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July 27, 2026Sources cited
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Call of Duty

Call of Duty is a first-person shooter video game franchise published by Activision and first released in 2003.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Call of Duty is a first-person shooter video game franchise published by Activision and first released in 2003. The series includes annual mainline entries and spin-offs, with major sub-series such as Modern Warfare and Black Ops. The most recent mainline release is Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, which launched on October 25, 2024.

History

Call of Duty began in 2003 as a first-person shooter series published by Activision. Over time, it expanded into a major franchise with yearly releases and multiple interconnected sub-series.

Main sub-series

The best-known branches of the franchise are Modern Warfare and Black Ops. These sub-series have different storylines and settings, but both are central to the overall Call of Duty brand.

Recent releases

According to the provided sources, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 was the latest mainline game, released on October 25, 2024. It was developed by Treyarch and Raven Software and published by Activision.

Warzone and live service content

Call of Duty: Warzone is part of the broader franchise and receives ongoing updates. The sources note cloud support and integration-related updates alongside other Call of Duty titles in 2024.

Key facts

  • Call of Duty is a long-running first-person shooter franchise published by Activision.
  • The series began in 2003 and has received annual mainline entries for many years.
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is the 21st main installment, released October 25, 2024.
  • The franchise includes major sub-series such as Modern Warfare and Black Ops.
  • Call of Duty: Warzone is a separate free-to-play battle royale title within the franchise ecosystem.
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Canadian context

Call of Duty is widely played in Canada and is available on major console and PC platforms sold in the Canadian market. Canadian readers may also encounter franchise news through Xbox, PlayStation, and Windows gaming coverage.[1][4][5]

Frequently asked questions

What is the new Call of Duty game 2024?
The new Call of Duty game for 2024 was Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, released on October 25, 2024.
Call of Duty Warzone update
Warzone receives ongoing live-service updates. In the provided sources, Activision and Xbox announced cloud gaming support for Call of Duty: Warzone and related Call of Duty titles on October 25, 2024.
Call of Duty Black Ops vs Modern Warfare
Black Ops and Modern Warfare are the two best-known Call of Duty sub-series. Black Ops focuses on a separate continuity from Modern Warfare, and both have their own characters, settings, and annual or near-annual releases.
Call of Duty ranked play
Ranked play is a competitive multiplayer mode used in some Call of Duty titles. The provided sources do not give a current ranked-play update for the franchise as a whole.
Call of Duty release date
The franchise itself began in 2003, while the most recent mainline game in the sources, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, was released on October 25, 2024.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_of_Duty
    Supports: Franchise overview, publisher, first release year, major sub-series, and the identification of Black Ops 6 as a mainline entry.
  2. Activision — https://www.activision.com/games/call-of-duty/call-of-duty-black-ops-6
    Supports: Official release date for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
  3. Xbox — https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/08/28/call-of-duty-next-2024-showcase-recap/
    Supports: Black Ops 6 launch timing and platform availability.
  4. Xbox — https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/10/14/call-of-duty-coming-to-cloud-october-25/
    Supports: Warzone and Modern Warfare III cloud-gaming support and October 25, 2024 timing.
  5. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_of_Duty:_Black_Ops_6
    Supports: Black Ops 6 release date, platforms, and its position as the 21st main installment.
  6. GameSpot — https://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-2024-release-date-trailer-news/1100-6523361/
    Supports: Context that the franchise continued annual releases into 2024 and expectations around the 2024 title.