to maintain a strong relationship with Sony, Microsoft has committed to continuing the release of Call of Duty on PlayStation consoles, ensuring the series remains multi-platform.

2. Development Synergies: With Microsoft’s extensive resources, Call of Duty studios now have additional support and technology, potentially improving development processes and game quality. Microsoft’s expertise in cloud gaming and AI may also lead to innovative changes in the CoD series, such as larger, more complex multiplayer experiences, faster updates, and improved AI systems.

3. Focus on Live-Service Gaming: The acquisition aligns well with Microsoft’s vision of live-service gaming, where games are continually updated and expanded rather than replaced yearly. This focus could mean Call of Duty projects like Warzone will see prolonged support, larger-scale expansions, and regular seasonal content updates that leverage Microsoft’s infrastructure, keeping the game fresh and responsive to player feedback.

4. Potential for Cross-Platform Integration: With Call of Duty now under Microsoft, there’s potential for greater integration across the Microsoft ecosystem. Cross-platform progression, cloud saves, and possibly even exclusive content on Xbox and PC platforms may be introduced to draw players deeper into Microsoft’s ecosystem.

Conclusion

Activision’s ongoing stewardship of the Call of Duty franchise has led to some of the most successful and enduring experiences in gaming. Projects like Warzone 2 and 3 continue to evolve the franchise’s formula, keeping millions of players engaged. Vanguard Zombies, while experimental, exemplifies Activision’s willingness to innovate within Call of Duty’s distinct modes. Under Microsoft’s ownership, Call of Duty is poised to see significant advancements, with a focus on accessibility, quality, and continued multi-platform availability. This acquisition marks a new era for both Activision and the CoD franchise, opening doors to even more ambitious, player-centric innovations.