Call of Duty
GameBy Infinity Ward · Released Oct 29, 2003
Documents about Call of Duty
OverActive Media Launches Content Creator Academy
OverActive Media, a publicly traded Canadian esports and gaming organization, has launched the Content Creator Academy to expand its influence and engagement capabilities within the creator economy.
- OverActive Media has launched the 'Content Creator Academy,' an initiative featuring a roster of 20 influencers aligned with its professional esports teams.
- The academy's roster supports the company's competitive teams, including the Toronto Ultra (Call of Duty League), Toronto Defiant (Overwatch League), and MAD Lions (League of Legends EMEA Championship).
- The initiative leverages a combined reach of over 15 million followers across streaming and social media platforms, including Twitch, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Trovo.
London Royal Ravens Moving to Charlotte, North Carolina
The Call of Duty League franchise formerly known as the London Royal Ravens has officially relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina, and rebranded as the Carolina Royal Ravens.
- The London Royal Ravens have officially relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina, and rebranded as the Carolina Royal Ravens.
- This move marks the end of the Call of Duty League's presence in Europe, following the previous relocation of the Paris Legion to Las Vegas.
- The franchise is owned by Infinite Reality, which acquired the team's parent company, ReKTGlobal, in a $470 million all-stock deal in July 2022.
Diablo IV: July Market Performance in the US and UK
Diablo IV demonstrated strong market performance throughout July 2023, securing its position as the highest-grossing title across both PC and console platforms in the United States and the United Kingdom.
- Diablo IV was the highest-grossing title across all PC and console platforms in the US and UK throughout July 2023.
- The game achieved the highest monthly active user (MAU) count of any RPG globally, with 8.65% of gamers across 37 key markets playing the title in July.
- Diablo IV successfully captured significant player migration, drawing 16.3% of the player base from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Fortnite, and 13.6% from Final Fantasy XVI.
The Guard Will Not Be a Participating Team in VCT Americas 2024
The Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Americas league officially excluded The Guard from its 2024 season due to the organization’s failure to meet a critical deadline regarding the Team Participation Agreement.
- The Guard will not participate in the 2024 VCT Americas League after failing to meet the deadline to sign the required Team Participation Agreement.
- Riot Games confirmed that no replacement team will be promoted, leaving the VCT Americas league with 10 teams for the 2024 season.
- The Guard’s parent company, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, is actively winding down its esports division, which previously included teams in Apex Legends, Call of Duty League, and Overwatch League.
The Cosmetic Monetization Trend: How to Sell Cosmetic Items
Cosmetic monetization serves as a sustainable revenue model for mobile game developers, focusing on the sale of aesthetic items that do not impact gameplay mechanics or provide competitive advantages.
- Cosmetic monetization is a highly viable revenue model, with 85% of U.S. gamers aged 13 to 45 aware of these items and 81% willing to purchase them with real money.
- High-spending players, known as whales, frequently contribute hundreds of dollars monthly by using aesthetic items as symbols of status, dedication, and personal distinction.
- Successful cosmetic strategies rely on balancing exclusivity with accessibility while ensuring items do not impact gameplay mechanics or provide competitive advantages.
Is the Mobile Shooter Market Saturated? How to Innovate in a Crowded Genre
The mobile shooter market currently faces significant consolidation, with a small cohort of established titles—specifically Call of Duty: Mobile, PUBG Mobile, and Free Fire—commanding 80% of the Western market share.
- The mobile shooter market is highly concentrated, with Call of Duty: Mobile, PUBG Mobile, and Free Fire commanding 80% of the Western market share.
- Free Fire significantly outperforms its competitors in monetization, achieving an all-time revenue per download (ARPD) of approximately $29, compared to $12 for PUBG Mobile and $7.30 for Call of Duty: Mobile.
- While cosmetic-only monetization is standard, Free Fire differentiates itself by offering character and weapon buffs, demonstrating that gameplay-impacting items can drive higher revenue per user.
