Call of Duty fights to win

There are things you can always count on, and a new Call of Duty game that comes out every year is one of them.

Being one of the most recognizable names in gaming, this is a series that needs no introduction.

According to publisher Activision, about 500 million copies have been sold, or a film adaptation is on the way, and although it was released in 2003, it still confidently appears at or near the top of the annual bestseller lists.

But this year, the best military shooter in the world may have a fight.

Battlefield 6, which was a huge success for rival gaming giant Electronic Arts, took the spotlight away from its veteran competitor.

And longtime Call of Duty fans are increasingly expressing concern that the series is losing touch with its routes.

Clash of the Titans multiplayer comes at an interesting time for Call of Duty creators, who have had to provide answers to fans worried about the loss of the series.

It has long offered players the ability to purchase “operator skins” that change their character’s appearance.

They are a frequent source of cross-branding, with previous creations based on stars such as footballer Neymar Jr, streamer NickMercs and rapper Nicki Minaj.

But when Activision unveiled skins based on ’90s cartoon characters Beavis and Butthead earlier this year, there was a backlash.

Fans have accused the company of trying to copy Fortnite, the perennially popular multiplayer game famous for its once-unbelievable crossovers that included pop star Sabrina Carpenter and an AI-voiced Darth Vader in 2025.

Activision said the comments from fans “hit their heads” and took complaints about the series’ loss of identity seriously.

It also comes after parent company Microsoft increased the price of its Game Pass subscription service by 20%, angering many gamers.

When BBC News speaks to senior producer Natalie Pogorski and senior communications director Stephanie Snowdon, they’re excited to talk about Black Ops 7’s single-player story campaign.

Critics found the equivalent mode in Battlefield 6 a disappointment, and Call of Duty teams are famous for their ability to create explosive scenes in their story modes.

Episodes of the Black Ops series often tell stories in the style of Hollywood blockbusters about secret agents who uncover large conspiracies.

Black Ops 7 is a direct sequel to 2012’s Black Ops 2, set in the year 2035 and telling the story of a global terrorist threat and a big, sad tech company.

Natalie says the “Black Ops identity” allows developers to explore themes that others can’t.

“There are a lot of really interesting and timeless ideas … there are endless ways to explore them,” he says.

“And then we ask a lot of questions that can apply to any era: questions of trust: Can you believe what you see?”

As one of the biggest names in gaming, Activision also allows the best talent to be attracted to Call of Duty projects.

For Black Ops 7, that includes Kiernan Shipka, best known for her role on Netflix’s The Horrible Adventures of Sabrina, and This Is Us star Milo Ventimiglia.

Kiernan tells BBC News that he is aware of the huge profile of Call of Duty and the expectations of its fans.

She says being involved was “honestly more exciting than anything.”

“I love the fandom,” he says.

“And I think when something over time generates so much passion among fans, it means you’re onto something really cool.

“The reaction will be the same.

“When I let these things go, it’s not very good.”

As someone who played Call of Duty when he was younger, Myla says he also knows the standards of the fans.

“I mean, I hope I don’t screw anybody up,” he says.

When asked if he thinks players are “tired” of the annual series, he says Black Ops 7 won’t disappoint them.

“I think this one completely surpasses the others in terms of the narrative and the direction we’re going,” he says.

But Call of Duty campaigns, no matter how well-planned and explosive they are, aren’t the main reason players flock to the series every year.

The game owes its longstanding success to the popularity of its multiplayer modes, and Black Ops 7’s performance will be judged on its success.

When asked if Battlefield’s large player base influences their approach to development, Natalie and Stephanie insist they are solely focused on making Black Ops 7 “the best game possible.”

As for what it offers that Battlefield can’t, Stefani says, without directly comparing the two, that Call of Duty offers a “variety and scope” of experience.

“But more broadly,” he says, “I see games as a way for people to connect and have fun.

“They are definitely responsible for the wonderful relationships in my life.

“I hope that people continue to make those connections and relationships and that more and more of us will be playing together in a few years.”

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