Hey everyone, let's talk about Call of Duty. I've been diving deep into the latest from Activision Blizzard, and man, it's a mixed bag but with some seriously exciting glimmers for the future. As of 2026, looking back at the last few years gives us a real picture of where this franchise has been and where it's heading. Remember 2021? That was a pivotal year. Activision confirmed that net bookings for Call of Duty on console and PC actually declined year-over-year in Q4. The main culprits? Lower premium sales for Call of Duty: Vanguard compared to the monster that was Black Ops Cold War the year before, and Warzone seeing some lower engagement. It was a bit of a reality check, no cap.
But here's the kicker, and it's a big one: even with those dips, the in-game player investment on console and PC stayed "well above" the insane levels hit after Warzone first dropped in March 2020. And let's not forget, Vanguard was still the best-selling game in the US for all of 2021. So, it wasn't all doom and gloom—more like a temporary cooldown after a massive hype train.
The real MVP, the dark horse that absolutely crushed it? Call of Duty: Mobile. This thing was, and honestly still is, a printing press. Its net bookings grew year-over-year in 2021, partly thanks to blowing up in China, and its total for the year "grew strongly," sailing past the $1 billion mark worldwide. Talk about a mobile legend! While console was finding its footing, Mobile was out here setting records.
Now, let's fast-forward through the timeline. Back in 2022, Infinity Ward was confirmed to be leading the charge, not just on that year's mainline game but also on new Warzone experiences. Activision called it "the most ambitious plan in franchise history." The rumors were flying that it would be a sequel to 2019's Modern Warfare, diving into the world of Colombian drug cartels. Whether that panned out or evolved into something else by 2026 is part of the journey.
And speaking of evolution, Activision has been on a hiring spree for years. They've been beefing up Call of Duty dev teams globally to support the franchise's "ongoing live operations." But the most tantalizing bit? These expanded teams are also working on "new, unannounced" games in the Call of Duty universe. That's the phrase that gets my gears turning. What could they be? A full-blown RPG? A tactical squad-based shooter? The possibilities are endless, and in 2026, we might be on the cusp of seeing those projects finally revealed.
Of course, we can't ignore the elephant in the room: the Microsoft acquisition. Even with that seismic shift in the industry landscape, one thing was made clear early on and seems to have held true: Call of Duty will continue to launch on PlayStation and other rival platforms. For the foreseeable future, it's staying multiplatform. That's huge for keeping the community together.
Looking at the competition back then also puts things in perspective. Remember when Battlefield 2042 missed its sales targets? It was a reminder that the military shooter throne isn't easily defended, and every release is a high-stakes battle.
So, where does that leave us in 2026? Based on the trajectory:
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Mobile is King: The success of CoD: Mobile likely paved the way for even more robust, interconnected mobile experiences, possibly blurring the lines with console more than ever.
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Live Service is Everything: The focus on "ongoing live operations" means today's Call of Duty isn't just a game you buy; it's a platform you subscribe to with your time and, yes, in-game investment.
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The Universe is Expanding: Those "unannounced" projects from a few years ago? They're probably getting ready to shake up what we think a Call of Duty game can be. We're not just getting sequels; we're getting new branches on the CoD tree.
It's a franchise that had a moment of reflection, doubled down on what worked (looking at you, Mobile), and is now poised, with massive resources and teams, to redefine itself for a new era. The core console experience might have had its ups and downs, but the overall ecosystem is stronger and more diverse than ever. The future isn't just another soldier with a gun; it's a whole universe of possibilities. And I, for one, am here for it. Let's see what they've been cooking up all these years.