Call of Duty
GameBy Infinity Ward · Released Oct 29, 2003
Documents about Call of Duty
36 Million Games and 3.4 Million Consoles Sold in the UK in 2021: UK Annual Report
The UK video game market experienced a year of hardware growth and software contraction in 2021.
- In 2021, the UK sold 35.8 million games, 3.36 million consoles, and 10.6 million accessories.
- The Nintendo Switch was the UK's best-selling console in 2021, surpassing the PlayStation 5 in the final weeks of the year, with console sales overall up 14% compared to 2020.
- Game software sales declined by 16% in 2021 compared to 2020, but were up 38% compared to 2019, with 20.5 million digital games and 15.3 million physical games sold.
2021 US Games Spending: Annual Report
The United States video game market achieved a record-breaking performance in 2021, with total consumer spending reaching $60.4 billion.
- US consumer spending on games reached a record $60.4 billion in 2021, an 8% increase year-over-year, with software accounting for $51.7 billion (85%) of this revenue.
- Call of Duty: Vanguard was the best-selling game of 2021 in the US, marking the 13th consecutive year a Call of Duty title topped the annual charts.
- The Nintendo Switch was the best-selling console in 2021 in terms of both unit and dollar sales, contributing to a 14% increase in hardware revenue to $6 billion.
Key Insights Into American Gamers
The United States represents the second-largest gaming market globally, generating $47.3 billion in revenue from a population of 191 million gamers.
- The U.S. gaming market generated $47.3 billion in revenue from 191 million gamers, representing 72% of the online population.
- Engagement is driven by a mix of play and viewership, with 71% of the population playing games, 44% watching gaming content, and 18% engaging with esports.
- Mobile is the most popular platform by reach at 48%, while console gaming commands the highest engagement at an average of six hours per week.
Noble Fates' Stealth Success, Examined
This analysis examines the performance of various PC and console titles during the final weeks of 2021, with a specific focus on the unconventional success of the fantasy kingdom simulator Noble Fates.
- Noble Fates achieved over 1,000 concurrent users and a 'Very Positive' rating on Steam despite launching its store page only two weeks before release, challenging the necessity of long-term wishlist accumulation.
- The success of Noble Fates suggests that high-quality titles in popular genres can bypass traditional marketing cycles through rapid organic discovery and unconventional tactics like using a custom Steam curator page as a landing site.
- Hardcore niche titles demonstrated strong market resilience in late 2021, with Ultimate Admiral: Dreadnought maintaining over 1,000 concurrent users.
November Spending Down 10% Compared to 2020: US Monthly Charts
Consumer spending on video games in the United States experienced a 10% year-on-year decline in November 2021, totaling $6.3 billion.
- US consumer spending on gaming in November 2021 decreased by 10% year-on-year to $6.3 billion, though year-to-date spending increased by 9% to $52.9 billion.
- Hardware sales in November 2021 dropped by 38% compared to 2020, reaching $883 million, the lowest November total since 2016 due to console inventory shortages.
- Nintendo Switch was the best-selling console in November 2021, selling 1.13 million units in the US, and has been the top-selling console for 35 out of the last 36 months.
Death of the Titans
The gaming industry is witnessing a potential decline in the influence and relevance of its largest traditional publishers, specifically Activision Blizzard, Ubisoft, and Electronic Arts.
- Major publishers including Activision, Ubisoft, and EA are experiencing a decline in influence and creative output, struggling to maintain their status as reliable hitmakers.
- Sales for the mainline Call of Duty franchise dropped 40% year-on-year as of November 2021, signaling a potential cooling of interest in established AAA franchises.
- EA’s Battlefield 2042 launched with significant technical issues and negative reception, highlighting the operational failures and lack of quality control currently plaguing major publishers.
The Holiday Period and What It Means for Retail
The video game industry experiences a significant seasonal surge during the fourth quarter, defined as weeks 39 through 52.
