History of Call of Duty in Timeline
Call of Duty is a widely successful military first-person shooter video game franchise published by Activision, debuting in 2003. Initially developed by Infinity Ward, the series expanded with contributions from Treyarch and Sledgehammer Games, along with spin-offs from other developers. The franchise is known for its diverse settings, ranging from World War II to modern and futuristic conflicts. Its latest installment, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, was released on October 25, 2024, demonstrating the continued popularity and evolution of the series.
October 29, 2003: Call of Duty Release
On October 29, 2003, Call of Duty, a first-person shooter video game based on id Tech 3, was released.
2003: Call of Duty N-Gage Game Release
In 2003, Call of Duty was released as an N-Gage game, which is a portable spin-off of the original Call of Duty.
2003: Call of Duty J2ME Mobile Spin-Off Release
In 2003, Call of Duty was released as the J2ME mobile spin-off of the original Call of Duty game.
2003: Call of Duty Launch
In 2003, the Call of Duty franchise was established as a military first-person shooter video game series published by Activision.
2004: Release of "Call of Duty: Series 1" Action Figures
In 2004, Activision, in cooperation with Plan-B Toys and Radioactive Clown, released the "Call of Duty: Series 1" line of action figures, which included three American soldiers and three German soldiers from the World War II era.
2004: N-Gage Version Release
In 2004, the N-Gage version of Call of Duty was developed by Nokia and published by Activision.
October 25, 2005: Call of Duty 2 Windows Release
On October 25, 2005, Call of Duty 2 was released for Windows.
November 15, 2005: Call of Duty 2 Xbox 360 Release
On November 15, 2005, Call of Duty 2 was released for the Xbox 360.
2005: Call of Duty 2 Release
In 2005, Infinity Ward released Call of Duty 2, continuing the World War II setting.
June 13, 2006: Call of Duty 2 Mac OS X Release
On June 13, 2006, Call of Duty 2 was released for Mac OS X.
September 22, 2006: Call of Duty: War Chest Release
On September 22, 2006, Call of Duty, United Offensive, and Call of Duty 2 were released together as Call of Duty: War Chest for PC.
November 7, 2006: Call of Duty 3 Release
On November 7, 2006, Call of Duty 3 was released. It was the first major installment not developed by Infinity Ward and not released on the PC platform.
2006: Call of Duty Games Used in Esports
In 2006, Call of Duty games were first used in esports, alongside the game released at the time, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.
2006: Call of Duty 3 Release
In 2006, Treyarch developed and released Call of Duty 3, maintaining the World War II setting.
2006: Treyarch Releases Call of Duty 3
In 2006, Treyarch released Call of Duty 3, marking their first main series Call of Duty game. Additionally, a contract was signed between Treyarch and Infinity Ward, dictating that the production of future titles would alternate between the two companies.
November 7, 2007: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Release
On November 7, 2007, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was released for Windows, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.
November 12, 2007: Call of Duty on Steam
Since November 12, 2007, Call of Duty games have been available for purchase via Valve's content delivery platform Steam.
2007: Legal Issues Arise Between Infinity Ward and Activision
Around 2007, legal issues arose between Infinity Ward and Activision during contract negotiations with founders Jason West and Vince Zampella, leading to their forced departure and the formation of Respawn Entertainment.
2007: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare J2ME Mobile Spin-Off Release
In 2007, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was released as the J2ME mobile spin-off of the Modern Warfare game.
2007: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Nintendo DS Game Release
In 2007, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was released as the Nintendo DS companion game for the Modern Warfare title.
2007: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Release
In 2007, Infinity Ward released Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, which introduced a modern setting and became a breakthrough title for the series.
September 2008: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Mac OS X Release
In September 2008, download and retail versions of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare were released for Mac OS X by Aspyr.
October 2008: McFarlane Toys Releases Call of Duty Action Figures
In October 2008, McFarlane Toys released their first series of Call of Duty action figures, consisting of four different figures.
November 11, 2008: Call of Duty: World at War North America Release
On November 11, 2008, Call of Duty: World at War was released in North America for PC, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360 consoles and the Nintendo DS handheld.
November 14, 2008: Call of Duty: World at War Europe Release
On November 14, 2008, Call of Duty: World at War was released in Europe.
2008: World at War Release
In 2008, Treyarch released World at War, their last World War II-based game before transitioning to the Black Ops series.
February 11, 2009: Modern Warfare 2 Announcement
On February 11, 2009, Activision Blizzard announced Modern Warfare 2.
May 2009: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Sales Milestone
As of May 2009, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare had sold over 13 million copies.
June 2009: Call of Duty: World at War Sales Milestone
As of June 2009, Call of Duty: World at War had sold over 11 million copies.
