2023’sCall of Dutyinstallment has been shrouded in controversy and mystery. The title is one of the first annual installments to the franchise to not be properly outlined well in advance, with information about the game coming from rumors and leaks.
This is extremely unusual for the otherwise telegraphed and formulaicCall of Duty, which means the 2023 release draws a lot of apprehension from the IP’s community. Although more and more is becoming known of the title, it could be that the 2023Call of Dutymarks the end of the longstanding tradition of annual releases for the franchise.
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The History Behind Call of Duty 2023
TheCall of Dutyfranchise has enjoyed annual releases since 2004, with the IP outputting nearly two decades of consistent content. It is no secret thatCall of Dutyowes a lot of its success to this consistency, with the series sitting at the top of the competitive first-person shooter genre. Despite this, 2023 sparked rumors of an end to this tradition. For a long time, it was widely reported that 2023 would see noCall of Dutyrelease. This was consistent withthe scale behind 2022’sModern Warfare 2, which made many think the title would be given an unusual two-year stint as the most recent mainline release.
These rumors then shifted into 2023 seeing a smaller-scale release forCoD, with many stating the year would see a campaign expansion forModern Warfare 2. However, the most sizable and reputable reports behind 2023’sCoDhave blown these theories out of the water. Now, some believe that2023 will see the launch ofModern Warfare 3, a full premium release spearheaded by Sledgehammer Games. Given the importance behind this trilogy-capping title and its quick turnaround, many are of the opinion that annualCoDreleases are no longer sustainable.
The Problems Behind Annual Call of Duty Releases
Given the oddly shifting discourse behind 2023’sCoDrumors, the time of annual releases for the IP may be coming to an end. The recent reboot of theModern Warfareseries has been a huge success for Activision, withthe popular BRWarzonelaunching alongside this. TheseMWtitles have arguably broughtCall of Dutyits most large-scale recent success, yet the 2023 rumors indicate a rushed finale for the series.
There were three years between 2019’sModern Warfareand its series successor, which crucially gave fans time to exhaust the first’s content and grow eager for a sequel. The community reportedly will not get this opportunity forModern Warfare 2, given thatMW3’srumored release could come only one year later.
The heavy involvement of Sledgehammer Gamesis also a worrying factor for 2023’sCoD, if it is to beModern Warfare 3. TheMWfranchise is synonymous with Infinity Ward, which spearheaded the first two reboot installments, and handing off the finale to another studio is a confusing move. The conflicting reports about the release almost half-way into the year do not bode well for the title, causing further fan-led concern.
Therelationship betweenCall of Dutyand its fansis a strained one in recent years, and Activision must try to ensure it does not worsen. While annual releases have been a historic success for the franchise, it is clear that the increasingly complex nature ofCoDtitles is a glaring issue for this formula. With games potentially not being given the necessary time to be developed and to settle with fans, annual releases may have to be scrapped going forward.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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