- The Q4 period (weeks 39–52) is the most critical window for video game sales, historically driven by the release of major titles like FIFA and holiday gift-buying.
- Physical retail sales are in a long-term decline, with a cumulative annual growth rate (CAGR) of -8% between 2018 and 2020.
- Digital network sales experienced a significant surge in Q4 2020, with unit sales increasing by 54% compared to 2019, largely fueled by demand for FIFA and Call of Duty.
Plus: Back to the Jurassic Forza Era?
The analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the PC and console gaming landscape for early November 2021, focusing on upcoming releases and recent performance trends.
- Forza Horizon 5 is the top-hyped upcoming title with approximately 96,000 Steam followers, projecting to reach nearly one million wishlists.
- Jurassic World Evolution 2 is positioned for strong performance, building on the success of its predecessor which achieved nearly two million total sales.
- The indie title Unpacking significantly outperformed expectations, securing over 900 positive reviews shortly after its early November 2021 launch.
Top 10 Games in Argentina: H1 2021
The mobile gaming market in Argentina during the first half of 2021 demonstrated a notable shift in consumer preferences, characterized by a strong appetite for both established global titles and emerging children-focused games.
- In H1 2021, Garena Free Fire and Roblox were the top two games by revenue in Argentina, though their earnings decreased by 19% and 25% respectively compared to the previous period.
- Genshin Impact and Toca Life World both doubled their revenues in H1 2021 compared to H2 2020, with Toca Life World, a kids' game, notably entering Argentina's top 10 grossing games.
- Among Us maintained its top position by downloads in H1 2021 but experienced a significant 75% decrease in downloads, while Garena Free Fire, also a top download, saw a smaller 29% decline.
Activision Restores Its Logo in Call of Duty Marketing After Previously Omitting It
Activision recently reinstated its corporate logo in the marketing materials for Call of Duty: Vanguard, specifically within the reveal trailer for the game's multiplayer mode.
- The Italian antitrust regulator (AGCM) has launched an investigation into Activision Blizzard regarding potential consumer protection violations in 'Diablo Immortal' and 'Call of Duty: Mobile'.
- Regulators are scrutinizing the games for 'dark patterns' in UI design, specifically questioning the transparency of in-game currency costs and the use of notifications to pressure players into limited-time purchases.
- The investigation includes an assessment of parental control systems, with concerns that default settings may insufficiently protect minors from excessive spending, unlimited playtime, and unmonitored social interactions.
China’s Grey Market Identity Crisis: JD.com Stops Selling Unlicensed Games
JD.com, China’s second-largest e-commerce platform, has moved to enforce stricter compliance with national regulations by removing unlicensed video games from its online storefront.
- JD.com, China’s second-largest e-commerce platform, has banned the sale of 86 unlicensed video games, including major titles like Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto, to comply with national regulations regarding content such as violence and political themes.
- Steam wishlist conversion rates have dropped significantly, with games released between 2023 and 2025 selling an average of 0.22 copies per wishlist in their debut month, compared to 0.45 copies for games released between 2020 and 2022.
- By the end of their debut year, games released in the 2023–2025 period achieved a conversion rate of approximately 0.7 copies per wishlist, down from 0.99 copies for the 2020–2022 cohort.
Shooter Genre Snapshot: September 2021
The mobile shooter genre in the United States iOS market currently occupies the sixth-largest position by revenue, accounting for approximately 6% of total market earnings.
- The shooter genre on US iOS is highly concentrated, with the 'Big Three'—Garena Free Fire, Call of Duty: Mobile, and PUBG Mobile—collectively generating over 84% of total genre revenue.
- Garena Free Fire experienced significant growth in 2021, doubling its iOS revenue and capturing approximately 30% of the market share to rival Call of Duty: Mobile for the top position as of Q2 2021.
- The shooter genre accounts for roughly 6% of total US iOS revenue, currently ranking as the platform's 6th largest mobile genre.
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