The Call of Duty franchise has officially surpassed $40 billion in lifetime revenue, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced. This significant financial milestone was confirmed by Sharma following the recent launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on October 23.
"Congrats to the team. And to the players, thank you for being with us," Sharma stated in a social media post. While Sharma did not provide specific sales figures for Modern Warfare 4 or detail its contribution to reaching the $40 billion mark, she emphasized the "incredible milestone" for the series.
The Call of Duty franchise, which debuted in 2003, has maintained an annual release schedule for its mainline entries on PC and console for over two decades. Its reach has also expanded significantly into the mobile gaming market and the popular battle royale genre with Call of Duty: Warzone. It is presumed that the $40 billion total encompasses sales from mainline games, in-game purchases, as well as revenue from spin-offs and ports. Activision's financial reporting does not typically disclose development or marketing costs, making profitability levels for individual titles unknown.
Beyond its established sub-series like Modern Warfare and Black Ops, Activision is reportedly developing a new Call of Duty sub-series. Modern Warfare 4 has been met with positive reception, currently holding an 86 on Metacritic. The series continues to be a major force in the gaming industry, driving substantial revenue through its consistent output and diverse market presence.