Call of Duty
GameBy Infinity Ward · Released Oct 29, 2003
Documents about Call of Duty
Analyst Bulletin: Mobile Game Market Review November 2022
The mobile gaming market in November 2022 was characterized by a surge in high-profile brand collaborations and seasonal event integration, particularly surrounding the FIFA World Cup.
- Major mobile titles including Call of Duty Mobile, PUBG Mobile, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang leveraged the November 2022 World Cup to drive engagement through athlete-themed character skins and in-game events.
- Goddess of Victory: Nikke achieved significant international success, ranking in the top 30 grossing in the US and the top 5 in Japan following its early November launch.
- My Singing Monsters, a title released in 2012, returned to the top 50 grossing charts in November 2022, driven primarily by viral popularity on TikTok.
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Microsoft’s pledge to bring the Call of Duty franchise to Nintendo platforms for a ten-year period serves as a strategic public relations maneuver rather than a substantive shift in market dynamics.
- Microsoft's offer to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo and Steam is a strategic PR move designed to appease regulators regarding the Activision Blizzard acquisition, despite the negligible business impact of a Nintendo port.
- Microsoft is increasing the price of its first-party games from $60 to $70 starting in 2023, aligning with industry-wide pricing trends.
- Zenimax Studios' QA staff have announced their intent to unionize with the Communications Workers of America (CWA), with Microsoft stating it will not interfere, partly to maintain favor during the Activision Blizzard merger process.
News Mash-Up: Week 49
The weekly briefing delivers a concise snapshot of recent developments across the global gaming landscape, focusing on corporate moves, product launches, regulatory actions, and new releases.
- Microsoft has offered a ten-year guarantee to keep the Call of Duty franchise on PlayStation platforms to address regulatory scrutiny regarding its acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- Maze Theory and Pluto Digital have merged to form Emergent Entertainment PLC, an entity valued at over $65 million that is currently preparing for an IPO.
- Australian MP Andrew Wilkie has proposed legislation that would mandate R18+ ratings or deny ratings entirely for games containing loot boxes, citing research on the financial and emotional harm to children.
Rift at FTC Over Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard Buyout
Internal deliberations within the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding Microsoft’s proposed $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard have revealed a significant policy divide among the agency's commissioners.
- Internal disagreement exists within the four-member FTC panel regarding Microsoft’s proposed $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- At least one of the two Democratic commissioners, aside from Chair Lina Khan, is reportedly leaning toward supporting the merger, potentially creating a tie vote that could lead to the deal's approval by default.
- Republican commissioner Christine Wilson has already indicated her support for the acquisition.
Call of Duty League Enters 2023 Season Without a Media Rights Partner
The Call of Duty League (CDL) commenced its 2023 season without a dedicated media rights partner following the expiration of a three-year agreement with YouTube.
- The Call of Duty League (CDL) began its 2023 season without a media rights partner following the expiration of a three-year, $160 million deal with YouTube that previously covered the CDL, Overwatch League, and Hearthstone.
- Activision Blizzard has moved to broadcasting CDL competitions on Twitch and its official website, though Twitch is not currently designated as an official broadcast partner.
- League franchisees and stakeholders have expressed significant concern regarding the loss of revenue sharing resulting from the absence of a new media rights deal.
Microsoft Prepared to Fight FTC in Court Over Activision Blizzard Merger
Microsoft is prepared to challenge the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in court to secure its proposed $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- Microsoft is prepared to challenge the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in court to defend its proposed $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- The company is reportedly negotiating a 10-year agreement with Sony to keep the Call of Duty franchise available on PlayStation platforms to address antitrust concerns.
- Regulatory opposition to the merger has been driven by concerns regarding market competition in jurisdictions including the UK and the European Union.
Plus: Darktide, Midnight Suns, Callisto Protocol, Need For Speed Go Big!
This analysis provides a comprehensive overview of PC and console game performance during late November and early December 2022.
- Warhammer 40,000: Darktide achieved a strong commercial debut on Steam, exceeding 100,000 concurrent users despite player backlash regarding its monetization model.
- Dwarf Fortress entered the market with high momentum, carrying over 120,000 followers into its Steam release.
- The Callisto Protocol suffered a poor launch on PC, receiving 'Mostly Negative' user reviews primarily due to technical stuttering issues.
Picking a Side: Single Player Strategy in a Multi-sided Game Economy
This analysis examines the shifting regulatory and competitive landscape of the global video game industry during late 2022.
- The global video game industry is facing heightened antitrust scrutiny, exemplified by the FTC's likely challenge to Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- Regulatory filings reveal divergent strategies: Sony’s CMA submission focuses on the competitive risk of losing Call of Duty, while Microsoft’s filing emphasizes consumer-centric language, referencing 'gamers' and 'players' at a rate 20 times higher than Sony.
- The industry is increasingly defined by a 'blockbuster dynamic' where a small fraction of titles dominates engagement, evidenced by Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 reaching 25 million players in five days and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet selling 10 million units in three days.
US Gaming Market: November 2022 Performance
The United States video game market experienced a return to growth in November 2022, with total consumer spending reaching $6.3 billion, a 3% increase compared to the same period in 2021.
- US consumer spending on video games in November 2022 reached $6.3 billion, marking a 3% increase year-on-year, primarily driven by a 45% surge in hardware sales.
- The PlayStation 5, with improved availability, was the top-selling console in November 2022 by both dollar sales and units, and is the best-selling platform of 2022 in terms of dollar sales.
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was the best-selling game for the second consecutive month in November 2022 and is now the biggest selling game of 2022 overall.
Plus: The Big Steam December Launches You Missed
This analysis examines the performance of video game launches during the late December 2022 period and provides a forward-looking assessment of upcoming releases for early 2023.
- Project: Playtime leveraged the Poppy Playtime brand to reach 21,100 concurrent users and secure over 10,000 positive reviews.
- High On Life significantly outperformed median first-week conversion rates by 300%, despite being simultaneously available on Game Pass.
- Crisis Core – Final Fantasy VII Reunion debuted with nearly 10,000 concurrent users, while the Chinese indie title Depersonalization saw 90% of its engagement originate from the Chinese market.
Harry Potter's Warted Legacy
Hogwarts Legacy is positioned as a major commercial success for Warner Bros., serving as a strategic hedge against broader industry weaknesses and declining consumer spending.
- Hogwarts Legacy is a commercial success for Warner Bros., projected to exceed 10 million units sold and building on a franchise legacy of over 50 million units since 2001.
- Activision Blizzard reported a 43% year-over-year revenue increase to $3.57 billion, fueled by the performance of Call of Duty and Overwatch 2.
- The omission of a multiplayer component in Hogwarts Legacy conflicts with industry trends, as nearly 50% of the 18-to-34 demographic prefers social gameplay.
Serbia Approves Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard Acquisition as FTC Mulls Opposition
The Serbian government has granted unconditional approval for Microsoft’s proposed $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, marking a notable regulatory milestone for the tech giant.
- The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is reportedly preparing an antitrust lawsuit to block Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- The Serbian government has granted unconditional approval for the acquisition, joining Brazil and Saudi Arabia as jurisdictions that have cleared the deal.
- Microsoft is preparing to offer remedies to European Union regulators, including a proposed 10-year licensing deal for Call of Duty, to address concerns regarding platform exclusivity.
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