Shocking No One, Activision Confirms Call of Duty Will Be Released Every Year

Benjamin Franklin once said the only things certain in this world are death and taxes. But you can probably add annual Call of Duty releases to that list as Activision reaffirmed its commitment to annualized releases, even as live-service games take over the industry.In an investor call for its Q2 2019 earnings, Activision was asked whether the company will keep its annualized release schedule for the Call of Duty franchise as games like Fortnite and Rainbow Six: Siege adopt live-service models. This model keeps the base game feeling new thanks to regular updates, years after the initial launch.

The short answer is no. While Activision says ongoing content for Call of Duty is more important than ever, Activision also clearly stated that, at least on the “console and PC side, we do see annual releases as a key part of the [Call of Duty] franchise.”

Activision made a clear differentiation between the PC and console Call of Duty games, like the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, and Call of Duty: Mobile. Activision says that while Call of Duty: Mobile is being designed as a live-service game with a long lifespan in mind, new console and PC launches are “critical” to the franchise. Annualized releases are also a good way to refresh the Call of Duty series each year, according to the company.

There’s been a new Call of Duty game released on console and PC since 2005’s Call of Duty 2. Activision employs a rotating developer cycle where Treyarch, Infinity Ward, and Sledgehammer Games trade development duties on Call of Duty games every year which ensures a steady clip of mainline Call of Duty games.

Recent Call of Duty games have put greater emphasis on post-launch engagement. Last year’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 included the battle royale mode, Blackout, which Treyarch continues to support with new updates and maps months after Black Ops 4 launched.

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In the same conference call, Activision confirmed that the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

will have the “largest post launch content pipeline in history.” Considering how microtransaction revenue in Call of Duty is growing series after series, it makes sense that Infinity Ward is continuing this trend of post-launch content. Even if Modern Warfare won’t have a season pass.

It sounds like Activision is splitting the difference by continuing its focus on annual Call of Duty releases, which continue to be the one of the best-selling games of any given year; and live-service monetization through post-launch content and Call of Duty: Mobile. Either way, we’re already looking forward to 2020’s new Call of Duty game.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare will be released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on October 25, 2019. Check out our Call of Duty: Modern Warfare preview here.

Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN. Have a tip about Call of Duty 2020? Reach out to [email protected] or on Twitter.