Call of Duty’s recent announcement marks a big shift in how they plan to release their games. After facing a lot of criticism for Black Ops 7, the team behind Call of Duty—Treyarch, Sledgehammer, and others—has decided to stop releasing multiple titles in the same franchise back-to-back. This change comes after two Modern Warfare titles in 2022 and 2023, and two upcoming Black Ops games in 2024 and 2025.
In a message on their official website, the developers acknowledged that fans have not been completely satisfied lately. They expressed gratitude for the community’s feedback and emphasized their commitment to improving the experience. The post reads, “We know what you expect and rest assured we will deliver… as we move forward.”
To regain trust, the team is offering a free trial for Black Ops 7’s multiplayer zombies mode and a Double XP weekend. They want players to give the game a fair shot and form their own opinions.
The developers also made it clear that the two franchises, Black Ops and Modern Warfare, will no longer compete against each other for annual releases. The focus will shift towards creating unique, innovative experiences each year. They hinted at exciting plans for the future but decided to keep those details under wraps for now.
This change is significant. Black Ops 7 launched with mixed reviews, earning a 6/10 in campaign and Zombies modes, while the multiplayer received a higher score of 8/10. It struggled to match the success of its predecessor, Black Ops 6, which had a better reception. Sales data reflects this, with recent reports indicating a 63% drop in performance compared to Battlefield 6 when it launched.
Interestingly, Black Ops 7 also launched on Game Pass, meaning many players tried it without it counting towards traditional sales figures. This could mask the true impact of its reception.
In short, the Call of Duty team seems to recognize the need for change. How they implement these adjustments will be telling. The gaming community will be watching closely.
For more insights on the gaming industry, you can check sources like IGN or GameSpot.
