Cover-Credits:
One of Activision Blizzard’s signature IPs, Call of Duty isn’t having a great year. According to data published by the developer, in the last 12 months, the player count for the franchise has dropped from 127 million in June 2021 to 94 million this year. Fans of the franchise seem to be losing interest as a record 33 million players have now given up on the franchise. While the player count for the series had been declining since 2019, this year has been especially difficult for the developer. Factors like multiple lawsuits, underperforming games, and unpopular releases are likely responsible for this huge decline.
Why are players leaving Call of Duty behind?
Activision Blizzard is currently facing a number of investigations and lawsuits following allegations of sexual abuse and harrasment, including an $18 million dollar settlement in one of the cases. The developer also received further flak for failing to take any concrete steps to address the widespread sexual harassment and discrimination after the news went public. The company’s image also took a hit after the announcement and release of Diablo Immortal which was widely criticized for its predatory monetization.
However, Diablo Immortal has exceeded expectations in revenue, despite the negative press surrounding it. Overall, revenue has fallen 28 per cent year-on-year to just under $2.4 billion according to the report.
Apart from this, Activision Blizzard’s latest addition to the franchise, Call of Duty: Vanguard, which launched last year, didn’t perform as expected. Interest in Vanguard is waning and the player count has been on a decline since a month after launch. Apart from the franchise’s more hardcore fans, the game’s lack of innovation and repetitive nature has turned casual gamers away from the franchise.
Newer entries into the FPS franchise will likely further pull players away from the Call of Duty Franchise. The Modern Warfare 2 trailer came out last month and while some fans are looking forward to the game’s release, many are wondering what exactly is new. YouTuber DrDisRespect took a shot at the new game tweeting out:
The streamer had previously hit out against Call of Duty: Warzone too. His recent foray into the FPS genre is with his upcoming game, Deadrop. This gives FPS gamers now more options to choose from in the genre.
Activision Blizzard does have plans of bringing back players with releases like World of Warcraft: Dragonflight, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Overwatch 2, and Diablo IV, which are set to launch in the coming months.
