Activision has announced a major overhaul to its release strategy for future Call of Duty games following the disappointing launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
In a message to the community this week, the Call of Duty team thanked the passionate fans who have supported the franchise over the years, but also acknowledged that the blockbuster shooter has not met the expectations of many.
"To be very clear, we know what you expect and rest assured we will deliver, and overdeliver, on those expectations as we move forward," the studio promised. "With respect to Black Ops 7, we set our sights to deliver a spiritual successor to Black Ops 2 and the studios have poured their passion into making a great game that all of us are very proud of. But it’s one thing for us to say it, more importantly it’s up to you to try it and judge for yourselves."
The major takeaway from their update is a change to Call of Duty's release strategy moving forward.
"We will no longer do back-to-back releases of Modern Warfare or Black Ops games," the studio confirmed. "The reasons are many, but the main one is to ensure we provide an absolutely unique experience each and every year."
Black Ops 7's has been one of the poorest received games in Call of Duty history. Much of the criticism was aimed at the campaign story, which was deemed confusing and nonsensical. Call of Duty has always been known for its blockbuster set pieces, but this game's campaign took things to an extreme with over-the-top elements, such as giant bosses. The team also received backlash for seemingly using AI-generated assets. Outside of the campaign, the game's multiplayer also suffered from technical and performance issues, as well as unbalanced and frustrating multiplayer matchmaking.
Coupled with franchise fatigue and increased competition from a very well received Battlefield 6 and Arc Raiders, sales for Black Ops 7 have reportedly underperformed compared to past entries in the franchise. Activision has yet to announce sales numbers for Black Ops 7, but the lack of chest-thumping that typically comes a week after launch, strongly backs the notion that this year's game has underperformed.
Activision is likely hoping that this shift in the franchise’s release strategy will lead to more meaningful innovation, and perhaps change consumer perception that releasing the same sub-series in back-to-back years is merely a full-price expansion. And while there’s some validity to that line of thought, I’m not convinced fans were pushed away simply because it was another Black Ops game. Instead, this entry felt like a disjointed mess with no clear vision, and certainly not a Call of Duty identity. The reception to Battlefield 6 suggests fans want a gritty, boots-on-the-ground experience, not a focus on cosmetics or fluff details like the infamous cat café, which has become symbolic of the franchise’s tonal shift.