November 10, 2009: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Release
On November 10, 2009, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was released worldwide for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Windows.
2009: Modern Warfare 2 Release
In 2009, Infinity Ward developed Modern Warfare 2, continuing the Modern Warfare sub-series.
2009: Assets from Modern Warfare 2 Being Reused
In 2009, assets from the game Modern Warfare 2 were being reused for Neversoft's scrapped project known as Future Warfare.
2009: Founding of Call of Duty Endowment
In 2009, the Call of Duty Endowment was founded by Robert Kotick, with a commitment to create career opportunities for veterans.
March 30, 2010: CODE Presents Copies of Modern Warfare 2 to the U.S. Navy
On March 30, 2010, CODE (Call of Duty Endowment) presented 3,000 copies of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 to the U.S. Navy, valued at approximately $180,000.
November 9, 2010: Call of Duty: Black Ops Release
On November 9, 2010, Call of Duty: Black Ops was released. It is the first game in the series to take place during the Cold War.
2010: Sledgehammer Games Announces Main Series Title
In 2010, Sledgehammer Games announced their involvement in developing a main series Call of Duty title. This project was later postponed to assist Infinity Ward with the production of Modern Warfare 3.
2010: Black Ops Release
In 2010, Treyarch released Black Ops, creating the Black Ops sub-series.
2010: Neversoft Tasked to Develop Call of Duty Sci-Fi Spinoff
In 2010, after the fracturing of Infinity Ward, Neversoft was tasked by Activision to develop a sci-fi spinoff in the Call of Duty franchise.
2011: Call of Duty Online Announcement
In 2011, Activision announced Call of Duty Online, revealing their interest in a Massively Multiplayer Online game (MMO). The game had been in development for two years and was designated as free-to-play exclusively for mainland China, hosted by Tencent.
2011: Modern Warfare 3 Release
In 2011, Infinity Ward developed Modern Warfare 3, an entry in the Modern Warfare sub-series.
2011: Call of Duty: Experience 2011 Tournament
In 2011, the biggest Call of Duty tournament hosted was Call of Duty: Experience 2011, which began when Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was released.
May 1, 2012: Call of Duty: Black Ops II Reveal
On May 1, 2012, Call of Duty: Black Ops II was revealed.
November 12, 2012: Call of Duty: Black Ops II Release
On November 12, 2012, Call of Duty: Black Ops II was released. It was the first game in the series to feature future warfare technology.
2012: Raven Software Developing Stand-Alone Call of Duty Zombies Game
Between 2012 and 2013, Raven Software was developing a stand-alone Call of Duty Zombies game, designed to be a free-to-play arena.
2012: Black Ops II Release
In 2012, Black Ops II was released as part of the Black Ops sub-series.
November 5, 2013: Call of Duty: Ghosts Release
On November 5, 2013, Call of Duty: Ghosts was released. It was the first game to be developed for eighth-gen consoles such as PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
2013: Raven Software Developing Stand-Alone Call of Duty Zombies Game
Between 2012 and 2013, Raven Software was developing a stand-alone Call of Duty Zombies game, designed to be a free-to-play arena.
2013: Ghosts Release
In 2013, Infinity Ward developed Ghosts, a game outside of the Modern Warfare sub-series.
2013: NX1 Cancellation
In 2013, NX1 was meant to release instead of Ghosts, but it was cancelled.
November 4, 2014: Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Release
On November 4, 2014, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare was released. It was the first game in the series to feature advanced movements, such as double jump and boost slide.
November 2014: Call of Duty Endowment Launches "Race to 1,000 Jobs" Campaign
In November 2014, the Call of Duty Endowment launched the "Race to 1,000 Jobs" campaign to encourage gamers to donate money and get involved in organizations that provide services to veterans.
2014: Call of Duty: Ghosts Most Competitively Played Game
In 2014, Call of Duty: Ghosts was the most competitively played game, with an average of 15,000 teams participating every season.
2014: Advanced Warfare Release
In 2014, Sledgehammer Games developed and released Advanced Warfare.
2014: Sledgehammer Games Confirmed for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
In 2014, it was confirmed that Sledgehammer Games would produce Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, establishing a three-year rotation for studio development.
November 6, 2015: Call of Duty: Black Ops III Release
On November 6, 2015, Call of Duty: Black Ops III was released.
2015: Call of Duty Endowment Provides $12 Million in Grants
As of 2015, the Call of Duty Endowment had provided around $12 million in grants to veterans' organizations in the United States, which has helped find jobs for 14,700 veterans.
2015: Black Ops III Release
In 2015, Black Ops III was released as part of the Black Ops sub-series.
2015: Treyarch Shifts Focus for Call of Duty: Black Ops III
In 2015, Treyarch decided to move away from the traditional Black Ops Zombies mode, focusing on the single-player and multiplayer aspects of Call of Duty: Black Ops III.
