Recent data shared by prominent financial analyst Matt Piscatella of Circana reveals a startling fact confirming the near-total dominance of the Call of Duty in the US first-person shooter market. Since 2006, specifically after the release of Call of Duty 3, no other first-person shooter has been able to surpass the sales of any annual release in the US market, cementing its status as a unique phenomenon in the gaming industry.
Historical background: From competitor to market leader
The Call of Duty journey began in 2003 as a project aimed at competing with the then-popular Medal of Honor series, offering an immersive cinematic shooting experience set in World War II. However, the true turning point that propelled the series to stardom came in 2007 with the release of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare . This game not only shifted the series' trajectory by moving its setting to the modern era, but also revolutionized online multiplayer shooters with its innovative progression and gear-unlocking system, a model that most games in the genre have followed ever since.
A track record of successes and rare exceptions
For nearly two decades, Call of Duty's annual releases have almost invariably topped the US sales charts. However, this dominance has seen a few notable exceptions, with only three blockbuster titles managing to break this monopoly. The first was in 2013 with the global phenomenon Grand Theft Auto V , followed by Rockstar's other masterpiece, Red Dead Redemption 2 , in 2018. The most recent exception came in 2023, when Hogwarts Legacy outsold that year's installment in the series.
The importance and global impact of the series
Call of Duty's impact isn't limited to the US market; it extends globally. The series has become an integral part of popular culture and a major driver of the gaming industry's economy. It also plays a pivotal role in the world of esports through its global tournaments, which attract millions of viewers and professional players. The immense brand value was a key factor behind Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, one of the largest deals in the history of the technology sector, underscoring the series' strategic importance to the future of the gaming industry. With its annual releases continuing, the question remains: will Call of Duty maintain its dominance in the coming years, or will competitors like the Battlefield series or newer titles manage to break its long-standing supremacy?
