Call of Duty
GameBy Infinity Ward · Released Oct 29, 2003
Documents about Call of Duty
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.
Blizzard Entertainment Record Sales Boost Activision Blizzard Q2 Profits to $587M
Activision Blizzard reported strong financial performance for the second quarter of 2023, driven primarily by record-breaking sales within its Blizzard Entertainment segment.
- Activision Blizzard reported a net income of $587 million for Q2 2023, a 109.6% increase compared to $280 million in the same period of 2022.
- Total net revenue reached $2.21 billion, representing a 34.8% growth year-over-year from $1.64 billion.
- Blizzard Entertainment segment revenue surged 160% year-over-year to $1.05 billion, driven primarily by the launch of Diablo IV, which attracted over 10 million players in June.
The Other Shoe Drops: Sony Agrees to 10-Year Call of Duty Deal for PlayStation Platforms
In July 2023, Microsoft and Sony reached a binding 10-year agreement to maintain the availability of the Call of Duty franchise on PlayStation platforms.
- Microsoft and Sony have signed a binding 10-year agreement to keep the Call of Duty franchise available on PlayStation consoles following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- This agreement removes the final major industry holdout, as Sony joins other platforms like Nintendo, Nvidia, and Valve in securing long-term access to the Call of Duty franchise.
- The deal represents a critical milestone for Microsoft's $69 billion USD acquisition of Activision Blizzard, significantly reducing the likelihood of successful opposition from global regulatory agencies.
Community Casts Trend in Esports - Dmitry Serebrennikov
The rise of community casting—where independent influencers broadcast esports tournaments through personal watch parties—has emerged as a dominant trend, frequently outperforming official tournament broadcasts in viewership metrics.
- Community casting has become a dominant viewership driver in esports, with individual streamers in titles like Dota 2, Valorant, Call of Duty, and PUBG Mobile frequently outperforming official studio broadcasts.
- In specific regions for Dota 2 tournaments, community casters have grown to account for up to 80 percent of total viewership.
- Top-tier influencers in Valorant and Call of Duty consistently command audiences that rival or exceed official production numbers, even when coverage is not comprehensive.
Down. Not Out.: Regulators Pull Out All the Stops to Block the Activision Acquisition
This analysis examines the regulatory landscape surrounding Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard following a pivotal U.S. District Court ruling.
- The U.S. District Court’s denial of the FTC’s request for a temporary injunction has significantly increased the probability of Microsoft successfully acquiring Activision Blizzard.
- Regulators failed to provide sufficient evidence that the merger would substantially reduce competition or that Microsoft possesses a financial incentive to make Call of Duty an exclusive title.
- Market confidence in further industry consolidation grew following the ruling, evidenced by rising stock prices for major publishers including Electronic Arts and Take-Two Interactive.
Microsoft Wins Quick Antitrust Battle
In July 2023, a federal judge in San Francisco ruled in favor of Microsoft, denying the U.S.
- In July 2023, a federal judge denied the FTC’s request for a preliminary injunction to block Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- The court found no evidence that Microsoft intended to make the Call of Duty franchise exclusive to Xbox, citing the company's ten-year commitment to keep the title on PlayStation.
- The ruling was supported by an evidentiary record of nearly three million documents that contained no internal communications contradicting Microsoft’s public commitment to multi-platform availability.
Companies behind it
- Activisionpublisher, developer506
Microsoftdeveloper1,040
Overwolfowner21
Activision Blizzardowner, publisher401
As the documents state it.