July 2016: Treyarch Announces Call of Duty: Zombies Comic Book Series
In July 2016, Treyarch announced the Call of Duty: Zombies six-part comic book series to be published by Dark Horse Comics.
October 26, 2016: Release of Call of Duty: Zombies Issue #1
On October 26, 2016, the first issue of the Call of Duty: Zombies comic book series was released by Dark Horse Comics.
November 4, 2016: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered Release
On November 4, 2016, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered was released alongside the Legacy Edition, Legacy Pro Edition, and Digital Deluxe Edition of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
2016: Modern Warfare Remastered Release & Infinite Warfare Release
In 2016, a remastered version of Modern Warfare was released, and Infinity Ward also developed Infinite Warfare.
January 11, 2017: Release of Call of Duty: Zombies Issue #2
On January 11, 2017, Call of Duty: Zombies issue #2 was released.
March 1, 2017: Release of Call of Duty: Zombies Issue #3
On March 1, 2017, Call of Duty: Zombies issue #3 was released.
April 19, 2017: Release of Call of Duty: Zombies Issue #4
On April 19, 2017, Call of Duty: Zombies issue #4 was released.
June 21, 2017: Release of Call of Duty: Zombies Issue #5
On June 21, 2017, Call of Duty: Zombies issue #5 was released.
June 27, 2017: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered Standalone PS4 Release
On June 27, 2017, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered was released standalone for PS4.
July 27, 2017: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered Standalone Xbox One and PC Release
On July 27, 2017, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered was released standalone for Xbox One and PC.
August 23, 2017: Release of Call of Duty: Zombies Issue #6
On August 23, 2017, Call of Duty: Zombies issue #6 was released.
November 3, 2017: Call of Duty: WWII Release
On November 3, 2017, Call of Duty: WWII was released worldwide for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
November 15, 2017: Release of Call of Duty: Zombies Paperback Edition
On November 15, 2017, a paperback edition containing all six issues of Call of Duty: Zombies was released.
2017: AM General Sues Activision
In 2017, AM General, the Humvee manufacturer, sued Activision for trademark infringement due to the Humvee's appearance in multiple Call of Duty games.
2017: Sledgehammer Games Develops Call of Duty: WWII
In 2017, Sledgehammer Games developed and released Call of Duty: WWII before beginning development on a new Call of Duty entry alongside Raven Software.
2017: WWII Release
In 2017, Sledgehammer Games developed and released WWII.
February 16, 2018: Stefano Sollima to Direct Call of Duty Film
On February 16, 2018, it was announced that Stefano Sollima would direct the Call of Duty film.
October 12, 2018: Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Release
On October 12, 2018, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 was released. It was the first featured Call of Duty game to forgo a single-player campaign game mode.
November 27, 2018: Joe Robert Cole to Write Call of Duty Film Sequel
On November 27, 2018, it was announced that Joe Robert Cole would be writing the sequel to the Call of Duty film.
2018: Black Ops 4 Release
In 2018, Black Ops 4 was released as part of the Black Ops sub-series.
March 18, 2019: Call of Duty: Mobile Announced at Game Developers Conference
On March 18, 2019, Call of Duty: Mobile was first announced at the year's Game Developers Conference.
May 30, 2019: Modern Warfare Reveal
On May 30, 2019, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was officially revealed.
October 1, 2019: Call of Duty: Mobile Release
Call of Duty: Mobile, the franchise's title for iOS and Android developed by Tencent Games' TiMi Studios, was released on October 1, 2019.
October 4, 2019: Call of Duty: Mobile Surpasses 35 Million Downloads
As of October 4, 2019, Call of Duty: Mobile surpassed over 35 million downloads worldwide.
October 25, 2019: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Release
On October 25, 2019, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was released.
2019: Filming on Call of Duty Film Set to Begin
Filming on the first Call of Duty film was supposed to start in Spring 2019 for a 2020 or 2021 release.
2019: Confirmation of Modern Warfare sequel
In 2019, Activision confirmed that it would be developing a sequel to Modern Warfare.
2019: Release of Modern Warfare
In 2019, Modern Warfare was released, which Call of Duty: Warzone would later be part of. Warzone shares progression and gameplay items from Modern Warfare.
2019: Modern Warfare Reboot
In 2019, the Modern Warfare sub-series received a reboot with the release of Modern Warfare.
2019: Cosmetic Items Unlock in 2019's Modern Warfare and 2020's Warzone
In 2019, when purchased, players could unlock various cosmetic items in 2019's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and 2020's Call of Duty: Warzone.
January 2020: Activision Launches Call of Duty League
In January 2020, Activision launched a 12 team Call of Duty League, following a similar city-based franchise structure as the Overwatch League.