CMA Considers New Proposal From Microsoft to Finalize Activision Blizzard Acquisition
The United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) initiated a phase one investigation into a revised proposal from Microsoft regarding its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has set an October 18, 2023, deadline to rule on a new proposal from Microsoft regarding its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- To address previous regulatory concerns regarding cloud gaming, Microsoft has proposed divesting the cloud streaming rights for all current and future Activision Blizzard titles to Ubisoft for a 15-year period.
- Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick stated that the divestiture proposal does not alter the core merger agreement, closing deadline, or the cash consideration to be paid per share.
OverActive Media Q2 2023 Financial Results
OverActive Media’s financial results for the second quarter of 2023 reflect a period of significant revenue growth coupled with increased net losses.
- OverActive Media reported Q2 2023 total revenues of $3.9M CAD ($2.94M USD), representing a 65% year-over-year increase driven by team operations and league share payments.
- The company recorded a net loss of $3.4M CAD ($2.6M USD) for the quarter, an increase of $1.1M CAD compared to Q2 2022 due to the absence of deferred franchise payments.
- Adjusted EBITDA loss for Q2 2023 was $2.5M CAD ($1.89M USD), marking a $1.3M CAD improvement over the same period in the previous year.
Survey Suggests “There’s Nothing ‘Special’ About CoD When It Comes to Console Choice”: Europe
A comprehensive survey commissioned by Microsoft and conducted by YouGov evaluates the influence of specific game titles on consumer console purchasing decisions within the European market.
- Only 3.1% of current PlayStation owners would have switched to Xbox if Call of Duty had been unavailable at the time of their purchase.
- Future platform loyalty remains largely unaffected by Call of Duty, with only 5.3% of prospective PlayStation buyers stating they would reconsider their choice if the franchise were withheld.
- FIFA exerts a stronger influence on consumer behavior than Call of Duty, with 33% of PlayStation gamers identifying FIFA as a favorite title compared to 17% for Call of Duty.
One Up Named Official On Demand Esports Platform of NBA 2K
Take-Two Interactive’s 2K Games label has entered into a multi-year partnership with One Up, designating the company as the official on-demand esports platform for the NBA 2K franchise.
- Take-Two Interactive’s 2K Games has entered a multi-year partnership with One Up to serve as the official on-demand esports platform for the NBA 2K franchise.
- The partnership will launch in the fall of 2023 following the September 8 release of NBA 2K24, featuring a series of free-to-enter online tournaments hosted by NBA stars.
- One Up operates two primary platforms: GameChangers OS, an esports SaaS for tournament management, and Play One Up, an on-demand marketplace for skill-based gaming.
Version1 + Minnesota RØKKR Lays Off Six Employees
The Minneapolis-based esports organization Version1 and Minnesota RØKKR underwent a reduction in force in July 2023, resulting in the termination of six employees.
- Version1 and Minnesota RØKKR laid off six employees on July 25, 2023, following a previous round of approximately seven layoffs on or around June 30, 2023.
- Management provided transparency regarding the staff reductions, having informed employees in early April that significant layoffs would occur by mid-year.
- Affected employees received a severance package consisting of two weeks of pay plus an additional two weeks for every year of service, along with a $2,000 stipend for those who relocated to Minnesota within the last 12 months.
#218: Get the Papers
This industry update provides a comprehensive overview of major developments in the gaming sector as of July 2023.
- Microsoft and Activision have extended their merger deadline to October 18, 2023, following the FTC's decision to drop its administrative challenge to the deal.
- Activision Blizzard reported a 34% revenue increase for the first half of 2023, driven by the success of Diablo IV, which helped Blizzard achieve its first billion-dollar quarter.
- Sony has signed a ten-year binding agreement to keep the Call of Duty franchise on PlayStation platforms.
Companies behind it
Microsoftpublisher, owner, developer1,114- Activisionpublisher, developer528
Activision Blizzarddeveloper, publisher, owner427- Infinity Warddeveloper3
Enad Global 7 (EG7)publisher7
Nintendoowner1,431
Valvepublisher408
Overwolfowner28- Xbox Game Studiospublisher13
Electronic Artspublisher394
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