Call of Duty
GameBy Infinity Ward · Released Oct 29, 2003
Documents about Call of Duty
Top-Grossing and Best-Selling New Game Releases of 2023
This analysis provides an overview of the top-performing video game releases of 2023 across major platforms, including Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III led unit sales on both PlayStation and Xbox, while also generating the highest total revenue on Steam.
- Sons of the Forest outperformed major AAA titles like Hogwarts Legacy and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III to become the best-selling new release by unit volume on Steam.
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom secured the top position for digital unit sales on the Nintendo Switch.
3 FMCG Brand Campaigns Authentically Engaging Gamers
Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) brands are increasingly moving beyond passive logo sponsorships to achieve authentic engagement within the gaming industry.
- Walmart Discovered on Roblox generated 10.2 million lifetime visits and 4.2 million average monthly visits, ranking as the 8th most popular branded game on the platform in December 2023.
- The Heinz 'Hidden Spots' campaign for Call of Duty: Warzone generated over 1.2 million YouTube views and a combined 107.6 million impressions across paid and earned media.
- Heinz 'Hidden Spots' achieved 53,000 total interactions by partnering with streamers to identify safe in-game locations for players to eat while gaming.
Bobby Kotick to Leave Activision Blizzard on Dec. 29
Following Microsoft’s $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard King, the company is undergoing a significant leadership transition.
- Bobby Kotick will step down as CEO of Activision Blizzard on December 29, 2023, following Microsoft's $68.7 billion acquisition of the company.
- Activision Blizzard's leadership team, including the heads of Activision Publishing, Blizzard Entertainment, and King, will now report directly to Matt Booty, the President of Game Content and Studios at Microsoft.
- The CEO role at Activision Blizzard will not be filled; instead, the company is being integrated into the broader Microsoft Gaming organizational structure.
What Were the Top New PC & Console Games of 2023?
This analysis identifies the top-performing new video game releases of 2023 across major PC and console platforms, including Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.
- Steam's market shows a clear bifurcation where independent titles like Sons Of The Forest lead in unit sales, while high-priced AAA releases like Hogwarts Legacy capture the majority of gross revenue.
- Console markets on PlayStation and Xbox remain heavily reliant on established intellectual properties and sequels, with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, EA Sports FC 24, and Spider-Man 2 serving as the primary revenue drivers.
- Consumer behavior differs significantly by platform, as Steam players demonstrate a high appetite for mid-priced indie games, whereas console users prioritize premium AAA experiences or subscription-based access.
Plus: House Flipper 2 Comes Out Swingin' at Year-End
The final 2023 market analysis from GameDiscoverCo examines the performance of late-year video game releases across Steam, consoles, and VR platforms.
- Lego Fortnite achieved a peak of 815,000 concurrent users, demonstrating that Epic Games' internal experiences can significantly outperform most standalone triple-A titles.
- House Flipper 2 exceeded launch expectations by reaching 15,500 peak concurrent users on Steam.
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising and Pioneers of Pagonia both secured over 6,000 peak concurrent users during their Steam debuts.
Call of Duty League Broadcasts Exclusive to YouTube for 2023-2024 Season
The Call of Duty League (CDL) has transitioned to an exclusive broadcast partnership with YouTube for the 2023-2024 season, marking a departure from the multi-platform approach utilized during the previous year.
- The Call of Duty League (CDL) has designated YouTube as the exclusive broadcast partner for the 2023-2024 season, ending the multi-platform distribution model used during the 2022-2023 season.
- All 2023-2024 CDL matches will be broadcast in 4K resolution exclusively on the official YouTube Gaming channel.
- Financial terms of the new media rights agreement between Activision Blizzard and YouTube were not disclosed.
3 Important Tactics to Improve Every Brand’s In-Game Advertising Results
In-game advertising has become a critical component of modern marketing budgets, yet many brands fail to achieve optimal return on investment by treating the gaming landscape as a monolithic entity.
- Prioritize advertising in premium, established game titles like Fortnite, Call of Duty, and League of Legends over unknown hyper-casual mobile games to leverage the 'halo effect' of existing fan affinity.
- Shift from passive background ads to active, in-play advertising that triggers during specific gameplay moments, such as a win or a goal, to increase engagement and relevance.
- Utilize API-driven ad technology to serve contextual, real-time ads that align with the emotions a player experiences during critical in-game events.
G2 Esports Takes Over Minnesota Røkkr
G2 Esports has finalized an agreement to acquire the assets of the Minnesota-based organization Version1, marking a significant consolidation within the North American esports landscape.
- G2 Esports has acquired the operating rights to the Call of Duty League franchise Minnesota Røkkr as part of a strategic partnership with the Version1 ownership group.
- As part of the deal, the ownership group behind Version1—which includes WISE Ventures and investor Gary Vaynerchuk—has become shareholders in G2 Esports.
- The Version1 brand is being put on hold, and the organization has effectively closed following the layoff of its North American staff.
Top Games in Live-Streaming: November 2023
The live-streaming landscape in November 2023 was characterized by significant shifts in viewership, driven largely by major content updates and seasonal events.
- League of Legends remained the most-watched game in November 2023 with 172.2 million hours watched, despite a 4% decline from the previous month.
- Fortnite experienced a 232% surge in viewership to 150.9 million hours, driven by the release of original game maps.
- World of Warcraft viewership more than doubled, increasing by 102% to 84.7 million hours due to server updates and specific streaming events.
Plus: Here Comes The Day Before, and We're Fascinated!
This analysis examines the state of the global PC and console gaming market during the transition between the 2023 Autumn and Winter sales.
- The Day Before remains a major market focal point with over 255,000 Steam followers despite significant development delays and skepticism.
- Steam's current market landscape is bifurcated between premium niche titles, such as Last Train Home and SteamWorld Build (2,900–4,250 CCU), and low-cost viral hits like HoloParade and My Suika.
- Console markets on PlayStation and Xbox remain dominated by evergreen franchises, specifically EA Sports FC 24, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, and NBA 2K24.
House Flipper 2: How the Sequel Cleaned Up in the Charts
This analysis examines the commercial success of House Flipper 2 following its December 2023 launch, alongside broader trends in game streaming and platform discovery.
- House Flipper 2 achieved profitability within its first 72 hours of release, selling 131,000 units on Steam against a $2 million development budget and $330,000 in advertising spend.
- The title launched with 850,000 wishlists and maintained a low 4% refund rate, demonstrating strong conversion from its pre-release audience.
- Strategic regional pricing adjustments in Poland and China were critical to sales performance, successfully aligning the $40 price point with local purchasing power.
G2 Esports in the Final Stages of Completing Version1 Acquisition
Berlin-based G2 Esports is in the final stages of acquiring Minnesota-based organization Version1, a move that includes the transfer of the Call of Duty League franchise, Minnesota RØKKR.
- G2 Esports is in the final stages of acquiring Version1, a deal that includes the transfer of the Call of Duty League franchise Minnesota RØKKR.
- Version1 has informed its remaining staff of approximately four to five employees that they may be subject to layoffs as early as December 2, 2023.
- The acquisition follows months of extended negotiations between G2 Esports and Version1 management regarding a merger.
Companies behind it
- Activisionpublisher, developer508
Microsoftdeveloper1,054
Overwolfowner21
Activision Blizzarddeveloper, owner, publisher404
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