Call of Duty, the giant of first-person shooter games, has completed more than two decades of history and remains dominant in 2026. The franchise, created by Activision and developed by studios like Treyarch and Infinity Ward, began in 2003 competing with Medal of Honor in the World War II setting. However, it was in 2007, with the revolutionary Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, that the series reached a new level by bringing the action to modern conflicts. Since then, the formula has cyclically reinvented itself, moving through distant futures, returns to the past, and the bold bet on the free-to-play battle royale Warzone in 2020. With the recent release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 at the end of 2025, the series proves its vitality by listening to the community and adjusting elements like the matchmaking system, maintaining its status as a cultural phenomenon that captivates both casual and hardcore players in Brazil and around the world.
The continued success is largely due to the ability to innovate within a consolidated structure. While some titles, like the acclaimed Modern Warfare 2 (2009), defined a generation with its frenetic multiplayer, others experimented with radical changes. This was the case with Black Ops 4 (2018), which abandoned the solo campaign to introduce the Battle Royale mode, and the Modern Warfare reboot in 2019, which modernized gameplay and realism. In this way, each installment tries to offer something new, whether in narrative, mechanics, or game modes. The integration between the main games and Warzone has also become a trademark of the modern era, creating a living ecosystem that keeps players engaged year after year.
The Highs and Lows of an Epic Journey
By revisiting the more than 20 games in the series, it is possible to trace a timeline of evolution and experimentation. After the golden age of WWII, the leap to the modern with COD 4 was a watershed moment, thanks to a cinematic campaign and addictive multiplayer. Years later, titles like Advanced Warfare (2014) and Infinite Warfare (2016) took players into the future, with ambitious narratives and vertical mobility. However, not all bets were unanimously successful. Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021), for example, received criticism for not innovating enough, while the recent Modern Warfare 3 (2023) was considered the weak point of its reboot trilogy. Still, the core formula remains solid: the fast gameplay, the impactful feel of the weapons, and the rewarding progression continue to be the heart of the experience.
Looking to the future beyond 2026, the legacy of Call of Duty seems secure. The franchise has not only survived market changes but also influenced them, especially with the popularization of the battle royale genre. With a continuous pipeline of new content, cross-over integrations, and a massive global community, the series is expected to continue its “inexorable march,” as described in one of the reviews. For Brazilian fans, it remains to be seen if Activision will continue to listen to feedback and refine the recipe that, for over two decades, has ensured that in the virtual war of Call of Duty, there is never a prize for second place.
