What Call of Duty is everyone playing?
The Call of Duty game that most fans are playing right now is without question Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022). MWII has simply taken the franchise to new heights since its October 2022 release – breaking records and winning praise as a return to form for the blockbuster series.
As a passionate CoD gamer myself, I‘ve been captivated by how MWII has reshaped the landscape. In this deep dive, I‘ll analyze the insane popularity behind MWII mania and what it means for CoD moving forward.
By The Numbers: MWII‘s Record-Breaking Player Engagement
First, let‘s quantify MWII‘s popularity with some key statistics:
- Sold over $800 million copies globally in first 3 days – highest-gross CoD launch ever
- Topped Steam‘s concurrent player count with over 270K on launch day
- Has maintained 100K+ average daily players on Steam since release
How does this compare against recent franchise entries like Vanguard and Black Ops Cold War?
| Game | Launch Month Player Count | Launch Weekend Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Modern Warfare II | 270K Steam | $800 million |
| Vanguard | 100K Steam | $500 million (first 5 days) |
| Black Ops Cold War | 90K Steam | $678 million (first 5 days) |
MWII has crushed its closest competitors, nearly tripling the playership of 2021‘s Vanguard while outearning Cold War‘s massive sales figures.
Why Modern Warfare II Resonates so Strongly
As someone who has played every CoD religiously since the original Modern Warfare, MWII stands out to me as a meticulously-crafted first-person shooter experience. It caters directly to veteran fans while opening accessibility for newcomers.
Specific highlights:
- Slick next-gen presentation with photorealistic graphics
- Addictive map design with porous layouts
- Balanced meta encouraging creative loadouts
- Innovative player-vs-player and player-vs-enemy modes like Knock Out and DMZ
These refinements boost MWII‘s replay value and hardcore fun factor. It modernizes the classic "boots on the ground" CoD feel without alienating the fanbase. Crucially, post-launch support has also been phenomenal between seasonal updates and Warzone 2.0 integration.
Ongoing Content Keeps Players Invested
MWII launched with over 50 weapons and 8 multiplayer maps. Since release, we‘ve seen:
- 4 more maps added plus Hardcore mode
- Multiple balance tweaks and weapon tuning passes
- Limited-time modes like CDL Moshpit introduced
- Battle pass refresh with new Operators, cosmetics etc.
The development roadmap promises even more:
- Ongoing maps, modes, cosmetics through 2023
- Shared progression/inventory with Warzone 2.0
- Ranked play, DMZ missions, Raid episode content
Fans appreciate this long-tail support. It gives confidence the party won‘t stop anytime soon.
What Does This Mean for Call of Duty‘s Future?
Modern Warfare II‘s instant commercial and critical success proves core fans remain deeply invested in Call of Duty.
When the gameplay, technical presentation, and post-launch support come together – as with MWII – the franchise still has capability to completely dominate the gaming industry.
I expect MWII to flourish throughout 2023 and beyond thanks to this perfect storm. Activision will focus resources on upholding MWII/Warzone 2.0 as the marquee Call of Duty experience over the next 2 years rather than rush another premium release out.
Ultimately, CoD is healthy and as relevant as ever. MWII sets the blueprint for retaining yearly playerships north of 100 million. The fires of franchise passion have been stoked to blazing new heights thanks to 2022‘s explosive return to form.
Let the hype train keep rolling!