February 2020: Call of Duty Film Put On Hold
In February 2020, Sollima revealed in an interview that the Call of Duty film had been put on hold as it was not Activision's priority.
March 10, 2020: Call of Duty: Warzone Release
On March 10, 2020, Call of Duty: Warzone, developed by Infinity Ward and Raven Software, was released as part of Modern Warfare (2019). The game is available for download independently and shares progression with Modern Warfare.
March 2020: Call of Duty: Warzone Release
In March 2020, Call of Duty: Warzone, the second main battle royale installment in the Call of Duty franchise, was released as a part of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
March 31, 2020: Modern Warfare 2 Updated Version (PS4)
On March 31, 2020, a visually updated version of Modern Warfare 2 was released for PlayStation 4, including only the campaign mode.
April 2020: Activision Wins Humvee Lawsuit
In April 2020, a federal judge dismissed the lawsuit filed by AM General against Activision for using the Humvee in Call of Duty games, stating that the game's use of the vehicle for military realism differed from AM General's trademark purpose.
April 30, 2020: Modern Warfare 2 Updated Version (Xbox One and Windows)
On April 30, 2020, a visually updated version of Modern Warfare 2 was released for Xbox One and Windows, including only the campaign mode.
November 13, 2020: Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Release
On November 13, 2020, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War was released. The game is set during the 1980s and focuses on Soviet and American espionage during the Cold War.
2020: Black Ops Cold War Release
In 2020, Black Ops Cold War was released in conjunction with Raven Software.
2020: Call of Duty: Strike Team Release
In 2020, Call of Duty: Strike Team was released as a first and third-person shooter game for iOS and Android, tasking players with leading a U.S. Joint Special Operations Team during a war with an unknown enemy.
2020: Treyarch Takes Over Project Development
In 2020, Treyarch assumed control of a Call of Duty project originally being developed by Sledgehammer Games and Raven Software due to conflicts of interest, aiming to expedite the development process.
November 5, 2021: Call of Duty: Vanguard Release
On November 5, 2021, Call of Duty: Vanguard was released for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
2021: Vanguard Release
In 2021, Sledgehammer Games developed and released Vanguard.
February 11, 2022: Modern Warfare Sequel Confirmation
On February 11, 2022, Activision confirmed a sequel to the 2019 Modern Warfare game, to be developed by Infinity Ward.
April 28, 2022: Modern Warfare Sequel Logo and Title Reveal
On April 28, 2022, the game's logo and title was revealed.
September 15, 2022: Call of Duty NEXT Broadcast
On September 15, 2022, during Activision's 'Call of Duty NEXT' broadcast, the game's multiplayer was fully revealed, along with details on the next version of Warzone and a mobile version of Warzone.
November 16, 2022: Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 Release
On November 16, 2022, Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 was released as part of a content update for Modern Warfare II. It was developed by Infinity Ward and Raven Software.
November 30, 2022: Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile Limited Release in Australia
On November 30, 2022, Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile was released in Australia as part of a "Limited Release" phase.
2022: Franchise Revenue Milestone
By 2022, the Call of Duty franchise had generated $30 billion in revenue.
2022: Modern Warfare II Release
In 2022, Modern Warfare II was released as part of the Modern Warfare reboot sub-series.
March 24, 2023: Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile Limited Release in Select Countries
On March 24, 2023, Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile was released in Chile, Norway and Sweden as part of a "Limited Release" phase.
October 2023: Call of Duty Sales and Player Base
As of October 2023, Call of Duty has sold over 500 million copies and has 100 million monthly active players across all platforms.
2023: Modern Warfare III Release
In 2023, Modern Warfare III was released as part of the Modern Warfare reboot sub-series.
2023: Modern Warfare III Lead Development
In 2023, Sledgehammer Games was the lead developer for Modern Warfare III, the third entry in the Modern Warfare reboot sub-series.
January 2024: Footage of Neversoft's Canceled Call of Duty Sci-Fi Spinoff Leaked Online
In January 2024, footage of Neversoft's canceled Call of Duty sci-fi spinoff, known as Future Warfare, was leaked online, revealing a complete opening mission and in-development multiplayer.
March 21, 2024: Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile Officially Released
On March 21, 2024, Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile was officially released for iOS and Android devices.
April 2024: Former Raven's Lead Designer Confirms Leaks About Canceled Zombies Game
In April 2024, Michael Gulmmelt, former lead designer at Raven Software, confirmed leaks about the canceled Call of Duty Zombies game.
October 25, 2024: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Release
On October 25, 2024, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, the most recent installment in the franchise, was released.
2024: Black Ops 6 Release
In 2024, Black Ops 6 was released, developed in conjunction with Raven Software.
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