Call of Duty

What Call of Duty does

Call of Duty is a first-person shooter video game franchise owned by Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard (acquired by Microsoft Corporation for $68.7 billion in October 2023). Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Santa Monica, California, the franchise operates through ten wholly-owned internal development studios — including Infinity Ward, Treyarch, Sledgehammer Games, and Raven Software — collectively employing 10,000+ people across the United States, Canada, Ireland, Spain, and China. The franchise is one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time and serves core FPS gamers, cross-platform players, mobile gamers, and esports communities across more than 30 countries.

The franchise's product portfolio spans flagship annual mainline releases (Black Ops 7, Modern Warfare 4 launching October 2026), a free-to-play battle royale platform (Warzone), mobile versions (Call of Duty Mobile and Warzone Mobile), and a deep add-on ecosystem (Battle Pass, BlackCell premium subscription, RICOCHET Anti-Cheat). Underlying technology includes cross-platform play infrastructure supporting PC, console, and mobile, a Global Progression System unifying XP across modes, and a multi-layered anti-cheat stack combining kernel-level PC drivers, server-side detection, machine learning-based behavioral analysis, and partnerships with Modulate (ToxMod voice moderation) and Microsoft (Community Sift text moderation).

The business model combines one-time game license sales ($49.99–$119.99 across Standard, Cross-Gen, and Vault Editions), recurring seasonal subscriptions (BlackCell at $29.99 per season), in-game microtransactions via the COD Points virtual currency, and licensing/brand collaboration revenue. Distribution is fully omnichannel — Xbox Store, PlayStation Store, Battle.net, Steam, Nintendo eShop, Apple App Store, Google Play, physical retail, the official callofduty.com storefront, and the merchandise shop — supplemented by Xbox Game Pass integration and regional localization. Go-to-market combines product-led multi-platform launches, seasonal content drops, pre-order campaigns, and a dedicated esports ecosystem (Call of Duty League, World Series of Warzone, Mobile World Championship).

Name

Call of Duty

Legal name

Activision Publishing, Inc.

Website

https://callofduty.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Call of Duty is a best-selling first-person shooter video game franchise owned by Activision Publishing (under Microsoft) and developed across ten internal studios, delivering annual mainline releases, a free-to-play Warzone battle royale, and mobile titles to global consumer and esports audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

First-Person Shooter Video Games

akta.pro primary industry

Franchise-Based Esports Leagues (MPAKANAC)

Keywords

• First-person shooter games
• Video game franchise
• Battle royale gaming
• Multiplayer console games
• Mobile gaming titles

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Monica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Game Sales: One-time purchase of full games (Standard/Cross-Gen/Vault Editions) with suggested retail prices ranging from $49.99 to $99.99 for standard editions, and $79.99 to $119.99 for Vault Editions. Older titles discounted significantly (up to 90% off).
2. Battle Pass: Seasonal subscription-like content pass offering 100+ unlockable items including operator skins, weapon blueprints, and cosmetic content. Includes 1100 CP and 20 Tier Skips with BlackCell season pass.
3. BlackCell Premium Tier: Premium battle pass tier at $29.99 per season offering exclusive operator skins, Mastercraft blueprints, instant unlocks, and exclusive rewards.
4. In-Game Bundles and Cosmetic Items: Direct purchase of operator skins, weapon camos, blueprints, and themed bundles from the in-game store. Items range from individual cosmetics to comprehensive bundles.
5. Licensing and Brand Collaborations: Partnerships with external brands (Dollar Shave Club, The Boys, Persona 5, Street Fighter 6) for limited-edition themed content and merchandise.
6. COD Points: Virtual currency purchased for in-game transactions, enabling players to buy Battle Passes, bundles, and cosmetic items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Call of Duty is a first-person shooter video game franchise published by Activision Publishing, Inc., selling annual mainline releases (Modern Warfare 4, Black Ops 7) and free-to-play titles (Warzone, Mobile) across PC, console, and mobile platforms. The franchise monetizes through one-time game purchases, a premium BlackCell subscription, seasonal Battle Passes, in-game cosmetic bundles, and COD Points virtual currency.

Product overview

Call of Duty is a major video game franchise offering multiple interconnected titles across platforms (PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Mobile). The portfolio includes the latest releases (Modern Warfare 4, Black Ops 7), the free-to-play Warzone battle royale platform unifying progression, and Call of Duty Mobile. Previous titles (Black Ops 6, Modern Warfare III, Modern Warfare II, Vanguard) remain available with discounts. Additional offerings include BlackCell premium subscription and RICOCHET Anti-Cheat security system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7: The latest mainline entry in the Black Ops sub-series, featuring campaign, multiplayer, and zombies modes.
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4
• Call of Duty: Warzone
• Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile
• Call of Duty: Mobile
• BlackCell
• Call of Duty League

