The Call of Duty franchise has achieved a significant financial landmark, surpassing $40 billion in lifetime revenue. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced the milestone, crediting the franchise's longevity and player support.
"One of the most celebrated Call of Duty games in its 24-year history, and now $40 billion in lifetime franchise revenue. An incredible milestone," Sharma stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter), thanking both the Activision team and the player base. This revenue figure places Call of Duty among the most lucrative franchises in video game history, though behind giants like Mario and Pokémon.
Over its 22-year history, Call of Duty has consistently generated substantial sales. Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 remains the best-selling title, with over 43 million copies sold, closely followed by Modern Warfare (2019) which sold over 41 million copies. The Black Ops sub-series, in particular, has been a driving force behind the franchise's enduring popularity.
Modern Warfare 2 (2022) achieved the most successful launch in the series' history, generating $1 billion in just 10 days and amassing over 200 million hours played. This launch also marked a significant return to Steam for the franchise, as it was the first Call of Duty title to appear on the platform since Call of Duty: WW2 in 2017. Its presence on Steam saw it rank among the top 10 games by concurrent players.
The franchise's success is attributed to a consistent annual release schedule, driven by the collaborative efforts of development studios including Infinity Ward, Treyarch, Sledgehammer Games, and Raven Software. The ongoing demand for new installments appears to be a key factor in Call of Duty's sustained financial dominance.