Why Did Call of Duty Stop Using Real Guns? An Industry Shift Away from Licensing

As an avid COD player and gaming industry analyst, one question I get asked a lot is – why have recent Call of Duty games moved away from using real-world guns and instead relied more on fictional weapons? After digging into this topic, one key reason stands out – a wider industry trend away from licensing deals with actual gun manufacturers.

While older COD titles prominently featured real-life weapons like AK-47s and Desert Eagles, newer games have shifted to made-up guns and manufacturers. Many players have noticed fictional names like "FORGE TAC" and "Ryclaf" instead of familiar real-world brands.

So why this major shift? As I‘ll explore in this article, it primarily comes down to avoiding licensing fees, gaining more creative freedom, and distancing COD from real-world firearm associations.

The Costs and Restrictions Around Firearm Licensing

In order to feature a real firearm name or logo, video game publishers like Activision typically have to pay licensing fees to gun companies. And some manufacturers refuse to license their products at all.

This table shows reported licensing costs for some major shooters:

As you can see, licensing fees can run into the tens or hundreds of thousands for AAA shooters like COD. And many licenses restrict how weapons can be portrayed visually and during gameplay.

This leads to a simple cost-benefit evaluation for publishers – is paying for gun licenses worth it? Increasingly, COD and other major franchises have decided the costs and creative limitations around licensing outweigh the benefits.

The Rise of Fictional Weapons and Manufacturers

Looking at recent COD games, I‘ve documented a clear shift away from licensed guns towards fictional manufacturers and weapons:

• Modern Warfare 2019 – Introduced fake brands like FORGE TAC and Ryclaf
• Black Ops Cold War – Added more fictional weapons like the Type 821
• Vanguard – Expanded made up gun catalog from prior titles
• Modern Warfare 2 – Continues fake weapon focus, with brands like BAS-P and Lachmann

Activision developers have directly commented on this strategy:

"We leverage familiar weaponry and the latest in tactical gear to make the narrative feel authentic…while also taking creative license to produce a varied and balanced array of weapons."

So while new COD guns often draw inspiration from real-world counterparts, the names and designs are fictionalized. This approach gives the studios more flexibility when crafting weapons.

For players and gun enthusiasts like myself though, the shift away from real weapon names does take some initial adjustment! Once I grew accustomed to the new fake brands though, I came to appreciate the wider range of options available in the COD arsenal.

Video Game Violence Continues to Be Controversial

Another key backdrop to this trend is that video game violence remains a hotly debated topic. Major shooters continue facing scrutiny for glorifying weaponry and combat.

Using fake guns provides some layer of abstraction from real-world firearm brands – potentially helping shield COD from accusations around promoting gun culture. Regulators in countries that restrict firearm imagery also appear more lenient when fictional weapons are used.

But this complex issue still rages on even with made-up guns. Multiple studies confirm violent games do not cause real-world aggression. However, groups like the NRA still blame shooters for promoting violence. It‘s a complex debate sure to continue facing the industry.

The Bottom Line – A Business Decision, Not a Political Statement

While some players speculate COD moved away from real guns for political reasons, it appears to simply be a smart business move. Licensing offers few advantages and major downsides for major studios like Activision.

Allowing their developers more creative freedom while avoiding restrictions and fees provides major incentive to shift towards fictional manufacturers and weaponry. And COD continues delivering innovative, intensely fun gameplay year after year – even without officially licensed firearms.

As an industry analyst though, I‘ll be keeping a close eye on whether real-world guns ever make a comeback! Many classic COD titles featured authentic weaponry that added an extra layer of realism and attention to detail. So never say never – but for now, fictional guns are here to stay.

Let me know your thoughts on this weaponry shift! As a passionate COD gamer myself, I‘m always eager to discuss the latest updates and changes with fellow players.