Since 2005, we have been entitled to a Call of Duty game every year, but we learn today that this custom might soon disappear according to Bloomberg which reveals that the title of 2023 will not be in the game. A news that will undoubtedly greatly shake the industry in one way or another if confirmed.
The end of the annual Call of Duty?
Call of Duty will therefore not be entitled to a new opus in 2023, preferring to leave a year of rest to be released in 2024 if we are to believe the American site.. This would be a first in 17 years. Each year, the FPS is the top seller and remains just as popular despite an often denounced redundancy like other games with a similar release rate such as FIFA. Although one might think that the reason for this postponement is related to the recent purchase of Activision Blizzard by Microsoftit is not so according to Bloomberg sources.
This would apparently have something to do with the failure of the latest opus, which did not meet with the expected success. The media reveals that some executives would rightly blame the too fast exits. Indeed, in addition to the previous titles which would cannibalize the new ones, the success of Free to Play, Call of Duty Warzonewould keep players away from classic (so-called premium) titles.
In order to fill the gap, Activision is preparing a battery of content and DLC for the Call of Duty expected this fall (and who would be Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 according to some leaks). Activision can also count on Call of Duty Warzone 2 announced very recently.
This might therefore be the end of this routine of almost 20 years. There may be the sign of a model that is perhaps worn out and that is being replaced by games that are sustained over the long term and that pay off big, like the image of GTA V. This should be a good experience for Activision and the Infinity Ward studio, which will have to hold the boat for at least 2 years. This also announces good news for FPS enthusiasts who will potentially be able to have a more interesting and less generic offer thanks to this time saving.
However, nothing is really set in stone since it is unclear whether Microsoft will change plans once the acquisition of Activision is approved. The next few months are likely to be interesting as far as follow-up on this file is concerned.