Products and services

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Upcoming mainline entry in the Modern Warfare sub-series featuring Campaign, Multiplayer, and DMZ extraction mode, scheduled for release October 23, 2026, set during conflict on the Korean Peninsula.
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Latest mainline Black Ops title featuring Co-Op Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies modes. Includes Vault Edition with premium rewards, BlackCell subscription, and progression tied to Warzone.
• Call of Duty: Warzone Free-to-play battle royale game serving as the unified platform for all Call of Duty titles, featuring multiple maps including Urzikstan and Fortune's Keep, with cross-platform progression.
• Call of Duty: Mobile Free-to-play mobile FPS game optimized for iOS and Android, featuring multiple game modes and cross-platform connectivity with PC and console versions.
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Previous Black Ops installment with Campaign, Multiplayer, Zombies, and integration with Warzone. Available at discounts up to 60% off SRP.
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023) Previous mainline Modern Warfare title with Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies. Available at discounts up to 60% off SRP.
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022) Previous Modern Warfare entry featuring the 141 Task Force with new gun mechanics, advanced AI systems, and Spec Ops mode. Available at discounts up to 90% off SRP.
• Call of Duty: Vanguard WWII-themed title featuring Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies modes. Developed by Sledgehammer Games. Available at discounts up to 67% off SRP.
• BlackCell Premium Season Pass Premium subscription tier at $29.99 per season offering exclusive operator skins, mastercraft blueprints, instant unlocks, and seasonal content access across Call of Duty titles.
• Call of Duty Merchandise Store Official merchandise store offering apparel, accessories, art books, and collectibles tied to the Call of Duty franchise.

Quantifiable outcome

• Near 99% of beta matches remained cheat-free during Black Ops 7 public beta
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• Persona 5: Royal (Sega)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Collaboration featuring themed content in Call of Duty: Mobile including Plunder Treasure Hunt mode, character skins for Joker, Panther, Queen and Violet, and a Ryuji Sakamoto-themed motorcycle skin. Launching July 1st, 2026.
• TCLminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 June 2026TCL applied QD-Mini LED display technology to gaming monitors with pricing $499-$799 MSRP, optimized for gaming experiences including Call of Duty.
• The Boys (Prime Video)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 April 2026In-game collaboration between The Boys TV series and Call of Duty ahead of the show's final season, featuring themed cosmetic content.
• InfinixflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 March 2026Global partnership optimizing NOTE Edge and NOTE 60 Series smartphones for Call of Duty: Mobile, achieving stable 120FPS performance with enhanced JBL audio and exclusive themed interface elements. Includes global AK117 weapon skin design contest and regional community activations.
• Dollar Shave ClubcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 March 2026Limited-edition gaming handle called 'Call of Duty: Warzone Handle' sold at Target for $10.99, combining grooming products with gaming culture.
• Street Fighter 6 (Capcom)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Collaboration celebrating Call of Duty: Mobile's 11th season and 6th anniversary, featuring Street Fighter character-themed operators and weapons unlockable December 11-13.
• Microsoft / Xbox Game PassflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStrategic distribution partnership making Call of Duty available on Xbox Game Pass, with Black Ops 6 and select titles available to subscribers. Includes loyalty discount programs for previous title owners.
• Modulate (ToxMod)coreTechnology or IntegrationVoice chat moderation technology partner for RICOCHET Anti-Cheat system, providing AI-powered voice toxicity detection.
• Microsoft (Community Sift)coreTechnology or IntegrationText chat, clan tags, and username moderation through Microsoft's Community Sift technology as part of the broader anti-cheat ecosystem.
• California Institute of TechnologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership studying player interaction behaviors in-game to understand factors driving positive and negative behavior, ensuring systems are science-based.
• USAAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of the annual Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.) Bowl charity esports event supporting veteran employment initiatives.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Halo: Microsoft-owned flagship FPS franchise (Halo Infinite) operating within Xbox Game Studios alongside Call of Duty post-Activision acquisition. Comparable AAA console FPS with shared platform distribution and esports ambitions.
• Overwatch 2: Blizzard's team-based hero shooter, now a sibling franchise within Activision Blizzard alongside Call of Duty. Comparable live-service shooter with seasonal battle pass, competitive ranked play, and Overwatch League esports.

Direct peers

• Fortnite: Epic Games' free-to-play battle royale and UGC platform with massive player base. Competes with Warzone for casual-to-core battle royale time-share and for the broader shooter / live-service wallet.
• Rainbow Six Siege: Ubisoft's tactical military shooter with a long-running live-service model and esports league (Six Invitational). Competes for the same tactical FPS player and esports audience as Call of Duty's competitive modes.
• Valorant: Riot Games' free-to-play 5v5 tactical FPS with strong esports ecosystem. A leading free-to-peer alternative that competes with Call of Duty Multiplayer and Ranked for the same core shooter audience.
• Counter-Strike 2: Valve's premier tactical FPS and one of the largest PC esports titles globally. Directly competes with Call of Duty for core FPS competitive multiplayer player time and esports viewership.
• Apex Legends: EA/Respawn's free-to-play battle royale shooter. Directly competes with Warzone in the FPS battle royale category with seasonal content, battle pass monetization, and a comparable live-service cadence.
• Battlefield: EA's flagship military first-person shooter franchise, the most direct head-to-head competitor to Call of Duty in the AAA console/PC FPS category with annual or biennial premium releases and a live-service model.

Emerging players

• Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon / Division (Ubisoft): Ubisoft's military shooter portfolio (Ghost Recon, The Division) with realistic gunplay and live-service elements. Adjacent competitor for the military-themed FPS audience that Call of Duty's Modern Warfare sub-series targets.
• Destiny 2: Bungie's looter shooter with FPS combat, large-scale PvE/PvP modes, and seasonal live-service updates. Competes with Call of Duty for shooter-minded players' time and subscription/expansion spending.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/callofduty
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CallofDuty
• Facebookfacebook.com/CallofDuty
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/callofduty
• Instagraminstagram.com/callofduty
• TikToktiktok.com/@callofduty

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Call of Duty